Children's Home run by Evolve Residential Limited in Darlington

Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 1 Registered provider: Evolve Residential Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with both children.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Good 19/06/2024 Full Good 03/05/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff develop positive and nurturing relationships with children. They have a good understanding of the children's individual needs and personalities. They offer children comfort and sensitive care while maintaining structured routines. As a result, children continue to make good progress in all areas of their lives.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children say that they feel safe living in the home. The registered manager thoroughly reviews risks through multi-agency information-sharing and planning. Staff enable children to create their own safety plans with support. This helps children to confidently share information with staff about their experiences in the community and be helped to stay safe.

p.3

Summary of findings

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She leads a staff team that is committed to the care and needs of the children. She understands the home's strengths and areas for further development. She aspires for children to consistently achieve good outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of children's experiences on a day-to-day basis helps them to enjoy stability and make good progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop independence according to their understanding and ability. One child, who enjoys cooking, is supported and closely monitored by staff to safely use the cooker and sharp utensils. Staff and children celebrate each small step towards completing independence tasks.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education. When there are barriers to attendance, staff and teachers work together to sensitively manage the needs affecting their education. One professional said that children are making good progress because of the consistent and nurturing care that they receive from staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of family time and have developed positive relationships with families. Staff maintain good lines of communication to keep family members informed about children's progress and experiences. One parent said that staff communicate well about any concerns and progress their child makes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to enjoy a range of activities. They enable children to enjoy holidays together, which helps them to develop more positive bonds. They encourage children to engage in positive hobbies and be involved in local groups, such as scouts.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and comfortable. The registered manager has plans to enhance this by turning one bedroom into a sensory room. This will greatly benefit one child with Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 4 additional needs. Improvements were being made during the inspection to some internal and external areas of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individualised care plans. When their needs increase, staff work closely with professionals to ensure that appropriate assessments take place and support is given. The registered manager has enabled one child with a new diagnosis to continue to live in the home. However, the registered manager has not notified the regulator of the proposed changes to their conditions of registration.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When one child's risks in the community were increasing due to their level of vulnerability, staff supported the child to create their own safety plan. This included choosing their own safety question for when they need staff to remove them from potential risky stations. This inclusive way of working is keeping the child safer.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do not return home on time from their social time, staff act quickly to find them. They involve families and friends and coordinate with the local police. When children are found and return to the home, staff speak to them to help them reflect on their actions and understand why they have gone missing.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff spend time with children on a daily basis, helping them to develop effective strategies to manage their emotions better. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of physical interventions needed to stop children from hurting themselves or others.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children know how to complain. The registered manager ensures that any allegations against staff are investigated thoroughly. She ensures that shortfalls in staff performance are managed rigorously to ensure that children are safeguarded. Children receive feedback in writing and understand what has happened because of their complaint. However, not all children have been offered independent advocacy.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are skilled in the administration of medication. Two medication errors have occurred for the same child, with no adverse effects to their health. The registered manager has thoroughly reviewed the incidents and ensured that staff understand the importance of accurate administration and recording of medication to prevent further errors.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective management auditing and monitoring tools in place, and any shortfalls are identified and addressed quickly. Her monthly reflections with the deputy manager are effective at creating a consistent approach for staff. In addition to this, the registered manager has appointed a new independent visitor to the home. She has high expectations that they will provide a fresh perspective at improving practice in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 5 Staff say that they are supported by managers. They enjoy working in the home and speak affectionately about the children. Staff are proud of the learning and safeguarding culture in the team, which keeps the children safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing insufficiency means that agency workers are often used. However, the children are not affected by the staffing ratios and care is taken to ensure that agency staff work alongside staff who the children are familiar with.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff maintain positive, professional relationships with each other and wider professionals. The quality of these relationships ensures the best possible all-round support to children in all areas of their development. Professionals say that staff know the children well, communicate effectively and their commitment to the children results in stability and security for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide the right supportive environment for all staff through effective supervision and a good-quality induction. The registered manager ensures that safe recruitment of staff is in place. This means that only people who are vetted and experienced work in this home. However, the registered manager has not ensured that staff have the relevant and necessary qualifications in supporting children with a learning disability. Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to The Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the relevant skills to meet the children's learning disability needs. 29 July 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 15 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 7 The registered person must ensure that they are functioning outside of their conditions of registration.

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. ('Guide to the Children's Home Regulations, including the quality standards', page 23, paragraph 4.16) Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider: Evolve Residential Limited

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider address: S W Accountants, 73 Duke Street, Darlington DL3 7SD

p.8

Inspector

Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2685997 9 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding, and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9