Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service continues to deliver good care to young people, but there is limited evidence to support overall improvement since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have not benefited from care provided by a stable and consistent workforce and management team. The registered manager and deputy have been away on long-term sickness absence. An acting manager and deputy currently lead the service. Additionally the staff team have experienced instability with a number of staff leaving for a variety of reasons. This has led to young people experiencing care from a changing staff team. This impacts upon young people’s abilities to form trusting relationships with consistent people in their lives, which is fundamental to helping young people make progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager receives a monthly report from an independent visitor monitoring the quality of care provided by the home. The reports often lack the views of parents or relatives of young people. These views are crucial in enabling the manager to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services provided by the home and to support the overall development of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The attendance of young people at school and college remains good. Young people enjoy going to school and continue to make good progress. They are on track to achieve successful outcomes. For example, one young person is undertaking a performing arts course at school and college. To his credit, he recently took a lead role in a local stage production, which was a resounding success. His confidence has grown in his abilities; he is enjoying his life and consequently making excellent progress. Another young person has received good support from staff to enrol on a foundation course, and following this they have helped him maintain his attendance and participation. This is a big achievement for this young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive good nurturing care and support when they move into independent living. Staff consistently implement young people’s leaving care plans well. Young people are able to develop practical skills required to live on their own as a result of this work. Staff and other services help to prepare the young person’s accommodation, help them gradually move in and offer ongoing outreach support. Young people are encouraged to return to the home for meals, support, and advice and for staff to wash and launder clothes if required. This provides evidence that staff retain their commitment to young people as any good parent would when their children leave home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s health care assessments and plans are reviewed in a timely manner and any actions that are identified as a result are implemented immediately. All young people are registered with primary health care services. Some young people smoke, and staff have ensured that they have received help and guidance from health care professionals to support a reduction in their smoking. Individual key work sessions also take place between young people and staff, looking at the damaging and harmful consequence of smoking. The psychological and emotional wellbeing of young people are a priority for staff and managers. The organisation works with a psychologist who offers individual therapy to young people and supports the staff team to understand the feelings and emotions of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s medications are safely stored safely and records are appropriately maintained regarding their administration. All staff receive training and development in the safe administration of medicines and there is robust auditing and oversight of this process by the manager. This ensures young people receive the medication they need safely and in line with their prescription.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff employ effective approaches to managing young people’s behaviour. Staff members spend time with young people and build good relationships. Young people will talk to staff and confide in them, sharing their worries or anxieties. Discussion, negotiation, and compromise replaces the need for punitive behaviour management and as a result, physical interventions are extremely rare. The staff have clear expectations regarding behaviour. Young people benefit from this, as they understand what constitutes acceptable behaviour. There has been some significant incidents concerning young people since the last inspection, often related to self-harm, alcohol miss-use or use of substances. Staff have responded to these situations well, ensuring the welfare of young people is paramount. The home have notified Ofsted appropriately and sought out specialist services to support young people with these issues, as well as providing direct work sessions

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to prevent recurrence. All significant events receive robust management scrutiny and on occasion were managers have found areas for improvement this is rigorously addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four requirements were made at the last inspection. Managers responded quickly and positively to these requirements. Staff members have received training and development in relation to responding quickly to safeguarding incidents and ensuring the correct procedures are followed. Improvements have been made to safe care plans, meaning that there are clear lines of communication and collaboration with partner agencies. Additionally the staff team have benefited from increased levels of support from the psychologist working with the service, helping them develop their understanding of the complex behaviours displayed by young people. Communication between managers has improved so that all relevant information regarding young people is now shared and actions that are identified are completed. The regularity of supervision for staff members is improved and now in line with the policy of the organisation.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/09/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Good 10/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person to-

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Requirement Due date

(d) ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

(e) ensure the homes workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 15/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person- if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and person's working at the home as the independent person requires. (Reg 44(2)(a)) 15/02/2017

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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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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