Three Gables

Inspection report children's home: SC065553 1 SC065553 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

This home is operated by a local authority. The home provides care for up to four children who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager is currently seconded to another post in the organisation. Interim arrangements have been made to cover this period of absence.

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Information about this children's home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC065553 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2019 Full Outstanding 13/09/2018 Full Outstanding 07/02/2018 Full Good 24/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC065553 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed trusting relationships with staff. Staff know the children very well and provide them with unconditional support. This gives children a real sense of self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas for the home. For example, children have developed exciting plans for the redevelopment of the garden and outdoor spaces.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and feel safe. They actively participate in the decision making about their lives. Daily conversations with staff ensure the children’s wishes and feelings are expressed and understood by the adults around them. Children know how to complain. When they do this is taken seriously and responded to by the manager. One child who made a complaint was satisfied with how this was resolved. He said: ‘the manager is good at her job.’ This reflects his trust in the adults who care for him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff enjoy their jobs and spending quality time with children. This means children receive consistent care and support from adults who know them well. Children have rich and varied experiences. They enjoy a wealth of different activities. The manager, staff and children are busy planning their summer holidays. In this home fun activities are fundamental to the forging of strong child and adult relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational attendance and engagement is variable. Some children have not been attending education. Staff support these children with reintegration into school or an alternative provision. This is in accordance with the child’s care plan. For example, one child attends a weekly equine-assisted therapy environment. This helps to promote his physical and emotional growth. Staff advocate to maintain education placements for children. They will challenge barriers to education if required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

If children suffer from poor emotional and mental health, the staff access the right specialist services for children. They challenge the local authority if the response is slow. For example, one child received a high level of nurturing and sensitive care, from staff, during a very turbulent period in her life. The staff team worked tirelessly to keep her safe. They collaborated with the local authority to secure the right services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Staff provide supervision and transport for children to see those important to them. Positive family relationships have progressed for one child who now spends more time with his parents. When children suffer the loss of a loved one, staff are caring and supportive because they genuinely care about the children. Inspection report children's home: SC065553 4

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

Staff invest their time in getting to know the children. They talk to the children about how to keep safe, in line with their ages and stage of development. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Children say that they have trusted adults they can talk to about any worries or concerns. The staff support children to develop their independence and so try new things. For example, one child stays out later to help prepare him for leaving care.

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

The staff use a preferred therapeutic approach throughout the children’s risk assessments. Children’s individual risk factors and vulnerabilities are understood. The staff know exactly how to respond to children. This ensures that risk-taking behaviours such as going missing, using drugs and self-harm are reducing. When children do go missing, staff go out looking for them and follow statutory guidance. Staff understand the child protection policy and know how to report any concerns they might have.

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

Challenging behaviour from children and the use of physical intervention is rare. When this does occur, both children and staff are listened to. They receive a thorough debrief from the manager. The manager reviews all incidents. These are subsequently used as learning opportunities to identify the underlaying causes and triggers to such behaviours. The police have been called, at times, because of children’s behaviour. The manager and staff work with the children to try and help them understand the implications of their behaviour.

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

The children are helped to keep themselves safe from bullying. Staff challenge any discriminatory behaviours. The children are supported, by staff, to learn how to live together in a respectful manner.

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

The children have access to the internet and social media. Children spend time online with friends. Staff have a good understanding of online safety and the risks posed to children. The manager and staff understand this is popular with children and part of their everyday experience. Appropriate oversight of the internet and social media is commonplace and this safeguards children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some temporary changes to the management arrangements since the last inspection. The registered manager has been seconded to another post in the organisation. The interim, acting manager was previously the deputy manager and is suitably qualified and experienced. The staff and children value her and feel listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager has developed positive relationships with the children. She knows them individually and their needs. The acting manager is passionate about the children’s welfare and leads a culture which is ambitious for children. She is Inspection report children's home: SC065553 5 suitably supported by a qualified and experienced acting deputy manager. They work well together and provide robust management of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They undertake regular audits and they have effective monitoring systems in place. The manager receives monthly reports from an independent visitor. The manager takes swift action on any recommendations made. This helps to improve children’s care and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear direction for the home. She has introduced changes with positive effect since she was appointed. The acting manager and staff work in partnership with external professional agencies. Involved agencies praise the effective communication and how well the manager and staff support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Complaints from children and neighbours are investigated thoroughly. The acting manager ensures all necessary action is taken to address concerns. Recently a neighbour was thanked for their patience, while the manager made enquiries in relation to a concern. This effective action ensured the issue was resolved in a positive way and maintained good community relationships. Inspection report children's home: SC065553 6

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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: SC065553 7

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC065553 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 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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