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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 1 SC062536

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Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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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 difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently absent from work. Since July 2023, the home has been managed by an interim manager who is registered to another home in the local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: This assurance inspection was undertaken in response to an escalating picture of concerns from a regulation 44 report and regulation 40 notifications received by Ofsted.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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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: SC062536 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Leaders and managers fail to assess effectively whether children can safely move into the home.  Staff have failed to ensure that children live in a safe and clean environment.  Staff do not recognise or respond to potential fire risks.  Staff lack confidence in managing risks for children who are involved in criminal exploitation.  Leaders and managers do not have effective and cohesive oversight of safeguarding practice.  Staff do not implement consistent and cohesive support for children.

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The care of children

Ofsted received several safeguarding notifications and a regulation 44 report identifying an escalating picture of concern at this home. This assurance inspection was carried out in response to these concerns.

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The care of children

The acting manager was proactive in raising concerns to senior leaders about the presenting risks of the residing children living together. Despite this, there was a delayed response to one child moving on from the home. Children continued to live in an environment where they felt intimidated and fearful. A child said, ‘I don’t want to live here anymore; nothing changes.’

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The care of children

Children do not consistently have positive, trusting relationships with staff. Children are not allowing staff into their bedrooms. Children are living in bedrooms that are unhygienic, unsafe and chaotic. A social worker shared their concerns that a child’s bedroom was not of an acceptable standard. Children are not being supported to live in nurturing, safe and clean environments.

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The care of children

One child has started to engage in education following a long period of being out of education. Although it is early days, it is positive that this child is making progress.

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The care of children

Issues with staffing sufficiency negatively impact on the care arrangements and opportunities available for children. One child requires two staff members to support them when they are being transported in the community. During these times, one staff member is left to care for the other two children who currently live at the home. Limited staff availability hinders the other children’s ability to make progress in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 3

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The safety of children

Children are not protected from harm effectively. Sometimes, children exhibit intimidating and threatening behaviour towards their peers. Consequently, a child reported bullying behaviour from peers to the police. Despite one of these peers moving out of the home, the child said that they still did not feel safe. This is because a new child moved into the home whose behaviours were known to be intimidating and unpredictable at times. These risks were known at point of placement; however, effective safeguards were not put in place to keep all children safe.

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The safety of children

Staff are not recognising and managing risks associated with children smoking. One child’s bedroom had several cigarette butts next to her bed on the carpet and her bedroom smelled of smoke. A fire door on the stairs was propped open. Staff are not recognising and appropriately responding to potential fire risks.

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The safety of children

The recording and management oversight of allegations and concerns raised by children are poor. There are significant delays in responses to allegations. An allegation made by a child who has left the home remains ongoing. There are many reasons for this delay, but poor recording and lack of management escalation to the delay are contributing factors.

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The safety of children

Staff lack confidence in updating and implementing the safety plans that relate to the management of risks for one child who is vulnerable to criminal exploitation. Leaders and managers fail to ensure that safety plans provide staff with assurance and guidance on how to keep this child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff team has experienced several changes in operational and home managers. This has impacted on the continuity and quality of leadership and management of the home. The acting manager has taken steps to address the shortfalls raised at the previous inspection. However, this progress is shadowed by concerns in relation to safeguarding practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have not been effective in positive decision-making and assessments when children move into the home. Children repeatedly report feeling unsafe due to the unpredictable behaviours of their peers. Poor placement considerations significantly impact on the care experience and progress for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The acting manager and deputy managers supported a child in an unregulated placement prior to the child’s admission to the home. The acting manager was clear that it would not be appropriate for this child to move into the home. Allocating management resources elsewhere left the home vulnerable and management oversight was compromised. Operational managers recognise that the staff team has experienced a challenging period and requires the opportunity for repair and reflection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 4 Staff are not yet implementing consistent and clear approaches to care. There is a disconnect in how the team and professionals aim to tailor specific care for a child who has recently received a diagnosis. The child said, ‘I don’t know why but staff are being different with me.’ Children are not receiving continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The requirements set at the previous inspection were not all covered at this assurance inspection. They are repeated. There is some indication of actions that are not yet complete. For example, the regulation 45 report has not been completed and forwarded to Ofsted. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/07/2022 Full Inadequate 09/02/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 6

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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, The 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that, when children are at significant risk, escalation processes are timely. This relates to managing dynamics and escalating matters with the local authority in a timely manner. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 7 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff consistently providing a safe, nurturing and homely environment for children in their care.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(x)) 30 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)) 30 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that safeguarding processes are managed effectively and that the home is operating a positive safeguarding culture. This includes ensuring that children are not subject to prolonged periods of intimidating behaviours. This also includes the safe management of fire safety procedures within the home.

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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

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 30 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 9 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers of the home ensuring that children receive continuity of care and that managers implement effective monitoring of the quality of care provided and take positive action when this is compromised.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed;

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. 30 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 10 The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Matlock DE4 3AG

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Inspector

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC062536 12 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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