Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Unique reference number SC035976 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Derbyshire County Council Registered person address County Hall Matlock Derbyshire DE4 3AG

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Responsible individual Ian Johnson Registered manager Lesley Elizabeth Tong Date of last inspection 28/01/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 23/12/2014

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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 outstanding Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from the provision of highly individualised care and comprehensive care planning. Regardless of the complex needs of young people, staff quickly implement individualised plans and work proactively with social care agencies to promote improved outcomes. Young people make strong progress from their time of admission to this home.

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Overall effectiveness

The home offers outstanding quality of care to the young people. All young people are supported to engage in education that meets their individual needs. Health care needs are well promoted. Young people enjoy participating in stimulating and frequent activities of their choosing. All young people receive effective preparation for moving to alternative provision or independence. This means young people are able meet their individual potential and achieve.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people report that they feel safe. Where young people engage in risk-taking behaviour the staff team are proactive to work with a range of professionals to minimise risk. The staff team are resilient and persevere with providing high quality care for young people, irrespective of the challenges they present.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers have good insight into the strengths of the home and areas for development. They use a range of monitoring and consultation to inform planning 3 of 10 and implement positive change.

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Overall effectiveness

One shortfall has been identified during the inspection resulting in a recommendation. This relates to increased frequencies of fire drills. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to a local authority. The home can accommodate up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2014 Interim good progress 22/10/2013 Full good 20/09/2012 Interim satisfactory progress 02/05/2012 Full good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with and have practiced so they know what to do in an emergency. (NMS 10.9) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress in all areas of their development. Staff collaborate with therapists and mental health professionals to promote young people’s emotional and psychological well-being. Positive and nurturing relationships with staff enable young people to feel supported. This means young people engage with staff to begin to understand the reasons they are living in care and to make sense of their personal histories. Consequently, young people develop improved emotional resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Health outcomes for young people significantly improve during their time living in the home. They receive routine and specialist health care to meet their individual health needs. They are encouraged to eat healthy diets and engage in active lifestyles. All young people have improved health because of health promotion and the healthy home environment.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have personalised education programmes that meet their individual needs. Those who previously did not attend school now regularly attend educational programmes. When young people are resistant to engage in formal education, staff work closely with parents and schools to promote improved engagement. Over time, some young people progress to exceptional educational attendance. Improved attendance results in young people attaining and achieving in their chosen studies.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people actively contribute to decisions about daily living. House meetings provide a forum where young people and staff plan meals and activities, and discuss specific issues relating to group living in the home. In addition, young people make a positive contribution to their community. A group of young people recently undertook a range of activities and raised a significant sum of money for a local charity. This means young people influence decisions and have positive involvement with their community.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

A key strength of the home is the promotion of contact between young people and their families. One parent said ‘They are brilliant. I have confidence in the home and the staff; they have my son’s best interests at heart’. Staff work effectively with professionals and families and promote contact in line with care plans. Young people benefit from these working arrangements. Some enjoy improved family relationships and reunification, while others benefit from improved contact arrangements. As a result, young people maintain their family links and heritage. This promotes an understanding of family identity for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Preparation for independence is a key theme within this home. All young people participate in general household tasks such as cleaning, laundry tasks, food preparation and shopping. Over time, they progress to develop skills with more complex tasks such as arranging appointments, job applications and preparing CVs. 6 of 10 This means young people learn the skills and develop the confidence they will need to assist with a smooth transition into independence in the future. Some young people have made successful transitions to university and college. Consequently, life chances and opportunities for young people are enhanced due to effective preparation for independence.

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Quality of care outstanding

The staff team are dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate about supporting young people. They are creative in their approaches to helping young people to develop and have high aspirations for all young people. One social worker said ‘There is a realistic expectation of young people but also an aspirational one as well’. This means young people are fully encouraged and supported to achieve their goals.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people and staff have excellent relationships. One young person said ‘They really help me and they care, I am happy now’. They participate in activities with young people and are persistent in including young people in all aspects of daily living. Social care professionals routinely describe this home as ‘a homely home’ and ‘like a family home’. This nurturing environment enables young people to thrive. This provides a foundation for young people to learn, develop and progress.

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Quality of care outstanding

The staff and management team forge exceptionally effective partnerships with external agencies and social work professionals. One professional commented ‘The home has really good communication with me - the best I have had! Staff do everything and anything for this young person - it doesn't get any better than this’. Staff and management demonstrate a commitment to ensuring they meet the needs of all young people, regardless of challenges. They are tenacious in ensuring that placing authorities meet their statutory duties and promote the needs of individual young people. A social worker said ‘I have a very high opinion of this establishment’.

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Quality of care outstanding

Education is central to the home's ethos. The dedicated staff team ensure effective communication regarding young people’s educational needs and progress. An Independent Reviewing Officer said ‘They have been consistent in their approach with school. This consistency ensures she is kept on the right track to achieve’. All young people are engaged in individual education programmes that meet their needs. As a result, young people progress towards achieving their educational goals.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home provides a healthy environment. Staff are committed to ensure young people are supported to access relevant services routinely to meet their physical, psychological and emotional needs. Medication arrangements are very well managed, with robust administration, storage and clear recording processes.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home is exceptionally well decorated, furnished and maintained. It replicates a domestic setting and is comfortable and welcoming. All young people personalise their bedrooms to their individual tastes and to the highest of standards. The home is 7 of 10 located close to public transport links, schools, leisure facilities and the countryside. The design of the home provides space for privacy and communal activity. Young people are proud of this home and enjoy spending time with staff and each other within the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people report that they feel safe. Parents and professionals confirm that the home keeps young people safe. This is because the knowledgeable staff and management team implement rigorous safeguarding practices. In circumstances where young people engage in risk-taking behaviour, staff work proactively with a range of professionals to minimise risk. Consequently, young people settle and risk taking behaviours reduce.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans are detailed, comprehensive and regularly reviewed. This means staff have guidance which provides clarity for them to effectively manage situations and protect the young people from possible harm.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Excellent behaviour management is a key strength of this home. Staff are proactive in diffusing and deflecting potentially challenging situations without recourse to physical interventions and sanctions. There has only been one physical intervention in the past year. This is a testament to the skilled and knowledgeable staff team. All staff are suitably trained to undertake any physical intervention, with regular refresher training. This ensures the safe use of such intervention. The recording of such incidents is in line with the legislative framework, providing all information necessary for monitoring purposes.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Most young people do not go missing from care. However, where there have been incidents of young people going missing from care, these have significantly reduced over time and are now minimal. Close working relationships with the local police and the missing from care officer, and the use of established protocols enable staff to safeguard young people who place themselves at risk when missing from care. Risk assessments are up to date and regularly reviewed. Young people are encouraged to discuss issues in relation to being absent and receive a positive response on their return. As a result, they benefit from assistance in gaining insight into their behaviours and the associated risks.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

In circumstances where safeguarding concerns are identified, the Registered Manager ensures that timely and robust actions are taken to safeguard young people. Notifications to all relevant agencies ensure that safeguarding services, placing authorities and Ofsted are able to review the home’s response to incidents. This ensures appropriate action taken to follow procedures and protect young people. One Independent Reviewing Officer said ‘The communication with the home is good and I feel confident that they are consistent in alerting me to any 8 of 10 safeguarding issues’.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Complaints and allegations are treated seriously and in line with the provider’s own procedures. There have been no allegations or complaints made since the last inspection. Young people report no incidents of bullying within the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The health and safety of young people, staff and visitors within the home is a priority. The home has a continual programme of maintenance, which ensures timely repair and remedial work. Health and safety checks, including fire equipment and drills, are current and environmental risks assessments are in place. However, fire drills are not held at frequencies that ensure all staff and young people would know how to respond in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management good

The manager became registered in this post in 2007. She has a National Vocational Qualification, Registered Manager’s Award and a Diploma in Social Work. The deputy manager is currently undertaking the Level 5 Diploma. These are suitable qualifications for the management team. The Registered Manager has a wealth of knowledge and experience within residential childcare and maintains an up to date knowledge of children’s homes reform.

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Leadership and management good

The manager has demonstrated a commitment for continual improvement. Development plans for the forthcoming year reflect proposals to improve outcomes for young people. The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and takes action to tackle weakness and make improvements.

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Leadership and management good

A skilled and knowledgeable staff team look after young people. Staff develop professionally because they participate in a wide range of training. Recent developments include child sexual exploitation awareness and child trafficking training. Additionally, the staff and management team engage in routine training and consultation with a therapeutic professional to enhance knowledge and inform work practice with young people. As a result, young people benefit from an appropriately trained staff team.

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Leadership and management good

Staff are well supported, through regular and reflective supervision and appraisal. They routinely participate in team meetings that further promote individual and team practice. They say they feel supported by the manager. This means staff are fully supported to meet the needs of the young people.

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Leadership and management good

The effective operation of the home benefits from routine monitoring arrangements. Extensive and detailed quality assurance systems are undertaken both internally and by external visitors. These combined processes inform managers of potential shortfalls and ensure improvement is promoted. 9 of 10 Case records are meticulous. They are clear, up to date and stored securely, and contribute to an understanding of the young person’s life. Case records are accessible to young people upon request.

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Leadership and management good

The home demonstrates capacity for continuing improvement based on its record of accomplishment and performance since the last inspection. 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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