Children's Home run by Devon County Council in Devon

Inspection report children’s home: 2529648 1 Registered provider: Devon County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides short-break stays, as well as long-term care, for children who have a disability. It is owned and operated by the local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2019.

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Inspection date: 3 March 2020

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2019

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Inspection date: 3 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2529648 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three requirements have been met. The home needs some redecoration and modernisation to provide a warm and comfortable environment for the child. For example, the house was untidy and appeared uncared for. There were lots of drawings on the walls.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that the young person has fun and participates in a range of activities in the home and in the community. However, the approaches to behaviour management need review. The child’s bedroom light had been isolated at the switch. Shutters were covering the windows. This restrictive approach means that the child is not free to spend time in their room when they choose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since moving into the home, the child has made progress with their health, social skills and behaviour. For example, the child is sitting at the table to eat, has reduced their prescribed medication and has started to tidy up after themselves.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recruitment records for agency staff require improvement. This inspection highlighted gaps in the verification of references, employment history and reasons for leaving. The child is potentially at risk if staff are not properly checked for the role. Inspection report children’s home: 2529648 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2529648 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who–

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live their comfortably. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b), (2)(a)(b)(vii)) 15/05/2020

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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,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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)(d)) 15/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2529648 5

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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: 2529648 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devon County Council, Chief Executive’s Directorate, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4QD

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2529648 7 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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