Children's home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 1 SC036243 Registered provider: Derby City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority owned children’s home provides care for up to five children. The children have emotional, social and/or behavioural needs.

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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: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/10/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a good standard of nurturing care. They receive this standard of care from a staff team that often goes above and beyond to ensure that children feel well cared for. There are clear, strong attachments between children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Stakeholders say that the relationships between key workers and children are ‘second to none’. They say that there is genuine care and affection reciprocated by all.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the complex needs of the children. They have a broad range of skills and experiences. When needed, agency staff are used. Managers ensure that agency staff are regular and consistent. This means children receive a consistent standard of care by staff that they know.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to undertake exciting activities. These are often interlinked with their hobbies and interests. One of the children went to London with staff and stayed overnight. They got to see a boxing match. This was a great experience for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills. They do this informally when younger, and in a more planned way when preparing to move to an independent setting. One of the older children lives in a semi-independence flat which is part of this home. They are encouraged in several aspects of living independently, with care staff on hand to provide advice and support when required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend a school, college or alternative educational provision. Many children have good attendance. When children are not motivated to go to a school, or to receive education at the home, managers work with the local authority. If there is a delay in children accessing an educational provision, managers challenge the local authority. However, this challenge needs to be more robust to ensure that there is no drift and that children receive an education as soon as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a purpose-built, busy home. However, children have sufficient room to be able to have independence from one another. The outside area is extensive and was recently used to put on a very successful summer party. There are areas that require remedial work. However, this does not detract from what is generally a well-presented home.

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

Staff have knowledge and confidence in their ability to share concerns about a child in their care. Detailed care plans and risk assessments guide staff in their Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 4 understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. They provide staff with effective strategies to keep children safe.

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

Children have made complaints. They are confident to do this informally or through an accessible complaints procedure. When managers receive complaints, they take them seriously. They are investigated, and there is an outcome that is shared with children. Children trust staff to act on their concerns.

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

When concerns are raised about staff practice, managers act quickly to ensure that effective safeguarding measures are taken. Close working with safeguarding agencies is effective. Managers undertake investigations and, where needed, practice issues are addressed, including further training. However, the recording of investigations is not always sufficient.

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

Staff, including agency staff, receive regular and effective supervision meetings from a manager to monitor their performance. Supervisors ensure that staff’s safeguarding knowledge is routinely assessed. Staff are provided with scenarios to test their ability, and their competency is checked. This is good safeguarding practice.

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

Children rarely go missing from this home. However, if they do, staff actively look for them. They share information with safeguarding agencies. This joined-up approach means that children are likely to be found more quickly. When children return, they are met with a caring and nurturing response from staff.

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

Some children require medication for their health and well-being. Staff are well trained, and the processes for the administration and monitoring of medication are robust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This children’s home now has a full management team. The manager is supported by a relatively new deputy manager. Within a short time, managers have begun to make progress with the development of the home. Staff say that they feel they are moving forward in the right direction.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that there is effective partnership working with external agencies and stakeholders. Stakeholders state that staff have a ‘dogged determination’ for children to succeed. They say staff have ‘amazing relationships’ with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have well-developed monitoring systems. This means that they have effective oversight of working practices in the home. Areas of development are identified, and plans are put in place to make improvements. However, the location of the home has not been risk assessed for a significant period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend various training opportunities. This ensures that they can continuously develop. Managers have begun to develop plans for improving staff development. This will mean that the competency of new staff will be better tested at the Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 5 induction stage. Also, stakeholders are going to speak with staff about leaving care processes so staff can better support and provide advice to older children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that the staff have an opportunity to meet as a team. These team meetings are effective in encouraging staff to be reflective about their practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risk to them. This relates to the lack of recording of staff-practice concerns. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded, or are not on a school roll for some other reason, staff work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must

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Recommendations

challenge them to meet the child’s needs under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). This relates to a child who is yet to attend school regularly. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: SC036243 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Derby City Council, Treasurers Department, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby DE1 2FE

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC036243 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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