Children's Home run by Orchard Children Homes Ltd in Derbyshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 1 Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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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: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, 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: 2680525 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have built positive relationships with the staff and are making progress. One child said that she would mark the home nine out of 10, and that she knows that ‘staff do care about her’.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, children have enjoyed a holiday and various activities and trips, including trips with friends, and inviting friends to the home. They are benefiting from positive experiences that support the development of their confidence and self-esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff promote education, and celebrate and reinforce children’s progress and achievements. Staff work closely with colleagues in education and health to ensure that each child’s needs are identified, understood, and met. For one child, staff have collaborated closely with school staff to improve punctuality. As a result, the child has sustained improvement in their attendance and participation.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has not attended college this term. This is because of the impact of events outside of the home. Staff have worked closely with the social worker and virtual school. The child is now engaging with a specialist service, and work experience has been secured for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff proactively seek children’s views. They encourage children to participate in their planning meetings.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been few incidents of concern. Children have been missing on a small number of occasions. When these have occurred, the staff have followed the missing-from-care procedures and shared the information with the relevant agencies and children’s families. There are records of thoughtful post-incident reflection and learning by staff. The recording of incidents is much improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have up-to-date risk assessment and behaviour management plans that evidence how risks have reduced. Recently, there have been concerns about one child’s vulnerability to peer influences. Staff have sought the help of specialist services and carried out individual work with the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Previous concerns about the staff’s skills in recording physical restraint and the use of de-escalation have been addressed. There has been no use of physical restraint, and staff are now using a nurturing approach effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

There are improved records of individual work with the children. They include the purpose of the work, children’s views, and the actions agreed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 3 There is a stable, experienced management team. However, since the last inspection, a number of staff have left. As a result, the manager has needed to use agency staff and members of staff from other provider’s homes on regular basis. As new members of staff have been recruited, they are less experienced. Consequently, the requirement regarding staff providing continuity of care and having the required training to meet the needs of the children remains unmet.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has tried hard to ensure that the unfamiliar staff get the right support. The manager prepares well for team meetings. These are purposeful in helping the less-experienced staff to learn and develop their skills and practice.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is ensuring that there is good monitoring of the quality of care. The manager has responded to recommendations that have been raised by the independent visitor. This monitoring has identified some record errors for the care of medicines. These have not directly impacted on the children. The errors have been investigated and individual practice has been addressed in a timely manner. There is face-to-face medication training planned for all staff. The requirement regarding the recording of medication has been repeated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 5

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that staff have received training to meet the specific needs of children moving in to the home.

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Requirement Due date

Managers should ensure that there are sufficient staff to provide continuity of care to meet the assessed needs of children. 15 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. 15 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Orchard Children Homes Ltd, 2nd Floor, 118 Calais Road, Burton-on-Trent DE13 0UW

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Inspector

Cathey Moriarty, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2680525 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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