Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Inspection report children's home: SC035976 1 SC035976 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 operates the home. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There are 3 children currently living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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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: 17 October 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC035976 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2022 Full Good 10/08/2021 Full Good 24/07/2019 Full Good 18/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC035976 3

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outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from dedicated and caring staff. Great effort has been made to ensure that the children live in a house that is welcoming and feels like a family home. The children have made decisions about how their home has been decorated and they take pride in keeping it presented to a very high standard.

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outstanding

Children are making significant progress in all areas of their lives. Their progress is evaluated monthly and added to an ongoing progress report so achievements can be viewed and evaluated by the manager and staff. The document also shows areas where the children require further support. These areas are explored and discussed with children in their individual meetings with staff. This allows the children to receive specific and relevant support so that they can continue making excellent progress.

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outstanding

All children attend education that is suited to their needs, and they are doing exceptionally well. One child was not achieving their expected grades when they moved to the home. Through encouragement by staff and support the child’s actual grades exceeded expectation. This was a real achievement for the child, and they have now been provided the opportunity to attend college and study their preferred course.

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outstanding

As a result of the home’s strong therapeutic ethos to care planning, children’s emotional well-being is always prioritised. This helps the children to better understand the emotions and feelings they experience when they are upset, angry, or sad. This leads to children regulating their feelings better and managing their emotions. For example, one child when upset would damage property. Now they will remove themselves from a situation and seek time out to process what has happened. This leads to improved behaviour and children who have very good insight to their own emotions and feelings.

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outstanding

The caring approach of the staff is reflected in the written work that they complete. Staff offer praise, show real empathy and positive regard for the children. This is reflected in all aspects of the care and support that children receive.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are met exceptionally well. Healthy diets and attendance at both routine and specialist health appointments promote good physical and emotional health. For one child, the persistence of the manager has resulted in an undiagnosed medical condition being identified. This diagnosis will enable staff to provide tailored support to the child which promotes their wellbeing. Inspection report children's home: SC035976 4

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outstanding

Children have individualised risk assessments. These assessments are completed in detail and capture the specific needs and vulnerabilities of each child. The assessments also set out the therapeutic approach that children could benefit from. These are continually reviewed and updated by managers. Staff are proactive in reading any updates, so they are always equipped with the best knowledge regarding each child.

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outstanding

Children have formed strong relationships with staff. The bonds between children and staff reinforce the children’s sense of feeling safe. Staff do not shy away from difficult conversations with children if their safety is jeopardised. Rather, staff take a proactive approach and explore any issues in an open and honest manner. This also allows children to feel safe and approach staff when they have their own worries.

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outstanding

Incidents have taken place, however, there has been a steady reduction over time. When they do happen, children are seeking support earlier or they respond quicker to staff intervention. The overall impact is that the home environment is calmer and a place where the children feel safe.

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outstanding

Children rarely go missing from care. When they have left the home without the agreement of staff the staff have followed the correct procedures. Staff relentlessly search for children and liaise with the correct agencies to try and get children home safely. On return, the children are welcomed back and return interviews completed so any information as to why they went missing can be properly assessed.

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outstanding

The manager has reviewed the safer recruitment processes. Some changes have been made and the process is now stronger. This helps to ensure that only those adults who have been assessed as safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aspirational for the children. His primary focus is on ensuring that the children are provided with a loving home where they have every opportunity to thrive. The manager is extremely proactive in his role. His foresight and leadership often pre-empt any significant issues that may arise. He works alongside the deputy manager and together they are a formidable leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

As a leadership team they are clear about their vision for the home. This is clearly and continually conveyed to staff. Team meetings are held on a regular basis and staff find these highly beneficial. Staff can share their views openly and feel their views are supported and respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and focused supervision that supports their ongoing development. Alongside this, they complete all mandatory training coupled with any Inspection report children's home: SC035976 5 child specific training as required. The manager has developed the approach of care staff’s practice to be more reflective and considered, this assists the team to review their care and make changes as required. This provides the children with responsive and considered care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team continually review processes within the home. They want to ensure that all tasks are undertaken in the most effective and efficient manner. They have developed forms within the home that meticulously captures pertinent details about the children. The children’s files are organised to allow staff easy access to all the information about the children. Consequently, staff can access important information about children quickly to provide the care that children need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A real strength of the leaders and managers is working with external agencies. Feedback from professionals is overwhelmingly positive and commends their commitment to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are equally as complimentary about the leadership team. One member of staff when describing the leadership team commented, ‘The leadership and management stands out as the pinnacle of my professional career.’ Inspection report children's home: SC035976 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 children's home: SC035976 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 children's home: SC035976 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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