Durham House
- Registered: 2001
- Registered Places: 3
- DfE Education: Yes
- Assessment/Therapy: Yes
- Step Down Placements: Yes
- Staff Ratio: 2:3
Durham House - A 'Good' Children's Home
"Children are well cared for by a small and nurturing staff team. Children have excellent relationships with the staff and like the predictability of the small number of staff who look after them. Children are equally thoughtful about the staff, which has led to all of them taking part in a charity run for a health-related cause.
Children’s views are central to how the home is run. Their voice runs throughout their plans, and they were actively involved in the move from another home in the organisation into this one. Children’s complaints are taken seriously and responded to promptly, with changes made where possible.
Children are all engaged in education. Strong links with school and college staff mean that staff know how children are progressing, and can provide support and guidance should they be struggling to attend or engage while in school. Children are particularly well supported through their exams, with staff recognising how stressful this time can be. Children undertaking their GCSE exams were warmly welcomed back after an exam and helped to prepare for their next one.
Children engage in a wide range of socially and emotionally stimulating activities, such as cadets, basketball and seeing their friends in the community. Staff support children and work closely with club leaders to ensure that they are successfully integrated into their new hobby. Children are helped to maintain friendships from school or clubs, and those who are in relationships are guided on appropriate relationships and sexual health.
Children learn age-appropriate independent skills, varying from bringing their washing to the laundry room, to catching the train independently and budgeting and cooking their own meals. Children feel confident in their skills, which helps them to feel ready to move on and live independently when they are old enough to do so.
Children’s health and well-being needs are well met through good links with the organisation’s therapists and external medical professionals. Children are taught about the importance of healthy lifestyles, and all meals in the home are cooked from fresh ingredients."
Ofsted Inspection - June 2024 - Full report available by request
Residential Care
Durham House is located in the Palm Bay area of Margate within a 5-minute walk of family beaches, cycle paths and stretching cliff top lawns. Margate provides the range of amenities associated with forward thinking towns and offers an abundance of open spaces utilised for sport, leisure and recreation. Following considerable investment in the town, Margate is quickly becoming recognised as a centre of excellence for art and culture.
The young people residing at Durham House engage in a 24-hour curriculum designed to promote resilience, self-identity and independence. The home provides a safe, structured and consistent environment where each young person has a individualised placement plan tailored to meet their specific needs.
The manager and staff team endorse an inclusive, supportive ethos and through positive interaction and appropriate role modelling develop trusting relationships with the children and young people they care for. As a consequence, mutually respectful relationships develop between young people and the staff team which emulates, as closely as possible, a close knit family environment.
Education
The home is directly affiliated to both our DfE registered, specialist SEMH schools: The Davenport Primary School and The Old Priory Secondary School The respective school and the home work in close partnership to ensure continuity in respect of learning support, achieving developmental goals and behaviour management.
The Davenport School (Key Stage 2: 7-11yrs) offers a differentiated curriculum in order to meet the individual learning needs of each young person. The school operates with small group settings where children are closely supported and supervised by a qualified teacher and learning support assistants.
The Old Priory School (Key Stages 3 & 4: 11 – 16yrs) offers the national curriculum allowing for GCSE study in essential subject areas, alongside alternative, differentiated curriculums, including ASDAN and AQA. In addition, young people can study towards City & Guilds NPTC vocational awards in a range of work related subjects, including: building trades, vehicle maintenance, craft skills, art and design, design and technology and horticulture.
Assessment & Therapy
Children and young people residing in our care have access to a range of assessment and therapy services including:
- Psychological Assessment
- Psychotherapy
- Systemic Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Equine Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Drama Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Play Therapy
All therapy referrals are overseen by the organisation’s dedicated Therapy Services Manager in consultation with the allocated social worker and other key stakeholders as appropriate.
Our assessment and therapy services are an inclusive element of our residential care provision and attract no additional funding requirement.
Health Support
In addition to our therapy services and panel of consultants, each of our homes have direct access to a health promotions worker and, in the event of any significant health concerns arising, oversight from a registered, dual diagnosis nurse. This ensures effective, professional guidance in respect of health profiling, together with the immediate and ongoing health needs of each individual child and young person placed in our care.
Statement of Purpose
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