Children's Home run by Durham County Council in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 1 Registered provider: Durham County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a local authority. It provides care for up to 2 children and 1 young person who is now 18, who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home, and 2 children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2025 Full Good 07/08/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 3

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from trusting relationships with staff and are making progress, including in education and developing independence skills. Children have a sense of safety that supports their progress. Children’s risks reduce, and they are developing safer coping strategies for when they experience overwhelming emotions. The manager’s leadership of the team ensures that staff fulfil their roles effectively and care remains responsive to the children’s needs. Staff value the support they receive, and this contributes to a positive team culture.

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Summary of findings

There are some areas for development. Practice-related supervision sessions for some staff are not always regular. Additionally, records completed by staff do not consistently reflect the quality of care children experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living at the home and they are making progress. For one child, this is demonstrated through renewed engagement in school following a prolonged period of non-attendance. While engagement is sporadic, it represents meaningful progress for the child, given their starting point.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person has made notable progress in developing their independence skills. The young person has been helped by staff to independently travel to health appointments, and the young person has helped to decorate their new home. A recipe book, developed from staff’s specialised meals in the home, means that the young person can cook their favourite home-cooked meals when they move out. Feedback from professionals reflects a shared view that the young person is well-prepared to live independently, resulting from the support staff have given them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in relation to their identity. Although for some this is still developing, children feel safe, secure and accepted by staff and one another. This has enabled one child to have a sense of safety, in a way that they have not experienced before.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children attend all necessary health appointments. When children have significant health concerns, staff help them to engage in a high number of health appointments to ensure that their health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to capturing and valuing the children’s views. Initiatives such as ‘takeaway books’ provide meaningful opportunities for children to reflect on their day, and this helps staff to better understand each child’s experiences and perspective. Personalised letters from the manager in response to the children’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 4 views validate the children’s feelings and help to guide how staff develop and maintain positive relationships with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to access new experiences that they thoroughly enjoy. They spend lots of time with staff, who ensure that children experience positive daily interactions. Furthermore, staff ensure that family-time arrangements are promoted in line with the children’s care plans, helping children remain connected with those most important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recordings often reflect a nurturing and caring approach, with language that conveys warmth and positive regard. These records, alongside staff’s nurturing approach, evidence strong and trusting relationships between staff and children. Interactions between staff and children are natural and positive, highlighting the quality of their engagement. However, some recordings lack consistency and do not reflect the quality of these relationships.

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

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of children’s individual risks, and they follow safety plans consistently and effectively. Staff are fully aware of where risks are most prevalent and take proactive steps to reduce these. Where one child has health-related risks, staff ensure that they seek relevant support, when needed, in line with the child’s plans.

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

There has been a significant reduction in incidents of unsafe behaviour. When incidents do occur, children are supported sensitively and lovingly. Staff provide time and space when children need help to calm, alongside direct support aligned to the children’s individual needs. Staff ensure that children feel loved and accepted when they are upset, and this helps children feel safe to express their emotions.

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

Children are encouraged to take age ‑ appropriate risks as part of their development. Staff carefully balance safety with positive risk ‑ taking, enabling children to access new experiences while knowing that trusted adults are available to help them if needed.

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

Management oversight of incidents is effective. Managers review records promptly and provide guidance and support to children and staff following incidents. This oversight ensures that any emerging concerns or practice issues are identified quickly and addressed appropriately.

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

The language used by staff in plans reflects nurture, care and an understanding of children’s emotional needs. One child’s safety plan includes personalised approaches such as a ‘cuddle plan’, which clearly outlines when physical reassurance is welcomed by them and when it is not. This demonstrates that staff respect children’s boundaries, understand their individual needs around comfort, and place the child’s voice at the centre of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 5 On one occasion, an incident was not documented fully or accurately. This resulted in a record that suggested a more serious event than was described by staff during discussions. While this does not detract from the care provided to the child, it highlights the need for greater accuracy and clarity in recording to ensure that records provide a true and reliable account of events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager sets high expectations for staff and the quality of care provided to children. They reflect effectively on practice and provide consistent leadership to the staff alongside the deputy manager. This modelling of practice has improved staff confidence and supported a more consistent approach to care. The manager is committed to staff development and ensures that staff feel empowered, supported and confident in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong and detailed understanding of children’s individual progress. They recognise the contribution of staff in achieving this and have embedded a clear focus on relational practice, which has been fundamental in supporting positive change for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates effective professional challenge to ensure that children’s needs remain central. This includes advocating with education providers and other professionals to ensure that children’s individual needs are understood and appropriately supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing inconsistencies have been managed effectively by the manager. Staff report feeling supported and valued by managers, and this is reflected in the positive and stable staff culture. Staff speak highly of the manager and describe a clear and consistent ethos centred on nurture, care and strong relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that training is relevant and enhances staff’s understanding of the children’s needs. Dedicated days to discuss each child support staff to respond effectively to identified areas of need, including health-related behaviours. This ensures that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to provide safe and effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight of supervision sessions has not always been consistent. As a result, some staff have not received practice-related supervision within expected timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 29 July 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child and accurately reflects their experiences. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Durham County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fostering & Adoption Team, Spectrum 8, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham SR7 7TT

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Amy Philbin-Robinson

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Inspector

Gary Smithson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2624251 8 and inspects to 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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