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

Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 1 SC062536 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

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a new manager who was appointed in March 2022. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 24 August 2022 to consider the progress made against the compliance notices set at the full inspection on 4 July 2022. These compliance notices related to the protection of children and the quality of leadership and management. Ofsted was satisfied that the compliance notices had been met. However, some improvements were not yet well embedded, and some shortfalls remained. Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 2 A restriction notice was imposed following the last full inspection, which prevented the provider from admitting any further children. Following this latest full inspection, Ofsted is satisfied that the restriction notice no longer needs to be in place and the provider may now admit more children. Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2022 Full Inadequate 09/02/2022 Full Good 15/10/2019 Full Good 20/08/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 4

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, carried out on 4 and 5 July 2022, there have been improvements in the quality of care provided. Managers have identified the areas that need further improvement. They have put plans in place to drive these improvements forward because they understand the importance of good-quality care for children.

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improvement to be good

Several statutory requirements and recommendations were set at the home’s last inspection. Managers have taken steps to address each of the shortfalls. Managers attend daily meetings with the staff and identify what has worked well and where things could be improved. The improvements have helped children to make progress.

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improvement to be good

Four children currently live in this home. The manager and staff have built positive relationships with them. One child said, ‘The staff are good, and I can talk to someone if I need to.’ This helps children to develop a sense of stability and security.

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improvement to be good

Improvements have been made to how staff consult children to find out their views and feelings. Children are encouraged to express their wishes and feelings, through regular meetings. However, the views and feedback from children on their care plans and progress are not given in the records. This limits children’s participation in their own plans.

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improvement to be good

Children have access to a range of healthcare services. They are supported well to ensure their health needs are met. Managers have set up regular access to therapeutic healthcare support for children. This support also includes consultation sessions for staff from suitably qualified practitioners. This increases staff’s confidence and skills .

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improvement to be good

Children’s progress is monitored but there is a lack of analysis by managers. Some plans are repetitive and do not detail areas for development.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments are not consistently amended with up-to-date information. They lack clarity for staff about how to reduce risk and prevent harm. These failures mean that safeguarding is not yet good.

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improvement to be good

There have been incidents of children going missing from home. When this happens, the staff follow protocols to support their safe return. However, children have not regularly had a return interview with an independent person and there are gaps in Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 5 recording. This fails to ensure that staff understand the circumstances of incidents of children going missing. This also limits the effectiveness of action to prevent further episodes.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment practice is safe. However, agency staff recruitment records are not consistently clear in relation to qualifications and skills of agency staff, and there are gaps in employment histories.

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improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint. Managers respond promptly and appropriately if children raise concerns or issues. A manager took prompt action in response to an allegation made by a child against a member of agency staff. This safeguarded the child while an investigation was completed. One child said, ‘I feel safe, it is the best thing about living here.’

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improvement to be good

Staff rarely use physical intervention with children. However, on the few occasions when it is used, records of the intervention are incomplete. Records fail to describe what took place and do not include children’s views and the manager’s overview. This limits the capacity to learn lessons and improve the practice of staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff undertake safeguarding training. Safeguarding is now routinely discussed in each staff member’s one-to-one meeting with their manager. Also, safeguarding matters are now discussed regularly in team meetings. Introducing safeguarding as a standard agenda item has provided opportunities for staff to discuss, develop their knowledge and ensure that staff have a shared understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Practice matters are now being followed up by managers, but this needs to be better embedded with the team.

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good

There is currently no registered manager. The post has been vacant since January 2022. The home has an acting manager who has applied to register with Ofsted. The acting manager has started the required qualification in leadership and management.

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good

Managers have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the concerns identified at previous visits. There is a detailed and realistic action plan which is subject to regular review. Some key actions have been implemented. For example, staff have received essential training and more regular effective supervision. This includes bespoke sessions to address any safeguarding concerns.

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good

There are some management systems in place. However, managers do not have oversight of all records, for example, gaps in handovers, physical intervention, and missing-from-care records. Monitoring does not yet provide sufficient oversight or demonstrate a full understanding of the impact and effectiveness of care.

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good

Staff receive daily support and guidance from managers. The staff team is experienced. This supports the stability of each child’s placement. Professionals and Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 6 parents confirm good communication links with the home, and that the home provides stability for their child. One parent said, ‘They are making a difference to my child’s life.’

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good

Some areas of the home are nicely presented. For example, all the children’s bedrooms have good-quality ensuite bathrooms. However, other parts of the home are looking tired and worn. The home would benefit from further decoration and better use of the garden area as a positive space. Plans for the home’s layout and decoration are being developed. This will ensure that the home environment is a warm and homely place for children to live. Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 7

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring all records are reviewed and monitored by the manager. Also, to establishing children’s views about their own care plans. 28 November

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 28 November Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 8 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring physical intervention records are completed accurately, reviewed, and monitored in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that all information about incidents when a child goes missing from the home is recorded clearly and that risk assessments include information on how risks will be reduced. 28 November Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 9

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the home is a nurturing and a supportive environment that meets the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that the use of external agency staff is a positive choice to complement the skills and experiences of the permanent

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Recommendations

workforce. Any external agency staff should meet the requirements in regulation 32(4) regarding mandatory qualifications and the registered person should consider their skills, qualifications and any induction necessary before they commence work in the home. The use of agency staff should be carefully monitored and reviewed to ensure children receive continuity of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.16)

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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 for children's home: SC062536 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Linda Mason, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC062536 11 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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