Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Assurance visit report: SC036240 1 SC036240

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who need support with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since February 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Visit dates: 30 September to 1 October 2020

p.1

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).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

p.1

Information about this visit

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

p.1

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.

p.1

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: SC036240 2

p.1

The care of children

Staff do not fully understand young people’s complex behaviours. Staff training records are unclear. It is difficult to ascertain whether all staff have attended training, specifically, to understand the main risks for the young people living at the home.

p.2

The care of children

Staff help young people to develop independence skills, but these are not always monitored effectively. Important areas of young people’s care have been neglected. Ineffective checks have meant that their accommodation is in a poor state of cleanliness.

p.2

The care of children

Education for young people has been a challenge during the pandemic. Staff have been creative in using incentives, and activities, to encourage continued progress. Although this has been met with a mixed response, there have been significant improvements in attendance.

p.2

The care of children

Young people found the lockdown challenging. Rules were not always followed. Staff used various methods to ensure that contact was maintained with families during this time. They used outside space to maintain distance, and they also used technology to keep in touch.

p.2

The safety of children

Risk management plans for young people identify the risks they are exposed to. The strategies to safeguard against these risks are not effective. They have limited impact on the monitoring of young people and in reducing their behaviours.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager and staff work together with partner agencies to meet young people’s complex needs. Although progress is limited, staff remain focused in promoting young people’s progress and achievement.

p.2

The safety of children

Medication administration processes have improved. Staff have responsibility for the safety of this system. There are regular audits. This means that the staff’s support of young people’s health and well-being has improved.

p.2

The safety of children

Systems for monitoring when young people are missing from the home, or return home late, are effective. Staff follow the procedures and an independent return home interview is always offered. This means that young people can discuss the reasons for going missing or being absent without consent.

p.2

The safety of children

There are a low number of incidents of physical intervention. When incidents do occur, records are detailed with clear analysis. Reflective discussions take place with the young person, and with staff. Assurance visit report: SC036240 3

p.2

Leaders and managers

The manager has not challenged the local authority effectively in relation to placing young people at the home whose needs cannot be met. This means that the safety and well-being of all young people has not been prioritised.

p.3

Leaders and managers

When practice concerns are identified with the staff team, the approach to this is not consistent. The manager cannot guarantee that all the staff who are working with young people are monitored.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Relationships with partner agencies, including health and social care, are good. They acknowledge the challenges posed by the pandemic, and the impact on the support given to young people.

p.3

Leaders and managers

One requirement made at the last inspection has not been met. This is repeated with additional requirements and recommendations.

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

if they consider a placing authority’s or 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)) 16/11/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.3

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 16/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC036240 4 that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(b)(c)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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)(b)) 16/11/2020

p.4

Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risk to them. (‘Guide to Children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, Page 61, 13.1)  The registered person should support staff to be ambitious for every child in the home and to gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. To ensure that staff can understand and can meet each child’s needs, in line with their responsibilities, the registered person themselves will need to have a high level of understanding of the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to Children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, Page 52, 10.5)

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Derby City Council, Treasurers Department, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby DE1 2FE

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sharon Green Assurance visit report: SC036240 5 Registered manager: Simeon Howell

p.4

Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC036240 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.5

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 .

p.6

Inspector

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 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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6