Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Assurance visit report: SC036248 1 SC036248

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns and runs this home. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 1 September 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 4 September 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC036248 2

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The care of children

Children form positive attachments to staff and managers. Over time, they learn to trust and share their feelings with their adult carers. One parent stated, ‘I cannot praise or thank them enough. The changes in our child have been significant over the past year.’

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The care of children

Children get to keep in touch with family, friends and others who are important to them. Staff promote and fully support them to maintain important relationships. This provides children with a sense of belonging and value.

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The care of children

Children receive appropriate healthcare support. This includes more-specialist support and services. Staff work well with other health agencies. One health lead specialist commended staff and managers for their comprehensive understanding of trauma and the impact on children.

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The care of children

Children have educational provisions in place. Their attendance, both during lockdown and since, has been sporadic. Meetings have taken place with involved agencies on a regular basis. More work needs to be done to ensure that the most appropriate educational provision is in place. This needs to be done in conjunction with the placing authority and education providers, with clear timescales.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the complex needs of children very well. They respond sensitively and adapt their approaches as needed. The use of restraints is minimal. This reflects the skill of the staff team in diffusing and de-escalating situations with children.

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The safety of children

Children understand the boundaries and support provided to them. Over time, they learn to discuss their thoughts and feelings openly with staff. This assists them to identify safer strategies to manage actual or potentially risky behaviours. One parent praised the staff for helping their child to reduce their outbursts and manage their own behaviours better.

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The safety of children

Incidents of children going missing from care are rare. Staff respond quickly and appropriately to any such incidents. There is a clear learning culture in the team. They adapt their practices and risk assessments to further reduce the risk of children going missing.

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The safety of children

The current risk assessments include a lot of detail about each child. They are regularly reviewed and updated by key workers. The layout of the information does not provide staff with a clear or easy sense of what strategies they should use if a child is at risk. The manager accepts this observation and intends to make changes to documentation. Assurance visit report: SC036248 3

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Leaders and managers

Managers and staff understand and respond to the complex need of children well. They work with a range of agencies, parents and carers to ensure children’s needs are known and met.

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Leaders and managers

Plans and documentation relating to children are comprehensive and reflect their current and changing needs. They are regularly reviewed and updated.

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Leaders and managers

There is robust and strong management oversight of all aspects of how the home is run. The registered manager has worked in this particular home for many years. She places the needs of children at the centre of her practice. Monitoring and review systems reflect strong leadership and management.

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Leaders and managers

Agencies and parents speak positively of the competence, commitment and skills of the staff team. They are seen as ‘family’ to the children, providing consistent and caring support at all times.

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Leaders and managers

Children have a voice in how the home is run. Any complaints or concerns they raise are responded to promptly by the manager. Children make a good contribution and their wishes, views and feelings are regularly sought and acted upon.

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Leaders and managers

Staff report feeling well supported by managers in their role. They receive regular and good-quality formal supervision. They also feel the training they receive equips them well for their roles.

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Leaders and managers

The requirements and recommendation made at the last inspection have been met.

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Recommendations

 When commissioning a placement in a children’s home, the placing authority must establish how the home will support the child’s educational needs. In accordance with regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met), homes must have proactive relationships with appropriate schools and educational support services. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.7)

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Recommendations

 If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk-taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7) Assurance visit report: SC036248 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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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

Tracy Murty, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC036248 5 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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