Children's Home run by Young Foundations Limited in Darlington

Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 1 SC061439 Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home, and all 3 were spoken with.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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 requires improvement to be 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: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children enjoy living in this home. They are happy and feel safe. Children seek out staff for comfort and enjoy spending time with them.

p.3

Summary of findings

The relationships between children are improving and children are supported by staff to understand healthy relationships.

p.3

Summary of findings

Staff help children to understand risks and learn from incidents. However, when children make allegations, these are not fully investigated or shared with relevant external agencies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living in the home; they like the staff and trust them. One child said, ‘Staff like to spend time with us, they are not just sat in the office.’ Staff show a genuine interest in the children’s hobbies, such as train spotting and they arrange trips and days out to accommodate this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Peer relationships are managed well with any concerns quickly responded to. Staff help children by holding supportive discussions to enable children to live happily together and avoid conflict. Children are spending positive time together and with staff, enjoying movie nights and favourite meals.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making educational progress. For some children this continues to be a struggle, but there is consistent support from staff to try and maintain a routine. Regular meetings take place and there are firm plans to increase the children’s attendance at school when necessary. Educational and learning opportunities are encouraged by staff. Children learn life skills, access online education courses and are encouraged to complete homework.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their families when children want this. Families describe the staff as ‘amazing’ and ‘helpful’ when planning visits. Families feel respected, supported and heard.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is bright and airy and offers space for children to relax and play. The home is well maintained. Children have access to all areas of their home, and they enjoy helping staff with housework and making drinks for visitors. It has the feel of a warm and welcoming family home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home they are made to feel welcome. The children already living in the home have been carefully prepared to welcome any new child. However, the manager did not adequately assess or consider the current children’s compatibility before Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 4 deciding for them to live together. This can affect stability of the home and create barriers for children forming initial relationships.

p.3

improvement to be good

Allegations are not managed effectively. Initial actions taken by the manager supports the protection of children and staff. However, investigations and discussions with children are limited and children are not provided with reassurance about the actions taken and decisions made. On one occasion, Ofsted and the local authority designated officer were not notified of an allegation. This effected both agency’s oversight of safeguarding practice in the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are reviewed by staff, and children are encouraged to attend appointments. However, when children decline to attend appointments, they are not encouraged to discuss their concerns with staff, therefore, steps are not taken to desensitise children or prepare them for the next appointment.

p.4

improvement to be good

When children go missing from the home the staff follow the plans in place to help find them and return them home quickly and safely. Children are warmly welcomed back into the home. The manager challenges the local authority when they do not offer children an independent return home interview; as this is a missed opportunity to help children talk about the incident. The number of times that children go missing from the home has reduced.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children said they feel safe living in the home and are happy with their rooms and personal space. They are confident that staff will listen to them. There are clear assessments of risk, plans of care and protocols. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the children’s plans, and the support children need.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children are making good progress with their ability to discuss their needs and emotions. When children self-harm, this is managed effectively by staff in a calm and kind manner. There is support from external agencies when necessary. There are supportive conversations with children, and they are encouraged to attend therapy sessions when appropriate. Staff also encourage the use of distraction techniques and fidget toys to help children manage their emotions.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has continued to develop her oversight of the home. She demonstrates good leadership skills and the support for staff is organised and consistent. There are regular, detailed staff meetings and supportive supervision sessions with staff that are described as ‘constructive’. Staff are proud to work in the home and said the manager is ‘brilliant’.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One professional said, ‘The manager is excellent, and is a good role model who is playful and available to children.’ There is good communication with external professionals and Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 5 regular meetings and discussion. The manager ensures that children have timely access to professional help, such as psychology support, psychiatrists and occupational therapists. When necessary, private support is funded by the provider.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some concerns were raised regarding the turnover of staff, their ability to offer stability to children and follow their plans. However, new staff described a thorough induction programme where they had the opportunity and time to get to know the children and their needs. The manager ensures that any concerns regarding the care of children, or staff not following plans, are swiftly addressed to promote consistency of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment procedures ensure that the right people are working with children. Recruitment is well organised and checks are completed before staff start working at the home. The use of agency staff has significantly decreased. When agency staff are used, the manager is able to assure herself that staff have the right skills and abilities to work with the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the right knowledge and skills to care for children. There is a range of training provided that is continually enhanced and refreshed. This meets the specific needs of the children and is reviewed when new children move to the home. However, while progress has been made, some staff have not yet attained the relevant diploma qualification needed within the set timeframe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when children raise concerns these are fully explored and the relevant external agencies are made aware.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that they only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the dynamic and compatibility of all children has been carefully considered and assessed. 30 September 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”). (Regulation 32 (1) (4)(a)) 31 December 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 7

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and wellbeing. In particular, children should be supported and educated to understand the importance of attending routine medical appointments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10)

p.7

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: SC061439 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Alexander House, Highfield Park, Llandyrnog, Denbighshire LL16 4LU

p.8

Inspector

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC061439 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