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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC036186 1 SC036186 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 children’s home under short break arrangements. It provides care for up to eight children and young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities, including sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 21 October 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC036186 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/10/2019 Full Good 04/10/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/05/2018 Full Good 01/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC036186 3

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outstanding

The highly dedicated staff team provides exceptional care. As a result, all children have positive experiences and make excellent progress. During the pandemic, the service has offered emergency full-time placements while continuing to provide the well-established short breaks provision. The members of the staff team have adapted to these changes very well. They have shown great resilience, working creatively and flexibly to support children and their families.

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outstanding

The members of the staff team pride themselves on building long-term, supportive relationships with children and families. There are excellent working relationships between staff and families. Some children have been accessing the service for several years. Children have formed very positive attachments to staff. These strong attachments enhance children’s self-esteem and support their personal development. One parent said: ‘I wouldn’t trust anyone else; the staff know my children so well.’ Another parent said: ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about where I would be without this service.’

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outstanding

The communal indoor and outdoor areas are very well decorated, colourful and welcoming. Children have access to a wide range of toys and play equipment. Children enjoy and benefit from this space. Bedroom furnishings and decoration are carefully planned around children’s individual needs. As a result, the home environment is nurturing and children feel comfortable.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of individualised care planning. Children’s care plans are exceptionally well written, ensuring that staff have a thorough understanding of each child’s preferences, routines, personal care needs and communication methods. There is extensive evidence of children’s specific communication systems being used very effectively in and around the home. A social worker said, ‘Care planning is excellent and is worthy of wider dissemination.’

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outstanding

Staff work tirelessly to ensure that children are safe. Highly effective risk assessments and risk management plans promote children’s safety. Children are supported whenever possible to take safe and appropriate risks in line with their care plans and developmental needs.

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outstanding

Staff respond well to risks associated with children’s behaviour. Children’s safety plans are fully adhered to. This means that most incidents are quickly de-escalated by staff. When physical intervention has been necessary to ensure the safety of children, there is always a careful evaluation of practice so that staff can try to Inspection report for children’s home: SC036186 4 understand the reasons for the behaviour and prevent reoccurrence. Staff regularly revisit their training in this area, supported by two qualified trainers within the staff team. In addition, the members of the staff team share behaviour management approaches with families. The staff have successfully undertaken outreach work with families. This has reduced risks to children in their home environments.

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outstanding

Staff undertake a broad range of good-quality training in safeguarding matters. Safeguarding themes are further explored with staff through supervision and team meetings. As a result, staff know how to recognise, report and act on any safeguarding concerns that they may have.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of meeting children’s health needs. There is a well- managed system for administering and recording medication safely. Children’s mental health needs are also fully addressed. For example, when one child required additional support to address a complex mental health need, the commitment of the team was exemplary. The team adapted quickly to revise the child’s safety plans so that risks were minimised, and there was excellent consultation with specialist mental health services.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are inspirational, confident and very competent. They create a culture of high aspiration for children and have high expectations of staff. Staff and managers have advocated exceptionally well for children. For example, they ensured that one child, who moved to the home as an emergency placement, had access to the services that they needed. Staff provided intensive support to the child, ensuring that the child was kept safe and was well cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are empathetic to the life experiences of children and understanding of the challenges that the families have faced during the pandemic. Managers have responded positively, proactively and creatively to the additional demands placed on their service during the pandemic.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is committed to continually improving the service. For example, staff have recently received input on sensory modulation and have quickly introduced new sensory intervention plans for children. Gathering user feedback is a strength of the service. There are extensive feedback forms that enable the manager to have a comprehensive understanding of the views of children, parents and other agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale is high. Staff say that they are well led by the manager and that they receive very good support. Staff say that their training helps them to meet the needs of children. The manager ensures that staff feel valued, and he encourages them to take on developmental skills through additional learning. As a result, staff are confident and knowledgeable. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036186 5

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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 for children’s home: SC036186 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC036186 7 regulates and inspects 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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