Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last 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

This service has made considerable progress since the last inspection, with the manager and staff acting quickly in response to the four requirements and one recommendation that were raised. The progress made includes the following.  The manger ensured that rapid action was taken to secure the perimeter of the home, making it safe by erecting new fencing, thereby reducing the risk of young people coming to harm.  All young people now attend school. They all have improved their attendance and are making progress.  The manager strengthened planning processes, which has improved young people’s care plans, meaning that young people are better safeguarded through effective safe care planning.  The manager and staff have improved the processes for recording incidents of behaviour management, including debriefing those involved.  Placement and safe care plans have detailed strategies about how to prevent young people leaving the home on an unauthorised basis, and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

actions required by staff should this happen.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s experiences and progress have improved. The manager and staff have made considerable progress in ensuring that this is happening in this home. The young people have benefitted from an improved physical environment. There have been improvements made throughout the home with new soft furnishing, redecoration and many photos of the young people and staff being displayed, leading to a homely and pleasant atmosphere. Despite the size of the building and it appearing dated in places, the manager and staff have worked hard to make striking improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people now benefit from significantly improved educational provision. Both young people living at this home, to their credit, have made progress in all areas. One young person is now attending school regularly; this is a marked improvement from the last inspection. The staff have worked closely with school through monthly meetings and almost daily communication to achieve this progress. The virtual school headteacher stated, ‘Attendance has been fantastic. There has been excellent communication between the home and school.’ Another young person has been attending college and undertaking work experience. This has provided him with additional skills and confidence in his abilities. Young people are now firmly on track to achieve progress in their educational development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand that helping young people develop confidence in their abilities is key to improving their self-esteem and helping them progress. One young person has received help to develop his love of football, supported by the staff team. He is now playing for a local team, and is taken to several training sessions per week. The manager and staff recently arranged for him to have a very special day out, watching the team he supports, where he also met some famous players. This was an occasion he will never forget, and has helped him build a sense of stability in the home and solidified his relationships with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safer because staff receive appropriate training and professional development. The staff team has received training in understanding what constitutes risk, including sexual exploitation, physical and emotional abuse, and the risks to young people when they are missing. Staff members receive training in the safe use of physical intervention and behaviour management. Consequently, a well-trained and developed staff team is able to better safeguard young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team now follows and understands essential plans designed to keep young people safe. Updated plans containing information derived from agencies working with young people help to direct staff practice and understand young people’s individual vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities relate to risks associated with sexual exploitation, going missing from care and safely managing behaviour. Safe care plans now provide qualitative and detailed information, such as recognising emotions and feelings, and the presentation of young people, thus enabling staff to intervene pre-emptively to keep young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has taken robust action when young people have raised concerns over the conduct of staff. Actions taken have been appropriate and in line with local safeguarding procedures. The welfare of young people is paramount and accordingly the manager treats complaints and allegations with the utmost importance.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff members receive support and supervision, and are accountable in their work with young people. The staff team receives regular developmental reviews, their training needs are evaluated, and any identified training needs met. This means that the young people receive good and safe care from well supported and trained staff. The staff team has good and positive relationships that are mutually respectful. Staff communicate well and feel confident to raise any concerns they may have with management. This staff team is cohesive and focused on driving forward progress for young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This registered children’s home is operated by a local authority and can provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/09/2015 Full Requires improvement 04/08/2015 Full Inadequate 23/06/2015 Full Inadequate

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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 that 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 children looked after 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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