Children's home run by Devon County Council

Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 1 Registered provider: Devon County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home can provide short-break visits for up to four children. This is one of a range of homes operated by the local authority to support families with children who have complex health, physical and/or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified registered manager oversees the home.

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Inspection date: 9 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 9 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have focused effectively on addressing the shortfalls identified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from the improvements in providing consistency of staffing. The use of agency workers has reduced to just a few, who regularly work with the children and know them well. Essential training and formal supervision are now provided for agency workers, so that they are equipped and supported to meet their responsibilities to the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has improved the monitoring of safer recruitment practice for agency workers, to ensure that appropriate checks are in place. The agency reference requests and their verification lack some detail. The manager took immediate action to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has been updated to include the process of dealing with emergency placement requests. Where possible, any disruption to the short-breaks service will be avoided. The manager feels that she has more autonomy in decisions about children’s placements. Leaders and managers do their upmost to support families in crisis. This home is often the best option for children who are familiar with the environment and are already known to the staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Placements plans and risk assessments provide clear up-to-date information about the needs of each child, and how to keep them safe and care for them effectively. Plans are produced in consultation with stakeholder professionals and parents. Children continue to enjoy their short breaks. They are able to socialise with peers, broaden their experiences and develop their skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from parents and professionals is wholly positive, and the support and guidance available from the staff go beyond the provision of short breaks. Staff have been involved in several meetings to try and secure full-time education for one child, and have also sought specialist advice in avoiding the use of restrictive practice for another child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor is not reporting on whether children are safeguarded effectively, and whether the home promotes children’s well-being. These are an essential part of the quality assurance provided for Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The environment is a work in progress. Some improvements have been made, and plans are in place to complete an extensive refurbishment that includes repurposing Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 3 the office space. A recommendation to provide a comfortable, homely and well- maintained environment has been repeated because the improvements are not yet complete. Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (3)(a)(b)) 30 April 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.). However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  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 safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61 paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 6 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: 2530021 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devon County Council, Chief Executive’s Directorate, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD

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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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