Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 1 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

A local authority owns and operates this home. The home provides care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a committed and experienced manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2021 Full Outstanding 25/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 31/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 3

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outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from staff who know them very well. The children’s care plans are detailed and kept under constant review. Staff are proactive in keeping themselves updated about the children. This helps them to develop an in- depth understanding of each child. Because of this understanding, the staff can respond to the children’s changing needs quickly. This approach provides children with safe relationships and a loving home in which they thrive.

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outstanding

Staff recognise the importance of children attending education and attaining qualifications. Staff know the approach needed to engage the children in learning. They recognise that, at times, a bespoke package of education is needed and have advocated for this. Partnership working with education colleagues means that the right education provision is identified. The children have made progress and passed exams and excelled.

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outstanding

Precious memories are written into the children’s ‘journey’ file by the staff. Staff and children can add to this file at any time. Every entry by staff is written to the child and can be about an activity or conversation. Photos are also added. This is a wonderful way to capture memories. The children take it with them when they leave, and this enables them to see what great progress they have made.

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outstanding

The manager is meticulous in ensuring that they can provide the right home for a child. This involves extensive collaboration with other professionals. Any potential issues are explored before a child moves in. The manager consults with her team and current children in the home. Specific training is completed with staff prior to a child moving in, if needed. Having a proactive approach lessens the risk associated with these new moves and helps children to settle quickly and start making progress.

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outstanding

Family members are considered by the manager and staff as being important in children’s lives. Staff are highly supportive and encourage a high level of family time for children. At times, there have been some family disputes. Staff support children to explore their feelings in relation to these issues. Staff encourage children to have sleepovers with friends, often in the home. These have created great experiences to add to very positive childhood memories, and mean that children get to enjoy positive time with their friends.

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outstanding

Children feel safe because of the care and protectiveness of staff. Consequently, risky behaviours that have the potential to lead to incidents have dramatically reduced. For example, children who were going missing from care, no longer do so. Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 4 Instead, children now talk to staff about wanting to take part in risky behaviour rather than doing it. This means that staff can divert children away from these more-concerning behaviours.

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outstanding

Children benefit greatly from individual one-to-one sessions with staff. Staff used to lead these sessions and encourage the children to take part. Children now choose which sessions they wish to do. It is noticeable how children are better able to explore and rationalise their worries. The ability of children to make sense of their worries and manage them is something that will help the children as they get older.

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outstanding

A key part of the work that staff undertake with children is the exploration of their feelings and understanding their behaviour. This has significantly helped the children to become more aware of their own feelings and how they influence behaviour. For example, if a child is involved in an incident, staff talk it through with them and are non-judgemental in their responses. Staff also identify if any further sessions are required in relation to a specific issue. Consequently, children are safer and more emotionally regulated.

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outstanding

The manager and staff have commendable relationships with external professional agencies. A professional described the staff as ‘brilliant’. Communication and information-sharing with involved professionals and families are also very good. Regular meetings take place and children’s progress is reviewed. If needed, extra support can be given to children as the focus is on them achieving their goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are managed by an enthusiastic, driven and inspirational management team. There have been some changes in the management team over recent months. However, there has been a seamless transition to the new leadership and management. Feedback from staff highlights how positively the managers are regarded and respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers are committed to ensuring that children in their care are receiving the highest standard of care and support. They are constantly developing the team and providing them with highly relevant training and learning opportunities. Reflective practice is encouraged throughout the team. The team is proactive in continually wanting to learn from practice and improve their approach for the benefit of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from good-quality, professional supervision. Supervision actions are followed up to ensure that tasks are not left undone. Staff receive monthly direct support from an external agency regarding their care practice. This helps staff to continually re-evaluate their practice, and this drives improvement. Staff feel valued and listened to, and receive very good guidance and direction in their care practice. A staff member said that they are ‘proud to be part of the home’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team values partnership working with other agencies that is needed to achieve the best outcomes for children with complex needs. Working closely with Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 5 other agencies allows for children’s plans to be progressed and supported with the right interventions. Due to this coordinated approach, children have the best opportunities to make fundamental changes that can help them to remain safe and protected. Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 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 for children’s home: 2508344 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

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 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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