Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 1 SC036019 Registered provider: Derby City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who are vulnerable and whose behaviours can be challenging.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 4 September 2018

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness. This inspection was carried out in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and staff have experienced several changes in recent months. A new manager has introduced a raft of changes, including various recording mechanisms to monitor the progress and safety of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy a range of activities, and one recently enjoyed a holiday abroad with staff. These events provide new opportunities and experiences for young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from individual training and education programmes. Staff work hard to encourage attendance to help young people to progress with their learning. Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 2 Incidents of bullying have been significantly reduced. Improved recording and monitoring, staff training, multi-agency support and very good work with individual young people have led to this reduction.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people being missing from home and associated risks of exploitation continue to be a concern for staff and managers. However, good multi-agency work and the implementation of new strategies have led to a reduction in incidents. Young people are safer as a result.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager recognises the impact that change can have on young people and staff, and works hard to minimise any negative effects. Support for staff is a current priority for the manager. Several training courses have commenced, the frequency of team meetings has increased and supervision takes place regularly. Supervision is provided by senior staff with experience in this area. This meets a recommendation made at the previous inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing levels are low. To address this issue, staff are sometimes moved between different homes. This does not provide consistency for the young people, and it makes it hard to build a strong and cohesive staff team. The service is in the process of recruiting new staff. Agency staff are sometimes used. Their training records show several areas where training is now out of date. These include safeguarding, fire safety and medication training.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has been in post for several months, but has not yet applied to be registered.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording is generally good. There are some inconsistencies in recording episodes of young people being missing as opposed to young people being absent, with some confusion between the different terms. Similarly, there have been occasions when records of accidents have been duplicated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/05/2018 Full Inadequate 18/04/2017 Full Good 08/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 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 the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31(1))

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Requirement Due date

This is with reference to agency staff having the appropriate training and the use of staff from other homes to cover shortages. 31/01/2019

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Recommendations

 Any alterations to staffing arrangements should take into consideration the need for consistency for young people and for staff. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.12)

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Recommendations

 Staff should record information carefully and clearly and avoid using stigmatising language. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 4

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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 difference 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

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

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: SC036019 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Becket Children’s Centre, 35 Stockbrook Street, Derby DE22 3WR

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Inspector(s)

Judith Longden, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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