Children's Home run by Evolve Residential Limited in Darlington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2863679 1 Registered provider: Evolve Residential Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there was a sibling group of 2 living in the home. The inspectors met with both children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025. This is the home’s first 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2863679 2

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Summary of findings

This is a new home with a newly registered manager. There have been some challenges recruiting a permanent staff team, and agency staff have been used. However, they have been well supported to ensure that there is consistent care for the children. The children are young and staff have used creative ways to help them to understand why they are living in the home. Staff work together with the children’s families and involve them in their care, which has helped the children to settle into the home. The registered manager has high aspirations for both children and staff, and she manages challenging situations with confidence and empathy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, staff support them to feel comfortable and safe within their new environment. When the children moved in, staff produced books about a sibling group moving into a children’s home to help the children understand their plans and what was happening and to reduce their anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The members of the staff team have created a warm nurturing home, and have displayed canvases of the children and their families throughout the home. Staff have supported the children to personalise their own bedrooms. Safe spaces have also been created within the home, which children can use when they feel upset or overwhelmed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children can identify key staff who they look to for reassurance and support. One child said, ‘They really help me a lot when I am upset. The other child said, ‘When I cry, the manager will give me a hug, which I need.’ The children’s parent said, ‘The children are doing really well; they are loved by everyone.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have created a positive relationship with the children’s family and encourage their involvement. This includes collecting family members to take to school for the children’s parents’ evenings and sports days. The children’s parent said, ‘They always update me and ask me if there are any issues.’ The positive relationship between staff and family members helps to provide consistent care and supports the children to settle into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support the children’s education and have created bespoke books to support the children’s learning which has contributed to the academic progress of one of the children. The members of the staff team have also created social stories to help the children overcome fears of health appointments, which has resulted in the completion of required treatments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have engaged in many fun activities with staff. They have memory boxes and hard back memory books with photos and captions, which will help them remember the positive experiences they have had. Staff also use innovative ways to help children to Inspection report for children’s home: 2863679 3 understand important issues. For example, staff have used well-known toys and England footballers to explore diversity. A toy car play mat has been used to explain road safety, and staff have used emojis linked to various scenarios to help the children understand and express their emotions.

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

Children’s plans are clear and accessible. Risks are clearly identified and are linked to direct work with children, which demonstrates how risks and needs are being addressed. This ensures that there is a consistent approach to supporting children.

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

Staff and family members work together to help the children to understand their history and experiences. One family member wrote a letter, which staff read out carefully to the children, ensuring that there was time for questions. This was followed up with a phone call from the family member and was arranged close to family time so children could continue the conversation in person. This well-planned approach enabled the children to process information in a safe and supportive way.

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

There has been a significant reduction in the use of physical interventions. Staff have provided a consistent, nurturing and therapeutic approach to the children, and they have responded positively. While formal conversations do not take place after each incident, this approach has been agreed with the placing local authority. Instead, supportive conversations take place with the children, which gives them the opportunity to express their views.

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

There have been isolated occasions when staff have used language with the children that does not fit the home’s therapeutic approach. However, staff felt confident to raise their concerns with the registered manager, who responded quickly and effectively. The registered manager regularly reinforces the use of therapeutic language, including in team meetings and individual supervision sessions, providing staff with ongoing opportunities to develop and refine their use of therapeutic language.

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

Records of incidents are generally written in a therapeutic and non-blaming manner. However, some incident records lack sufficient detail. Behaviours are often described using broad or generic terms rather than providing a clear account of what occurred. This limits opportunities to fully understand presenting behaviours, identify patterns and evaluate the progress children are making over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working at the home, reporting that they feel valued and well supported. One staff member said, ‘I really enjoy working here. The manager and the company are very supportive to their staff team. They are always looking to improve the quality of life for the children that they care for.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the home first opened, the registered manager experienced challenges in recruiting permanent staff and therefore needed to rely on agency workers. However, Inspection report for children’s home: 2863679 4 she managed this effectively, using a small, consistent pool of agency staff. She provided a thorough induction and regular supervision sessions, which promoted consistency in practice alongside the core staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive practice-related supervision sessions on a regular basis. These are reflective, providing opportunities for staff to consider practice and discuss areas of development. Issues are addressed in an effective yet supportive manner. This enables staff to improve practice and develop professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings cover a range of relevant topics. They are arranged so that all staff can attend. Staff are encouraged to actively participate, which contributes to a shared understanding of the children’s needs. This helps staff to provide a consistent approach to the care of the children, which increases feelings of safety and stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager appropriately challenges staff practice, as required, and has established an open and transparent culture within the home. Staff feel able to raise concerns and are confident that these will be addressed fairly and effectively. Staff also describe feeling supported through difficult situations and say that the registered manager helps them to reflect on and strengthen their practice when challenges arise. Inspection report for children’s home: 2863679 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should continue to ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘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: 2863679 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Evolve Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Karen Karlsson, Social Care Inspector (lead) Jordan Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2863679 7 regulates 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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