Children's Home run by DMR Services Ltd in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 1

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DMR Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and support for up to five children and young people. It is owned by a private provider.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inadequate judgement from the full inspection on 18 June 2019, Ofsted issued a restriction notice. This prevents the provider from accepting any new admissions until 13 September 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the restriction notice. The seven requirements set at the full inspection will be reviewed at a further full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the inspection, the home accommodated three young people.

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This monitoring visit

The evidence provided in this inspection demonstrated that the provider had put in place improved operating systems. However, the restriction notice will remain in place. This is because improvements need to be fully implemented and sustained before additional young people can be safely admitted to the home.

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This monitoring visit

Young people say that they feel safe. The dynamics between the young people are more positive. They report no bullying and say that they are happier.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that young people have more structured days. Clear routines have been implemented. Rules are clear, with incentives and consequences for each young person. This is leading to improved behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, safeguarding incidents have vastly reduced. However, new behaviours currently being displayed by one young person present fresh safeguarding risks. Staff have not been proactive to prevent an escalation of risks. This means that staff do not yet display effective safeguarding practice. This is Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 2 because they do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities. Managers have now implemented plans to prevent the young person from engaging in risk- taking behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that all staff are working towards achieving a relevant qualification. A programme of training is scheduled to enable staff to have the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of each young person.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has received two further complaints about this home. These relate to safeguarding and care practice. The home has not been effective in developing or sustaining positive relationships within the local community.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback from professionals is variable. One social worker highlighted continued concerns about a decline in a young person’s behaviour. Other social workers have commended the provider and its ability to promote safe care and improved outcomes.

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This monitoring visit

The physical condition of the home has improved, both internally and externally. Young people’s bedrooms and bathrooms are of an acceptable standard. Significant work to the exterior of the home is under way to improve the home environment further. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2019 Full Inadequate 13/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/04/2018 Full Good 19/10/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 10/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 4

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 13/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of 13/09/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 5 bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iv)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)) 13/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d)) 13/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. 13/09/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)) 13/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; 13/09/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 7 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: DMR Services, 102 Queslett Road East, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B74 2EZ

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1245390 9 to 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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