Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 1 SC036248 Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home, providing care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional, behavioural, and social difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 4 September 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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good

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020. Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/07/2018 Full Good 15/11/2017 Full Good 10/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive highly personalised care and support. Staff show a commendable commitment to children and meeting their complex needs. A recurring comment from involved agencies is that staff and managers never give up on the children. Children are supported to overcome early life trauma and abuse. Consequently, children feel cherished and they make notable progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers work closely with a wide range of agencies. Regular meetings take place to consider the changing needs of each child. These meetings include social workers, health and education colleagues, as well as parents and/or carers. Agencies report high levels of satisfaction regarding the close partnership working. Managers challenge any actual or perceived failure to meet a child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good healthcare. This includes specialist support and assessments. Close partnership working is evident with child and adolescent mental health services. Children receive therapy and counselling as appropriate to meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education provision is in place for each child. Some children have missed a lot of formal education prior to moving to this home. Staff work to increase children’s self- esteem and confidence. They sensitively support children to begin to feel able to engage in education. Staff have yet to establish clear routines for children on the days that they are not attending external education provision. More structure is required during what should be a school day, to include education-focused support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional and mental health improves over time. This is due to the skill and competence of the staff, who are trained to support children using a therapeutic approach. Staff know each child well and they understand their life experiences. Children become more confident, secure, and able to manage their behaviours and emotions as a result of such good staff support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a voice in how the home is run and they see the home as their own. They understand their rights and how to voice any complaints, in the knowledge that their concerns will be responded to by managers. They are provided with independent advocacy support. One child has taken on the role of mentor to help new children moving into the home. This child has been able to share their experiences with newly placed children. A clear message is: ‘Staff will never give up on you, no matter what you do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children learn practical independence skills. The housekeeper supports those who are interested in learning to cook and bake. Staff support children to learn new skills. This increases their self-confidence and sense of belonging. It prepares them in developing practical skills for their eventual move to adult life. Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand the risks posed to and from children. They provide skilled care and support to ensure the safety of children living at this home. A new risk assessment format has been introduced to make sure that clear information and guidance is recorded. This supports staff to know what actions they need to take to protect children from harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children rarely go missing from care. When this does occur, clear risk assessments and protocols ensure a quick and appropriate response. Staff regularly review and update documents, to address any new risks or concerns. Over time, this has led to a reduction in concerning and risky behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use therapeutic methods in their work with children. Their skill and competence enables them to manage some very challenging behaviours well. Children understand that staff will always ensure their safety. There is a positive response to any risky or dangerous behaviours. This includes encouraging children to help staff to repair any damage caused to the home environment. Children learn to respect their property and begin to feel safe and secure. They learn that staff will not reject them due to incidents of difficult behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recruitment procedures ensure that unsuitable adults do not work in this home. Allegations against staff receive prompt attention by the manager. Staff understand the role of the designated officer and what action may need to be taken, in the event of an allegation being made about them. Staff feel well supported through the process.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been some reported incidents of bullying between children. Staff and managers respond well to such reports, but a more structured system to consider and review incidents of bullying would be helpful. More training for staff about bullying and how to respond is needed, as well as more work with children to address this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked in this home for several years. She demonstrates real commitment to both the children and staff team. She is held in high regard by children, staff and involved agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

She has a detailed understanding and awareness of the histories of each child and their complex needs. She can articulate their progress and how staff support them to make progress in all areas of their lives. She challenges other agencies, if any actual or perceived failure to provide necessary services for children is identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular formal and informal supervision. They report feeling part of a ‘family’ and they are committed to improving the life chances for the children in their care. Staff receive training to ensure that they have the necessary skills and competencies for their roles. A detailed induction process enables staff to shadow more experienced staff, and to read files, policies and procedures. This provides new Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 5 staff with a safe and well-planned induction to the home and the children living there.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed development plan in place. Management monitoring and review systems reflect her detailed awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and services provided. Positive relationships have been formed with neighbours and local businesses. The manager is keen to ensure that children, staff, involved agencies and the local community feel able to approach and discuss any issues with her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has formed very positive working relationships with professionals over the years. This has led to a consistent and proactive response to children’s needs. Consideration of new placements is very detailed. It includes contact being made with placing social workers and independent reviewing officers for children already living in the home. This approach enables professionals to consider any potential new placements with the manager. It reflects the commitment of the manager to ensuring, wherever possible, that suitable planned placements are made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children clearly have a positive relationship with both the manager and the deputy manager. Children feel able to express their wishes, views and feelings with managers, as well as staff. They feel respected and listened to. Case records reflect their involvement in all aspects of their care. Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure children are provided with clear structures and timetables for education and training, when not attending formal education or training settings. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure clear systems are in place for monitoring, recording and responding to any actual or potential concerns about bullying behaviours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.16)

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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: SC036248 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Tracy Murty, Social Care Inspector Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036248 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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