Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Unique reference number SC036019 Inspector Rosemary Chapman Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Derby City Council Registered person address Treasurers Department Council House, Corporation Street DERBY DE1 2FE Responsible individual Rodney Leopold Jones Registered manager Elaine Fitchett / Paul Whitehouse Date of last inspection 05/12/2013 2 of 10 Inspection date 07/05/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home. Young people are supported very well so that their outcomes are positive and they make good progress. Young people's needs and wishes are well respected and they are all treated as individuals. Young people have good involvement with their own plans and also make an active contribution to the running of the home as they are regularly consulted. Of particular note is the progress young people make in relation to their emotional well-being, their ability to make and sustain attachments to staff, and the development of their independent living skills. It is also noteworthy that young people are not restrained or subject to frequent sanctions as their behaviour is well managed through a positive and proactive approach.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are happy with the way staff support them and keep them safe. A young person said: 'Staff are always around.' Relationships between young people and staff are relaxed yet professional. It is evident that staff care about the young people and want them to do well. Safeguarding practice is robust, particularly in relation to young people who put themselves at risk by having unauthorised absences from the home. One young person said: 'Staff do their best to protect me.'

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well supported to provide good quality care through regular supervision, access to training and effective systems for communication and information sharing. 3 of 10 The manager is committed to continual improvement and is very reflective in her approach. Good monitoring systems, both internal and external, enable her to be fully aware of any issues. No requirements or recommendations have been set as a result of this inspection, although the manager has her own improvement plans for the home to ensure that young people continue to receive a service of high quality and their outcomes are improved. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children's home which may accommodate up to 15 children and young people in three separate units, with five children in each unit. The service provides care and accommodation for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. An enhanced care project, which the children and young people can utilise, operates from the same site.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2013 Interim good progress 03/06/2013 Full good 21/02/2013 Interim good progress 03/09/2012 Interim good progress 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress in a number of ways as a result of living in this home. One social worker commented: 'He is now a different young person; I cannot begin to tell you the changes I have seen.' Another social worker said of a different young person: 'He is doing really well.' For some young people the progress is more significant than others, depending on the length of time they have spent in the home and their individual circumstances and needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Most notably, young people develop a far more positive self-view and start to make good attachments to adults and their peers. For some young people, who previously, because of their experiences, would not engage at all with other people, this has been significant progress. Their emotional outbursts also reduce significantly, from being on a daily basis to very infrequently. Some young people have become far more confident and all have established some level of trust in the adults who care for them.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's health and well-being, both emotional and physical, improves. They eat more healthily and they develop a good awareness of how issues such as smoking and drug use can have a negative impact on their health. This enables them to have the information to make better choices. Young people's dental health improves, and they develop better self-care skills, including personal hygiene. This also has a positive impact on personal relationships. Some young people continue to engage in risk-taking behaviours, despite advice, guidance and support. However, this is minimised and reducing.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Many of the young people have had very chequered experiences of education before coming to live at this home. They generally make good progress in this regard, as their attendance improves and they develop more emotional resilience to enable them to learn better. Most of the young people who are no longer of compulsory school age have some form of college placement. Their life chances are therefore improved as a result of their progress in education.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community. They take part in regular young people's meetings where they can voice their opinions about any aspects of their care or the home. Where possible, their views are acted upon, and they thus feel valued and listened to, which in turn promotes their self-esteem. Some young people are very involved in activities, such as being members of local football and cricket clubs. This develops their skills, contributes to a health lifestyle and also promotes their engagement as useful and valued members of the community. Some young people have been involved in fundraising for a local charity, which demonstrates significant progress in developing empathy and awareness of the needs of others. All young people access local facilities such as the 6 of 10 shops, cinema and bowling.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with friends, family and people who are important to them. As a result, they develop a far better understanding of their situation and their backgrounds and rebuild fragmented relationships, which may lead to a return home if this is an appropriate plan.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop very good independent living skills so they have the necessary competencies to make a successful transition into adulthood, including in some instances, learning how to drive. Young people learn how to cook, manage money, and undertake the usual domestic chores, and are proud of their achievements. One young person commented that she had achieved 'gold level'.

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Quality of care good

Young people have good relationships with staff which are based on trust and mutual respect. Young people comment that, 'Staff are always there for us.' Young people are encouraged to behave appropriately through good behaviour management strategies, and as a result, their behaviour improves over time. Young people are encouraged to respect each other and think about the consequences of their behaviour on other people, so they live together in reasonable harmony, with the occasional disagreement.

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Quality of care good

Consultation with young people is a strength of the home. There are weekly young people's meetings based in each unit. Additionally, there are consultation meetings which are held at the enhanced care project on site, facilitated by someone independent of the home. Young people are also involved in their care plans and sign the more child-friendly one to indicate their involvement. They were very positive that staff listened to them and tried to sort things out, and a number of examples were given, such as in relation to the menus or the behaviour of other young people. Independent advocates also visit the home on a regular basis, thus providing an additional avenue for young people to raise any concerns. As a result, young people have not felt the need to raise any formal complaints recently, although they know how to do so.

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Quality of care good

Placement plans are thorough and based on a comprehensive assessment of all the young people's individual needs, including those relating to race, religion and culture. These are regularly reviewed and updated following a multi-disciplinary planning meeting where appropriate. Depending on a young person's needs, the looked after nurse or a member of the youth offending service may be involved so that all aspects of a young person's care are considered. Attendance at various places of worship can be facilitated, as can the provision of food to meet cultural or specific dietary needs. Stakeholders are very positive about the input of staff, which is based on good parenting and an understanding of how a young person's previous experiences affect their behaviour. A social worker said: 'Staff are consistently there to support young 7 of 10 people's progress.' Another social worker said: 'Staff have done a really good job with

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Quality of care good

The home has good access to a variety of services to support young people's health and educational needs. The looked after children's nurse is a regular visitor to the home and is appropriately consulted for advice, which staff implement. The enhanced care project provides a number of services to support educational and emotional needs. Young people also access the child and adolescent mental health service, and drug and alcohol specialists as appropriate. Partnership working is a further strength and results in positive and effective support so that young people obtain the services they need.

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Quality of care good

Young people access a number of leisure facilities although some choose not to do so. Some young people have very active involvement in clubs and groups while others go out with friends or staff to local facilities. For example, some young people have been to both premier league and championship football matches with staff, and will be attending the local play-off match. This promotes both their interests, their involvement in the community and their sense of worth. Staff are very committed to facilitate such interests so that young people have the same opportunities as their peers.

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Quality of care good

The home is in a good location, with large and pleasant grounds to facilitate outdoor play, and with access to bus routes into the city centre. However, the building itself is somewhat institutional in appearance. This has been recognised by the local authority, and there are plans to start work imminently on building two separate smaller homes on the same grounds, to provide more homely and appropriate accommodation for the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people feel safe and are safe in this home as a result of robust safeguarding practices which staff understand and implement. A social worker commented that, 'Staff do their absolute best to keep young people safe', and an independent reviewing officer said, 'I can't fault the staff.' An external safeguarding professional commented: 'Staff are committed to the young people they care for and are very proactive in identifying risks and factors that might cause harm to them.' The home has 'champions' in relation to child sexual exploitation and of them she commented: 'They do a fantastic job of updating colleagues and applying the learning practically with young people in the home, running group-based activities and creating individual plans to reduce or remove risk.' Young people are helped to understand issues such as consent and healthy relationships. Staff work well in partnership with other safeguarding agencies such as the police, and are supported by senior

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Keeping children and young people safe good

managers to continue to develop their knowledge and expertise in this significant risk area. Although some young people continue to place themselves at risk by having unauthorised absences, staff do all they can to minimise these risks, such as 8 of 10 following young people, taking car registration numbers, implementing individualised and detailed missing persons' protocols and procedures, as well as the preventative measures outlined above.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say there is no bullying and are confident that staff would deal with any issues should they arise. Staff have a robust understanding of safeguarding procedures in the event of an allegation or suspicion of harm and work well in partnership with the investigating agencies to ensure the young person is well supported and protected.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Behaviour is well managed and is an area where improvements in staff practice have become embedded. Young people have behaviour management plans and risk assessments which address their individual and assessed needs. Staff have training in an approved method of positive behaviour management, the underpinning ethos of which is to distract and prevent the need for physical intervention. Young people also have incentives to work towards to promote positive behaviour. As a result, there have been very few sanctions since the last inspection, all of which have been appropriately recorded, and no restraints for well over a year. This positive and proactive approach is beneficial in improving relationships between staff and young people as well as minimising the use of restraints and sanctions.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are kept safe from accidents and environmental incidents because appropriate measures to promote their health and safety are implemented, such as regular fire drills, and checks of the premises and equipment. They are also protected from unsuitable people as all staff undergo robust recruitment and vetting checks, details of which are kept in the home so the manager is assured of their suitability.

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Leadership and management good

A new manager has been recently registered. This is an interim arrangement, following the temporary promotion of the former Registered Manager. The new Registered Manager has been in this interim position since the previous Registered Manager's promotion in October 2013, in order to provide a smooth transition, although the actual registration process has only very recently been completed. She has a National Vocational Qualification at level 4 in both management and care, and a significant amount of managerial experience in residential childcare. Thus she has appropriate qualifications, skills and experience for this role.

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Leadership and management good

Management arrangements are effective and efficient. Due to the size and layout of the home, each unit has a manager, in addition to a deputy centre manager, all of whom report to the Registered Manager. The Registered Manager has well-developed systems for ensuring proper oversight of the home. These include thorough internal monitoring systems, file audits and supervision of the unit managers. Young people find her accessible and approachable, readily seeking her out to voice their opinions and discuss their situations. She is further supported by the external monitoring 9 of 10 systems which provide a comprehensive independent review of the operation of the home on a monthly basis. Young people are currently in the process of being asked whether they agree for the independent visitor to see their files as part of these monthly visits.

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Leadership and management good

There were no requirements or recommendations set at the previous inspection. However, the manager is a reflective practitioner and constantly considers ways of improving the service. The most recent development is a completely new rebuild of the premises in the same grounds, to provide more homely accommodation, as the current premises are institutional and no longer appropriate. The work is shortly to start on this project, which has been a major part of the development plan, along with improving the independent living skills programme.

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Leadership and management good

Consultation with young people is a strength of this service, and as a result, there are no formal complaints as issues are dealt with as they arise, either in young people's meetings, consultation meetings or in one-to-one discussions. These are appropriately recorded to demonstrate the actions taken and any learning.

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Leadership and management good

There is a good recording system for demonstrating the progress young people make and how their outcomes have improved while they have been living at this home. This is used as a working tool with both young people and staff, to remind them of how they presented when they were admitted to the home and the progress which can now be seen. This provides positive evidence and acts as a confidence booster when either staff or young people feel they are not achieving as well as they would like.

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Leadership and management good

The home has sufficient staff to undertake its purpose. Staff are well supported by regular and effective supervision which addresses practice issues as well as developmental needs. Training is also well promoted, including an annual developmental appraisal of staff individual training needs, to ensure they are competent in their practice and can thus provide appropriate support. Shift handovers are well organised to ensure communication is effective and young people's plans are progressed.

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Leadership and management good

Case files are well organised so that young people can have a good understanding of their time in the home, should they choose to access their records now or in the future. Similarly the home's other records are up to date and completed appropriately.

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Leadership and management good

The manager has a good understanding of the events which need to be reported to the regulator and other agencies, and recent events demonstrate that these are handled well to ensure the protection and well-being of the young people in the home. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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