Children's home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Inspection report children’s home: SC036243 1 SC036243 Registered provider: Derby City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not judged

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC036243 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2017 Interim Not judged 30/03/2017 Interim Not judged 31/08/2016 Interim Not judged 09/11/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC036243 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people feel very well supported by staff and managers. From their starting points, young people make good progress and enjoy positive experiences. As one young person said: ‘I like living in this home. It is really nice and the staff care about me.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s health needs are well understood and met. Staff work with a range of professionals to ensure that young people’s physical and emotional healthcare needs are met. Clear health plans and information enable staff to understand how young people’s needs should be met. Regular team around the child meetings take place. These enable all involved professionals to consider and plan ways to best meet young people’s needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have often had poor education experiences in relation to their engagement and attendance. Staff have devised clear and detailed plans for assisting young people to overcome the barriers to engagement. If a young person refuses to attend formal education, staff have clear plans and incentives in place. Staff robustly follow plans and work closely with education providers and the local virtual school service. There is a clear focus on improving education and training engagement for those young people who are struggling.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have access to a wide range of social activities. Staff work hard to ensure that young people can and do engage in the local and wider community. They support and encourage young people to form peer relationships and to have active and healthy lifestyles.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is positive planning to support young people to make the transition to adult life. Young people regularly undertake chores in the home. They prepare their own meals. Specific work is done by staff to identify their independence skills and needs. A self- contained flat, which is attached to the house, enables relevant young people to live semi-independently.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are able to keep in touch with family members, friends and other significant people. Staff support them to maintain and build on relationships. The role of the key worker is seen as important. Staff get to know the young people well and provide good emotional and practical support to them.

p.3

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

Young people reported that they feel safe. They understand their rights and know how to make a complaint. They feel able to raise any concerns or issues and said that they are confident in their issues being taken seriously by staff and managers.

p.3

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

Young people respond well and positively to incentive schemes. They understand the consequences of any negative or concerning behaviours. Plans and risk assessments clearly reflect their current and changing needs. Regular case file auditing means that Inspection report children’s home: SC036243 4 staff make necessary, timely changes to documents.

p.3

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

There are very positive and close working relationships with local police. A missing person liaison officer stated: ‘The staff work very well with us. They understand their roles and responsibilities. They seek advice from us, and I have no concerns about this home and how it supports young people at this time.’

p.4

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

Missing from care incidents have significantly reduced. Staff understand and follow protocols and risk assessments. They actively search for young people who go missing. They ensure that independent return home interviews are offered to young people. This provides an opportunity for staff and young people to consider the reasons for such behaviours and to amend risk assessments. Key work sessions further enable staff to work with young people to consider any concerning or risky behaviours.

p.4

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

Staff recruitment procedures are robust and prevent unsuitable adults from working with vulnerable children and young people. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home was closed from May 2016 until October 2018 for major refurbishment works. During that time, young people, staff and managers were moved to another property, which is registered with Ofsted.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous registered manager voluntarily cancelled their registration during that period and moved to manage another home in the local authority. Another very experienced manager has taken over this home. He is in the process of completing his application to register with Ofsted. During a recent and prolonged period of sickness absence of the manager, an acting manager has been in place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager has provided excellent management oversight and support. She has made significant changes to the recording procedures in the home. Case files reflect a detailed understanding of each young person and the ways in which their needs will be met.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff reported high levels of satisfaction in their roles. They feel well supported by managers. They reported having regular supervision and training opportunities. The changes in management arrangements have not had an adverse impact on either staff or young people. Staff morale is high.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers understand the complex needs of the young people. Managers are aspirational for young people and understand the blocks to their making positive progress. They work with agencies and professionals to ensure that young people make progress and receive the right services. As one placing social worker said: ‘I am really happy with how staff and managers support my young people to make progress.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No shortfalls were identified at the last inspection, and none have been identified as a Inspection report children’s home: SC036243 5 result of this inspection.

p.4

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.

p.5

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: SC036243 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Council House, Corporation Street, Derby DE1 2FS

p.6

Inspector:

Tracy Murty, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036243 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.

p.6

Inspector:

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector:

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector:

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

p.7