Children's Home run by Park Blue Homes Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 1 SC453372 Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently has no registered manager. An interim manager is in post.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, one child was living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 4 August 2026. This monitoring visit was completed due to further serious safeguarding concerns being notified to Ofsted. This visit did not consider any progress made against the requirements issued at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

A serious incident occurred during the recent full inspection that resulted in a child being at risk of significant harm. Immediate action was taken to remove the risks to safeguard children. However, this was not effective in preventing a further occurrence. Staff caring for the children lacked knowledge and skills to do so. Staff had not been informed of the children’s risks and consequently did not follow the updated risk assessments, leaving children without appropriate supervision. As a result, children were involved in an incident that could have resulted in significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager did not seek appropriate support from senior managers when a change in staffing occurred. This left children being cared for by staff who did not know them or understand their needs. There was no formal handover process to prepare the staff and alert them to the current risk. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 2 Managers do not consistently hold follow up discussions with staff following incidents. Records of discussions after the first serious incident are missing, and staff were not supported to consider how their practice may have contributed to either incident. As a result, staff are not helped to fully understand their safeguarding responsibilities or reflect on what they could have done differently to reduce risks to children and others.

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This monitoring visit

Following the second incident, senior managers have implemented further changes to respond to children’s needs and risks. A safety plan is now in place to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. This provides clear guidance for staff to keep children safe . Furthermore, additional management oversight and support for staff have been arranged. A review of the 2 serious incidents is underway though this is not yet complete.

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This monitoring visit

One child remains living in the home and a restriction of accommodation is in place preventing the provider from admitting any more children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/08/2026 Full Inadequate 21/04/2026 Full Inadequate 15/07/2025 Full Good 03/06/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Requirement restated. 11 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 5 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare; 27 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 6 provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (a) (b)(2)(b)(ii)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Blue Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Freemans Way, Harrogate HG3 1DH

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453372 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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