Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are happy here. They enjoy one-to-one time with staff, they engage in activities which they enjoy, and their behaviour, confidence and self-esteem improve as a result.  Children and young people benefit from being cared for by staff who have their best interests at the heart of their practice. Consequently they begin to build and sustain positive relationships with adults, which contribute to their increased emotional security and stability.  Staff have a very good understanding of how to protect vulnerable children and young people from being exploited, which is implemented in practice. They take their responsibilities very seriously. This, coupled with effective multiagency working, keeps children and young people safer.  Staff manage behaviour well and they demonstrate a good understanding of the reasons why children and young people may misbehave. Consequently, incidents of challenging behaviour reduce.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are well supported. They are a strong, child-focused team of qualified and experienced workers. Because children and young people are at the centre of their practice they are keen to learn and develop their skills, as well as challenge their colleagues and partners when necessary.  The registered manager has a number of plans to improve the service, which centre on children’s and young people’s participation, consultation and engagement. She demonstrates an openness to learning and a desire to improve outcomes for children and young people, which permeate through the rest of the staff team.  Improving the recording of medication, formally including radicalisation in the home’s safeguarding policy and procedure, improving the frequency of formal staff supervision, and ensuring, as far as possible, that children and young people are offered independent return interviews when they have been missing

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The children's home provision is good because:

from care are areas identified for development following this inspection. However, these shortfalls have not had a negative impact on the experience and progress of children and young people, which are good.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 registered person must ensure that a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (2)(c)) 30/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 30/09/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure any child who returns to the home after being missing or away from the home without permission is provided with the opportunity to have an independent return home interview, and that this information is taken into account when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home's policies and procedures in relation to the protection of children reflect the requirements of other relevant legislation, with particular reference to the risks from radicalisation. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 44, paragraph 9.22)

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children’s home is registered for five children or young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It has recently had its registration numbers reduced from 15 as a consequence of a major variation application and new premises.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/12/2014 CH - Interim Sustained Effectiveness

p.5

Good

Children and young people are happy at this home. They like the staff, they have begun to develop trusting relationships with them, and as a result, their emotional well-being is significantly improved. One young person described the home as ‘badass’. Parents and professionals comment positively about the progress children and young people have made. One stakeholder said: ‘There has been a vast improvement in behaviour, attitude and outlook.’ Another said: ‘There is a massive improvement, all bases are covered and the young person is doing very well.’

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Good

Children and young people recognise the changes and progress they have made. One said: ‘I am proud of myself as I’ve done better.’ Staff echo this sentiment and express a lot of pride in the children’s and young people’s achievements. One young person said, ‘There are loads of activities.’ The success and confidence which taking part in enjoyable legitimate pursuits engenders is a further driver in improved self-esteem. For example, young people go boxing, swimming, they enjoy music and one young person is developing real skills in becoming a DJ. This has had a significant impact on all aspects of his development. Staff encourage such enjoyment by, for example, facilitating a trip to London to see a particular idol.

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Good

Children and young people are settled. For some, this is the longest time they have remained in a placement, which is testament to the commitment of staff to provide stability and security. Some young people have improved their educational attendance significantly and are encouraged to achieve as they have plans for their future. Others are not doing as well but staff advocate tirelessly to try and make a difference, challenging partners, using innovative ways to encourage attendance and engaging relevant agencies.

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Good

Children and young people who are new to the home are welcomed and put at their ease. A young person has responsibility for ensuring the welcome packs are relevant and complete, which has benefits for all concerned. The children’s guide is being updated, but the current one is part of the pack and displayed in the home. This gives good information about what to expect and who to contact if there are any concerns. Children and young people have their health needs well met. They are registered with the appropriate agencies and encouraged to keep appointments. The looked after children nurse has regular contact with the home and her expertise is appropriately engaged. Other agencies, such as those which deal with drug and alcohol misuse, and the child and adolescent mental health service, are also utilised.

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Good

There are shortfalls in the recording of medication. Some missed doses of a prescribed medication were not recorded on the appropriate medication sheet with the reason why. This particular shortfall has not had an impact on the well-being of the person concerned but a proper audit trail of medication is essential to promote good health.

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Good

Children and young people say they can talk to staff at the home and trust them to listen and act. One young person said: ‘Staff help me and can sort things.’ They feel fully engaged. For example, one young person is the champion of the young people’s meetings. She has embraced this responsibility and ensures that relevant issues are discussed. This has made the meetings more meaningful as they are owned by the children and young people.

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Good

Children’s and young people’s involvement in the new home is evident. They chose their rooms, chose the colour schemes, their views were taken into account in the purchase of small items, and as a result, they want to make sure it is kept nice and not damaged. The accommodation is delightful. It is very homely, decorated and furnished to a very high standard, and all bedrooms provide en-suite wet room facilities. The contrast to the previous premises, which were dated and institutional, is almost indescribable.

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Good

Children and young people contribute to reviews and meetings to discuss their care plans. One young person recently stayed for all of the meeting, which was a big achievement. Staff provide thorough reports for reviews; one reviewing officer described the quality of the last report as ‘excellent’. Staff also encourage young people to complete their consultation forms and advocate on their behalf where necessary.

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Good

Children and young people see family and friends, and staff support them in this. One parent has been engaged in trying to assist her child with school attendance, coming to the home to give her active involvement to the task. This is one example of good partnership working and innovation.

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Good

The young people who have recently left the home have done so in a planned way and staff mark this by going out for a celebratory meal with them, when this is appropriate. Their independence skills were promoted through the independent living tool, which is being further developed to look at building resilience as well as practical skills.

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Good

All the children and young people in the home feel safe and they are made safer as a result of effective staff practice. Staff demonstrate a well-developed knowledge and understanding of how children’s and young people’s vulnerabilities make them susceptible to exploitation in all its forms. Staff are particularly knowledgeable about how to protect children and young people from sexual exploitation. The home has champions who attend regular meetings and share information to ensure the whole staff team benefit from their expertise. The staff work very effectively in partnership with relevant safeguarding agencies in the public and voluntary sector. Stakeholders comment: ‘Staff handle missing from care very well’, and, ‘There is good communication, staff share their concerns and update me appropriately.’ Staff are proactive in addressing concerns, for example, if children and young people have been sold alcohol and cigarettes. They contact the licensing

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Good

department and provide information so that this can be addressed with the shopkeepers.

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Good

Risk is well managed through comprehensive and clear risk assessments which guide staff to minimise risk. Risk-taking behaviour is decreasing. This includes the misuse of illegal substances. Although children and young people continue to have unauthorised absences, incidents of being missing have reduced. Children and young people are usually offered an independent interview on their return, but this is not consistent and the manager is not able to fully demonstrate her response if this does not occur. Although staff are also aware of the risks from radicalisation, the home does not have a formal written policy and procedure which addresses this issue and which would provide staff with more detailed guidance to inform their practice.

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Good

Behaviour is well managed and is a strength of the home. Behaviour management plans have improved as a result of feedback from external monitoring. Positive behaviour is effectively promoted through incentives, and consequently sanctions are rare. The use of physical intervention is also decreasing because young people’s behaviour has improved. Outbursts are less frequent and of a lower intensity than previously. One stakeholder commented of a young person’s behaviour, ‘it is a completely different child.’ Children and young people have a computer in their room, and although access to some sites is restricted, they can access popular social networking sites. Safe use is addressed through education so that children and young people know how to keep themselves safe. There is also regular monitoring of the sites used.

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Good

Children and young people have their safety further promoted through safe staff recruitment and the maintenance of a safe environment.

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Good

There have been a number of significant changes since the last inspection. The premises have been completely rebuilt on the same site and now comprise two separately registered homes, each accommodating up to five children and young people. There is a new registered manager in each home as a consequence of these changes. The registered manager for this home was formally the unit manager with many years’ experience in residential childcare. She has a national vocational qualification at level 4 in management and childcare and is currently undertaking the Level 5 Diploma, which is due to be completed by the end of the year. She is therefore an experienced manager and is providing effective leadership to the well-established team.

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Good

A child-focused ethos permeates throughout the home. It is very evident that the home is run for the benefit of the children and young people. They have been fully included in decision making regarding the move, the choice of furnishings and colour schemes. The manager has plans to further develop their participation, inclusion and engagement.

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Good

Monitoring is used effectively to improve the quality of care. For example, recommendations from a recent external monitoring report have been used to improve behaviour management support plans and individual consultations with young people. The internal monitoring is rigorous. A new format has been devised which addresses the quality standards in some depth and enables an evaluation of how the home is operating in relation to these. The manager welcomes advice and ideas from all sources and is keen to improve the service for the benefit of the children and young people.

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Good

Children’s and young people’s outcomes are regularly monitored to ensure the home is having a positive impact on their lives. Monthly professionals’ meetings ensure that children’s and young people’s progress is regularly evaluated and all relevant partners are engaged to provide appropriate support. Partnership working is effective. Communication is good and one stakeholder said, ‘They are very good at getting back to you.’ Another commented, ‘The relationship with staff is really good.’ Nonetheless, if partners are not providing an effective service, the manager is not afraid to challenge, and has done so, for example, in relation to education placements and transition planning. Staff also communicate well with parents and keep them well informed.

p.9

Good

Staff are appropriately qualified, trained and feel well supported. They comment, ‘The support is amazing’, and, ‘Managers are fantastic’. The frequency of formal supervision has dwindled in the last few months, however, for a variety of reasons including staff sickness and the change of premises. Consequently staff have had fewer opportunities to reflect on their practice in this more formal setting.

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Good

Staff work well as a team and recognise each other’s strengths so that together they provide consistent and effective support to improve children’s and young people’s life chances. Each member of staff has responsibility for particular areas which they research and share with the rest of the team. There is an open culture which encourages asking questions and challenge, thereby improving staff practice and enabling them to gain a greater understanding of the underlying reasons behind young people’s behaviour.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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