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

Inspection report children’s home: SC062536 1 SC062536 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 six young people who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who is currently undertaking the relevant qualification.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC062536 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2017 Full Good 26/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/09/2016 Full Good 25/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC062536 3

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Recommendations

 Staff should have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12). This is in relation to staff receiving training and developing skills to alert them to risks associated with wider contextual safeguarding issues such as gang affiliation and criminal exploitation.  Regulations 35−39 detail the records that must be kept in all children’s homes (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3). In particular, in line with schedule 4, copies of actual rosters worked need to be clear about who is on shift at all times of the day and night.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress in many aspects of their lives because of the care and support they receive from the staff. A young person who has very recently left the home said: ‘I think if it had not been for the staff I may have ended up in prison. The opposite has happened. I am now a happy adult who is doing well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team works tirelessly to form and maintain positive relationships with young people. The young people learn to trust the adults caring for them. They open up about their worries and experiences, because they know that they can rely on the staff to support them unconditionally. This enhances their sense of safety and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is given a high priority. Most young people are making good educational progress. Some are awaiting their GCSE examination results and have developed aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people feel valued as part of the household, which is warm and welcoming. They also feel valued as part of their local community. Recently, the young people, with the support of staff, had fun decorating their garden in an ‘Alice in wonderland’ theme. This won an award for the best garden in the town. The young people have also enjoyed a summer holiday at Centre Parcs. They participated in a range of exciting activities, which gave them a real sense of achievement. A young person said: ‘I am very proud of what I did, especially the zip wire.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two young people have recently reached adulthood and have successfully transitioned into semi-independent accommodation. Staff keep in touch with them. This helps reduce the risk of isolation and means that these young adults have an ongoing source of Inspection report children’s home: SC062536 4 support, which they value.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the young people to maintain or enhance their relationships with family members and those important to them. One young person has recently transitioned home and others are now enjoying improved relationships with family members. A young person commented: ‘The staff have helped me re-build my relationship with my mum. We get on well now.’

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

Young people feel safe living in this home. One explained: ‘I feel safe because I know the staff will always protect me. I have a safe word and if I ring and say it, I know staff will come straight to me. They all have my back.’

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

For some young people, incidents of risky behaviours reduce. For example, one young person has stopped self-harming. Trusting relationships with staff alongside an effective multi-agency package of support have enabled another young person to develop improved insight into risks around sexual exploitation. A child protection manager said: ‘As a result of the young person sharing her worries and experiences, actions are being taken to safeguard her and other children in the community.’

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

Regularly updated, clear and detailed safe care plans, strictly followed by staff, help keep young people as safe as possible.

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

On the few occasions when young people have gone missing, diligent actions taken by staff mean that young people are quickly located and welcomed back home. The manager and staff use the information gathered in return home interviews to inform young people’s safe care plans and reduce the number of incidents.

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

Proactive behaviour support systems are effective. Incentives and rewards motivate young people. It is a testament to the skills of the staff team in motivating young people and de-escalating challenging behaviours that physical intervention has not been necessary.

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

During this inspection period, there have been occasions when there has not been a waking night staff member to supervise and monitor young people during the night. On two occasions, this resulted in concerns being raised by young people about what may be happening during the night. The manager has reflected on this and now ensures that there is always a waking night staff member on duty. This eliminates the risk of similar concerns being raised and enhances the safety of young people during the night.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well led by an aspirational and committed registered manager. The staff hold her and her deputies in high regard. The manager leads by example. Morale is high. The staff like working in the home and they share their managers’ passion to improve outcomes for young people. A very stable and committed staff team knows its young Inspection report children’s home: SC062536 5 people extremely well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the management team. They have regular supervision. They also attend regular reflective practice meetings facilitated by a psychologist. This helps the staff to consider the individual needs of young people, reflect on their practice and agree how to best support each young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are appropriately qualified or working towards an appropriate qualification. All are well trained, including having specific training relating to issues that affect young people currently living in the home. Staff would, however, benefit from some additional training in respect of potential risks that could emerge in the future, in particular, training which would help all staff to be alert to the signs and risks associated with issues such as gang affiliation, criminal exploitation and county lines.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people’s case records are of a good quality. Their progress and achievements are well documented. Newly developed ‘journey files’ provide young people with a positive and accurate reminder of their time at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is reflective and insightful. She knows the strengths and development needs of the home. She monitors and analyses practice and outcomes through detailed regulation 45 reporting. The manager has clear plans to continually improve young people’s experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records, specifically in relation to rosters worked, as required by the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, lack clarity in respect of how many staff have been on shift during some nights. As a result, important information is not readily available to inform future planning or any future investigation that may arise.

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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: SC062536 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Rachel Griffiths, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC062536 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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