Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 1 SC036248 Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home, providing care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 15 to 16 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people receive very good care from staff with whom they have formed positive and supportive relationships.  Young people are supported well to sustain important family relationships.  The manager and staff work collaboratively with other agencies. This means that young people receive the services that they need quickly.  Young people are given the support that they need to prepare them for leaving care. This support is both practical and emotional. Staff understand how challenging transitions can be for young people.  The manager and staff understand the individual vulnerabilities of young people. They complete good-quality risk assessments and take effective action to reduce risk. As a result, young people become safer.  Proactive behaviour management strategies have resulted in fewer incidents of negative behaviour. There are no physical interventions.  The manager is experienced, knowledgeable and respected by the staff team.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff receive very good support. Professional supervision and training provide them with the skills and knowledge that they need to provide good care.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Some young people are not currently achieving well in education.  Current strategies to engage children in education are not yet effective.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/04/2016 Full Good 26/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(viii)) 29/12/2017

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support staff to be ambitious for every child in the home and to gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. To ensure that staff understand and can meet each child’s needs, in line with their responsibilities, the registered person themselves will need to have a high level of understanding of the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5) Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people receive good-quality care from staff with whom they have developed strong relationships. The strength of these relationships helps young people to become settled and content. One young person said, ‘I love it here. The staff are great and treat us like their own kids. In fact, they spend more time with us than their own kids.’ Individual key-worker sessions take place regularly. These are of good quality, cover important matters facing young people, and help young people to make progress. The manager and staff promote relationships between young people and their families. Staff monitor arrangements for family meetings closely. They provide practical support to families and emotional support to young people. Young people’s experiences with education or training are inconsistent and some young people are not progressing well. Some young people refuse to attend education, including college placements. They also refuse to engage with any alternative provision

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

offered. The lack of education for these young people is likely to have a damaging effect on their future prospects. Partnership working is a strength of the home. The manager and staff have developed excellent relationships with social workers, therapists, schools and police. This ensures that services are available to meet the needs of each young person. The relationship with the child and adolescent mental health service is particularly good. Consequently, young people are given very good support with their emotional and mental health, including individual therapy and support. Staff also benefit from regular reflective team meetings with psychologists. This provides staff with the support, advice and guidance that they need to provide the best possible care. Regular house meetings give young people a forum to express their views, ideas and opinions. Young people also know how to complain if dissatisfied. When complaints are

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

made, the manager addresses these promptly. Young people have access to agencies independent of the home, including Ofsted and an independent advocacy service, to raise any worries or concerns. This means that young people’s rights are upheld and respected. Young people who are in the process of leaving the home and becoming independent receive very good support during this difficult transition. Transition planning takes place well in advance of the move, and key professionals are engaged by the manager and staff to provide young people with the best possible chance of success when moving. Young people, with the support of staff, develop the skills that they will need as adults. These include budgeting, laundry, and using public services. Young people are also helped to prepare for the emotional impact of independence. The day-to-day experiences of young people are positive and enriching. They enjoy

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

activities such as mega zone, going to football matches, playing the guitar and trips out. These experiences help to enhance the already positive relationships that young people have with staff, and develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 5

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people have become safer because the manager and staff understand each young person’s vulnerabilities and take effective action to reduce risk. The manager ensures that there are enough staff on duty to support young people who self-harm. Staff are highly vigilant. They provide excellent emotional support to young people in crisis. Young people feel able to confide in staff when their emotions become overwhelming. This has led to a decrease in incidents of self-harm. The behaviour of young people is good. Staff maintain strong and effective boundaries. When young people have breached boundaries, staff will impose sanctions, but these are rare. Staff are confident to have conversations with young people about expectations, and to negotiate compromises where appropriate. Staff have not had to resort to physical interventions to manage behaviour. Staff members describe a relationship- based approach to managing behaviour; they feel that this has enhanced the

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

management of challenging behaviour. Young people enjoy each other’s company. There is no bullying, harassment or antagonism in young people’s relationships. This has led to a home environment that is calm and relaxed, with a great deal of humour. Staff understand the damaging impact that bullying can have and take a proactive approach to improving relationships. The manager understands that young people can be at risk from those employed to care for them. To minimise this risk, he takes steps to ensure that staff go through a rigorous pre-employment vetting process. Management responses to concerns over the behaviour and conduct of staff are decisive. The manager ensures that the safety and welfare of young people is paramount. The manager completes a robust location assessment that takes into account the views of partner agencies such as the police. The manager and staff know the areas where there may be specific concerns and take action to divert young people from going to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A very experienced registered manager has led the service for over 12 years. He is nearing the completion of the diploma level 5 qualification for managers. An experienced and committed deputy manager supports him. Together, they lead a safe and stable home. The home is clean and furnished to a high standard. A recent redecoration has been completed well, providing a comfortable home that young people are proud of. Young people make this home their own. Their pictures, games and personal mementos are evident throughout. Staff work to a model of person-centred care. This approach prioritises young people’s need for secure relationships with the adults caring for them. In order to deliver this model of care, staff receive good professional supervision. Supervision provides support, Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 6 encouragement and challenge to staff. Training plans recognise the strengths of staff

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

and identify areas for further development. Staff need further support from the manager to tackle some resistance from young people, particularly in relation to education attendance and achievement. In the absence of new and innovative ideas, there is a risk that staff may lower their expectations of young people’s potential. The manager effectively monitors the quality of care. He receives monthly independent visitor reports, which help him to recognise strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, the manager welcomes feedback from young people, families and other professionals. The manager has completed a good development plan for the home that is ambitious but achievable.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 7

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Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

Registered provider address: County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG

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Inspector

Phillip Morris, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 8 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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