Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire Dales

Inspection report children’s home: SC036186 1 SC036186 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 children’s home under short-break arrangements. It provides care for up to eight children and young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities, including sensory impairment.

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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

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC036186 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/09/2017 Full Inadequate 23/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/10/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC036186 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44(1)) 14/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must-supply HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a)) 14/06/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This service has experienced some instability since the last inspection. Senior managers made the decision to suspend the service for a period following the identification of shortcomings in some care practices. Managers took quick and effective action to remedy these shortcomings. The service is now on a clear improvement trajectory.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy their breaks. They have excellent relationships with staff. Staff know each young person exceptionally well. Young people know that they are valued and well cared for during their short breaks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help young people to use and develop their own methods of communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Individual placement plans set realistic achievement targets for young people. For instance, one young person is encouraged to wash his own clothes, and another has learned to unpack and pack their bags.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and parents are strong. Staff provide very good family support, as well as reassurance and practical advice to parents or carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have developed strong and effective working relationships with social workers, healthcare professionals and teachers. The managers and staff are particularly good at sharing information that enables good decisions to be made for the benefit of young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC036186 4

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

In response to a number of medication errors, managers have overhauled the medication system and retrained all staff. The medication system is now effective and the likelihood of further errors has been minimised.

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

The staff have undergone extensive re-training in safeguarding children and young people. Safeguarding procedures have also been comprehensively reviewed. They now provide staff with the information and guidance that they need to keep young people safe.

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

Staff understand the particular risks and vulnerabilities of young people who have complex needs and disabilities. Risk assessments reflect these risks accurately.

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

Staff manage some very challenging behaviour with patience and understanding. Behaviour management plans are effective. They detail the triggers to challenging behaviour and the actions that staff should take. Physical intervention is rare as a result.

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

The manager monitors staff practice well. When she identified concerns, she acted immediately to put these right.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced, knowledgeable and qualified registered manager leads this service. She has successfully implemented a service development plan. This included the refurbishment of the home. Young people’s bedrooms now better match their needs and preferences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular individual supervision that focuses on the care of young people. Staff have annual appraisals in which objectives are set. These objectives are reviewed through the year. This practice ensures that staff are well supported and well trained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not ensured that regular monthly visits have taken place by an independent visitor. There have been two months when visits did not take place. Additionally, the manager has not ensured that Ofsted received the quality assurance report completed by the manager.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC036186 5 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: SC036186 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Phillip Morris, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036186 7 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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