Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire Dales

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439882 1 SC439882

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Derbyshire County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people with physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties. The home provides long-term care and short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the home has not provided short-break care for children. At the time of this monitoring visit, three children were accommodated on a full-time basis.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was last visited by Ofsted for a full inspection in September 2019 and was judged as Good.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review potential concerns identified by the home’s independent visitor. The monitoring was undertaken remotely. Children were seen and spoken to via video calls. A tour of the building was also completed by video call.

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This monitoring visit

The independent visitor’s report highlighted the following issues:  Staff reported that they were operating a skeleton staff team. This was impacting on their ability to prepare and provide meals for children at a weekend.  The kitchen was locked at weekends.  Staff reported a lack of management presence at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team have responded positively to the challenges that they have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, staff have not always had a clear understanding about management arrangements. This has led staff to feel detached Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439882 2 from the manager at times. Despite this, day-to-day management oversight has been maintained by the deputy manager. The registered manager has acknowledged the views of staff during team meetings. Changes have been made to address staff’s concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback from other professionals confirms that staff have maintained a focus on the safety and well-being of children. Two children have moved in to the home during the pandemic. One child’s progress is reported to be ‘incredible’. His social worker said, ‘I love coming to the home. Staff are amazing. It was a really well-managed transition to the home and a great outcome for the young person.’

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This monitoring visit

Children are comfortable and settled at the home. Children were observed to be calm and enjoying their interactions with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have a clear understanding of the children’s needs. They know how to keep children safe. They have confidence in the management team to deal with any safeguarding matters effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Some children need high levels of support and attention at mealtimes. Managers have addressed, in part, concerns about the impact of reduced staffing levels, particularly around mealtimes. There are now usually sufficient staff to support children well. However, there are still occasions when this has not been achieved. Although staff and young people do not have access to the main kitchen at weekends, they do have access to kitchens and can prepare meals.

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This monitoring visit

The managers have worked hard to ensure that government guidance has been followed while ensuring that children maintain contact with people who matter to them. Parents are grateful for this. A parent said, ‘The manager has gone out of her way to ensure that we have continued to see our child.’

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This monitoring visit

The requirement and recommendations from the last inspection were considered at this visit. These have been addressed. A recommendation is made relating to staff deployment and recording.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/09/2019 Full Good 10/10/2018 Full Outstanding 21/11/2017 Full Outstanding 27/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439882 3

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Recommendations

 As outlined in 10.1, the registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. Staffing structures should promote continuity of care from the child’s perspective. If children complain, or give a view on how the staffing structure could be improved to promote the best care for them, appropriate action should be taken. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC439882 4 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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