Children's Home run by North Yorkshire Council in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 1 SC034189 Registered provider: North Yorkshire Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority using the ‘No Wrong Door’ model. It provides care for up to 6 children with social and emotional difficulties. The home can also care for a further 2 children in separate accommodation for up to 28 days.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for one child, they were spoken with as part of the inspection process.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025

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This monitoring visit

The children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on the 26 and 27 May 2026. Compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, leadership and management standard. Additionally, a restriction of accommodation was served.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on the 16 July 2026 to review actions taken to meet the compliance notices and review the restriction of accommodation. The visit identified that the provider had met some, but not all steps in the compliance notices. This second monitoring visit took place to consider the actions taken to meet the remaining steps in the compliance notices. The inspectors found that not all steps in the compliance notice were met and these have been re-issued. No children have moved in since the restriction of accommodation was issued.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not have clear guidance around risks and safety both inside the home and in the community. Risk assessments do not provide clear strategies for staff to follow to safeguard children. This includes guidance around items that the child can have access to and where they can visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 2 There has not been an appropriate response to safeguarding incidents or prompt management oversight. As a result, opportunities to protect children from harm are missed. Some staff are uncertain about who the child can safely spend time with. On one occasion, staff did not take sufficient action which resulted in the child remaining in an unsafe location and at risk of significant harm. Additionally, staff have not consistently secured the staff office. As a result, the child has had access to unsafe items that could potentially be harmful to them.

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This monitoring visit

There are systems in place to support the registered manager, however, these are not yet imbedded and have not identified weaknesses and shortfalls in practice. As a result, weaknesses in staff practice, poor safeguarding responses and a lack of clear guidance for staff remain. Opportunities to learn from incidents are not consistently identified or acted upon by senior leaders to support the manager.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers do not have robust monitoring systems in place to provide effective oversight of incidents. When children are held to keep them or others safe, the manager records his conversations with staff and children. On 2 occasions, the manager was involved in physical holds and did not seek impartial oversight of the incident and staff practice. Additionally, the child was not offered the opportunity to speak to someone independent of the hold. Senior leaders had not identified this shortfall in the manager’s practice.

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This monitoring visit

Some of the communal doors are locked on an evening such as the kitchen and conservatory doors. The reason for this is unclear and some staff have different views as to why the arrangement is in place. This does not help to provide a homely environment.

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This monitoring visit

The model of care at the home includes direct access to specialist services such as Child and Adolescence Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This intervention is complimenting the avenues of support for one child in response to their complex care needs. When the child struggles to manage their emotions, staff appropriately contact health services to support the child’s welfare. This helps to improve the child’s overall health and well-being as well as trust in health professionals. Additionally, in response to a medication error, staff have refreshed their knowledge around medication administration to help prevent future errors.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken action to improve the processes for children moving into the home. This includes compatibility assessments between children already living in the home and a new child moving in. It also considers potential risks between new children and existing children. Staff sufficiency, knowledge and skills also contribute to decisions about whether the home is suitable for the child. These improved processes have not yet been used due to the restriction of accommodation in place. However, they do give reassurances that systems are in place to assess the suitability and safety of children living together at the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 3 Leaders and managers have introduced additional forums to capture the views and feelings of children who live at the home. This includes frequent conversations to gather their views about the home, and relationships with peers and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Additionally, staff have reflective conversations with the child when incidents have occurred.

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This monitoring visit

The child said they like living at the home and can identify some staff that they trust. Since the last full inspection, they have contributed to decisions about the décor of the home and their bedroom. The child said they are confident to share their views which promotes the child’s voice within the home.

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This monitoring visit

There have been improvements made in response to allegations. Leaders and managers follow safeguarding procedures and consult with appropriate professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Most of the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection were reviewed. One requirement around education was not considered, 6 requirements have been re-stated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/05/2026 Full Inadequate 08/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/05/2024 Full Good 12/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 4

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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 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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 27 September

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 27 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 5 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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’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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(h)) The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 27 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 6 In particular, where the registered person has been involved in the hold and is the ‘user’, the review should be by an independent person who can review the registered person’s practice. The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. 27 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 7 (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of 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: SC034189 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Yorkshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8AD

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Inspectors

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Joe Matkar-Cox, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034189 9 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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