Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council

Inspection report children’s home: 2506082 1 Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority operated home that provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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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

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2506082 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have continued to display unsettled behaviour since the last inspection. Some children have moved to alternative placements in an unplanned way after incidents. However, the placing authority was slow to find an alternative placement for a child, despite the registered manager clearly stating that staff were unable to keep them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The difficulties that staff have faced in managing challenging behaviour have resulted in some poor outcomes for children. For example, a child was assaulted by another child. One child, who had not smoked before moving to the home, is now smoking and taking illegal substances. Education has been disrupted for children because significant incidents throughout the night have resulted in non-attendance or difficulty engaging at school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has become a more settled environment in recent weeks for the child who has remained living in the home. Staff have been creative about his education and, consequently, he has started to engage. He is also now settling better at night. A social worker said: ‘Improvement in sleeping is a sign of him feeling safe.’ He is not smoking as much and has stopped taking illegal substances. He has started to play again. The child appears happier and more settled. He said that the staff are ‘decent’ and his bedroom is ‘like a palace’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team is qualified and experienced. Staff try to build positive and nurturing relationships with children. However, because children were often unsettled at night, staff became very tired. Staff were unable to fully complete other duties such as record keeping. Despite this, staff feel very well supported by the management team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of health and safety issues have not been addressed. The home does not have any fire signage, which is contrary to the home’s fire risk assessment. Also, a child has been able to place themselves at risk by standing on a window ledge that is approximately three metres from the ground and is easily accessible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The newly registered manager is appropriately qualified and provides supportive and clear leadership. He is a good advocate for the children. During a difficult period, the registered manager and his deputy were working shifts to support the children because of a shortage of staff. This meant that some management tasks were not being fully completed. Inspection report children’s home: 2506082 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2506082 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

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)) 30/04/2020

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 2506082 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Derbyshire County Council, County Offices, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG

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Inspector(s)

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2506082 6 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 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: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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