Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire County Council in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 1 SC051513 Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to four children. At the time of the inspection, no children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a manager since June 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/06/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 3

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improvement to be good

The home closed in September 2022 due to damage caused by water pipes, resulting in the home not being fit for purpose. Children were moved to other provisions close by. This has led to a long period where no children are living at the home.

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improvement to be good

Following the damage being repaired, children from a sister home temporarily moved in. This was while their home had a major refurbishment in October 2023. Staff and managers worked hard to ensure that children were involved in the plans to move. Children were able to choose and personalise their bedrooms, which were carefully prepared for them before they moved in.

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improvement to be good

Children lived at the home for four months. Children spoken to said they liked being at the home and that it was ‘big’. During this time, children maintained their education placements and continued to attend daily. As a result, children continued to engage well with their learning and made progress.

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improvement to be good

While living at the home, children were encouraged and supported to access a range of activities in the local area. They were also supported to attend their interests, hobbies and clubs. As a result, children continued to develop confidence and self- esteem.

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improvement to be good

The staff team showed a genuine commitment towards supporting children. The children have positive relationships with staff. This helped children to settle in following their temporary move to the home. This has been critical in enabling children to build secure and meaningful relationships with a team of staff they know, trust and rely on.

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improvement to be good

Children were supported to attend all their health appointments. Staff continued to liaise with relevant health professionals, and advice and guidance were followed. Children stayed registered with all health services. This consistency and continuity help to maintain children’s physical well-being.

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improvement to be good

Staff receive the required safeguarding training. Safeguarding is a standing agenda item in each member’s one-to-one meeting with their manager but is not always discussed. This does not always provide staff with the opportunities to reflect and develop their practice. This limits the impact of reflection or learning outcomes for staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 4 Safeguarding matters are discussed in team meetings. This supports staff to develop their knowledge and understand their role. Additionally, team meetings act as a vehicle for staff development and help them to have a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities in the team.

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improvement to be good

Managers regularly update children’s individual risk assessments and support plans. These key documents outline children’s risks and needs and provide guidance to staff on how to support children. However, during one incident, staff failed to adhere to the child’s relevant plans and assessments. This resulted in the child’s behaviour escalating and a staff member being injured.

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improvement to be good

Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort, although this is minimal. This is to prevent children from placing themselves and others at risk of serious harm. There is thorough management oversight of such practice. When reviewing the records, the manager looks for possible practice development needs. Staff speak to children to understand their views after a physical restraint has taken place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager since June 2023. The home’s statement of purpose has not been updated since September 2021. During a temporary stay of children at the home, it was managed by a manager who has yet to register.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During this time, the manager led the home through a period of instability. She has dealt with considerable staffing issues with the support of the deputy manager and service manager. This has taken a lot of time and energy. However, the manager has demonstrated resilience despite this and ensured that the impact on children has been minimal.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During the stay at the home, there were changes in the staff team. Not all staff have the training to support them to meet children’s needs. This includes training on subjects such as cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and physical interventions. One staff member said, ‘I feel if I had all the correct training before coming into the home, it would give me a better understanding of what is expected of me and more confident to do my job.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. Children’s needs are reviewed and discussed. Managers and staff learn from each other. These meetings also promote team-building and help to strengthen staff relationships. As a result, children enjoy a supportive home environment and care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The children returned to their substantive home in February 2024. The manager and staff ensured that this was a positive return for the children and was well planned. However, during their stay, there were occasions where there were no monthly reports from an independent person. The home continues to remain without a manager and there are no current plans to recruit one until a major renovation has been completed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 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, 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

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 24 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. 27 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 6 A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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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: SC051513 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jennifer Whiston

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC051513 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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