Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 1 SC488596

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager, who is registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

The care of children

The children are benefiting from recent changes made to the physical conditions of the home. Children’s bedrooms are spacious and personalised to their tastes and interests. The registered manager has invested in improving the decoration and function of shared spaces. This has allowed for the creation of a games and arts room, which children enjoy. As a result, staff report that children spend less time in their bedrooms and more time together in the communal areas.

p.2

The care of children

Staff are supporting children to make progress in education. Two children attend school full time. The children who are not attending mainstream education are accessing alternative provision. The staff are strong advocates for the children to ensure that they receive their full education entitlement. Staff listen closely to children’s aspirations and support them to reach their potential. One child has been able to access work experience in a garage where they have excelled. This has significantly improved their self-confidence and they have consequently applied to college. This is good progress.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support children to access activities and hobbies they enjoy. Children enjoy going out into the community together and have recently visited the Christmas market. One child has been able to have rapping lessons at the home. This has reduced the time spent in the community, where they are more vulnerable.

p.2

The care of children

The manager and staff support children to see the people who are important to them, and all children have time with their families. The staff also recognise the importance of friendships to the children and help to nurture these relationships. This has helped to strengthen their sense of identity and helped them to settle at the home.

p.2

The care of children

Children have warm and trusting relationships with staff and the manager. Children feel able to come to staff to discuss their worries and for advice and support. Children are supported to access the child and adolescent mental health services, where this is appropriate. As a result, children are becoming increasingly emotionally resilient and are making good progress.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager has implemented safeguards to protect children while they are online. Parental controls are now in place and work has been carried out with the children to understand the risks of accessing the internet. Consequently, one child handed in Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 3 a game of their own accord which was not age appropriate. Children are now protected from accessing inappropriate material online which could put them at risk.

p.2

The safety of children

Incidents of missing from care have reduced. This was of particular concern for one child. The children have clear written plans to help staff understand the actions they need to take when a child goes missing. Staff appropriately search for children and share information with relevant professional agencies. When children return home, they are welcomed back with sensitivity, and the reasons for leaving are explored. Staff offer activities to engage children, and, where appropriate, allow their friends to spend time with them at each other’s homes. This is effective in encouraging children to not go missing and shows the staff’s commitment to keeping children safe and ensuring that they have the same life opportunities as their peers.

p.3

The safety of children

Children’s individual risk assessments are thorough. They identify both known and potential risks to children and are reviewed monthly. Staff understand known triggers to behaviours. Strategies to reduce the risk and the actions needed to respond to risk are effective. Staff have good working relationships with children and can de-escalate challenging incidents through talking with the children. Therefore, physical restraint is rarely used.

p.3

The safety of children

One child has recently started to smoke in their bedroom. Staff have taken effective action to respond to this risk, including carrying out daily room searches and removing smoking paraphernalia. Risk assessments have been updated to reflect this emerging risk, and the home has quickly sought support from an outside agency to encourage cessation. The effectiveness of the ongoing work with this child is ongoing.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has been working hard to address the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. These are judged to have been met at this inspection. The manager has a clear vision for the way that he would like to develop the home, and this is supported by senior leaders. Staff understand the ethos of the home and want the children they care for to reach their full potential.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff report that they enjoy working at the home and that morale is much improved. Staff are now receiving regular supervision which allows them to talk about their well-being and the children they care for. There is now a deputy manager in post, who is working well alongside the manager. Staff feel well supported and listened to by managers. One staff member said that the recent changes to the home have created a ‘safe haven’ for children and staff.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager understands the importance of thorough auditing to track children’s progress. Processes have recently been implemented to allow him to understand areas of development and increased risk for children. This informs the way that children are cared for and how risks are responded to. A system to track staff training is also now in place. Consequently, staff training is now up to date. This has Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 4 increased staff’s confidence in their ability to meet the needs of the children they care for. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 5

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/12/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/08/2021 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 6

p.5

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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 7

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Louise Copping, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC488596 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8