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 judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is evidence that the progress made by young people since the last full inspection has continued. This is particularly relevant in education, training and employment. All the young people either attend school or a training provider, or are on an apprenticeship. Some young people have experienced considerable instability in education, resulting in them displaying resistance to attending and engaging with school. This has now improved. For example, one young person is now attending a mainstream school and the overall plan is full-time integration, which is a significant improvement for this young person relative to his starting point upon moving to the home. Another young person is now on track to achieve success in GCSE exams and is predicted to achieve A to C grades. She has received considerable help and support to overcome her fears and anxieties about education, and has consequently grown in confidence. Another young person is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

about to embark upon a vehicle maintenance apprenticeship. In order to achieve success for young people, the manager and staff have established a culture of high expectations through help and support for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from, and enjoy, good relationships with staff. There is warmth, nurture and considerate care afforded to the young people, and one young person stated of his relationship with the manager, ‘He is like a dad to me’. The staff speak affectionately and respectfully about young people, and demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the young people, their care plans, vulnerabilities and strengths. As a result, the home presents as warm and friendly, with a positive atmosphere in which the progress, achievement and happiness of young people take priority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health and well-being of young people are very important to staff. Young people access the services of primary healthcare professionals and are provided with immediate medical care, if needed. Young people and staff benefit from the services of the clinical psychologist assigned to the home, who offers advice, guidance and support to the staff team in meeting the emotional and psychological needs of young people. The psychologist will provide therapy for young people, if this is deemed beneficial. Young people have benefited from living in a settled home since the last inspection. There have been no physical interventions, and sanctions for negative behaviour are rare. The staff team manages the behaviour of young people effectively. The manager and staff reward positive behaviour to divert young people from engaging in negative behaviour. When the behaviour of young people is unacceptable, the manager and staff undertake restorative work. This helps

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people to develop a deeper understanding of the impact on others of their behaviour. Since the last inspection, there have been some significant incidents. The manager and staff managed these incidents well, and in accordance with the policy and procedure of the organisation. The staff and manager ensure that detailed recording of incidents takes place, together with a comprehensive debriefing of the staff and young people involved. This process helps the manager, staff and young people to understand the triggers or events leading to the incident in order to learn valuable lessons that may prevent their recurrence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An acting manager leads the service effectively and is committed, with a clear sense of direction, to driving up standards to benefit young people. The manager is currently in the process of registration with Ofsted. An experienced and knowledgeable deputy manager supports the manager, and they both receive a good level of support from senior management. The manager took effective action in meeting the two requirements and two recommendations raised at the last inspection:  There is now improved engagement with social workers in relation to contact arrangements between young people and their families. This helps to keep young people safe in their communications with family members.  Staff members received additional support from the clinical psychologist in developing their understanding of the emotional impact on young people of their family’s circumstances, and the implications for their behaviour and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

well-being.  Significant progress has been made in relation to securing an education provision for a young person.  The young person’s guide has been revised and updated, and is now a strong document that young people will find interesting and informative. Young people receive the help and support that they need from a staff team that receives appropriate training, development and guidance. The staff have undertaken the mandatory training required to provide good care to young people. They have opportunities to extend their knowledge and skills through additional training and development. Staff receive support and supervision, and are accountable for their work with young people, meaning that they are informed, knowledgeable and skilled in protecting young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home which provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home’s statement of purpose indicates that the age range is between 11 and 18 years of age.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/11/2016 Full Good 23/09/2015 Full Requires improvement 06/08/2015 Full Inadequate 14/01/2015 Full Adequate

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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