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

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager 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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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Outstanding 26/10/2021 Full Outstanding 25/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. They are in the process of moving to a different provision that will continue to enhance their independent living skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have worked hard to develop a caring and nurturing relationship with the child. At times, the child will approach staff and seek their support or advice. Through individual work sessions with the child, staff have sought to explore any issues impacting on them. Staff have then discussed with the child strategies that they may be able to use to manage their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the child has made progress in certain areas of their life, such as developing good independent living skills. However, they have also experienced some challenging times. Emotional regulation remains a difficulty for the child. Various professionals work together to provide ongoing support to the child; however, work in this area continues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is accessing a further education provision and has excellent attendance. The manager has actively advocated for the child with education professionals, ensuring that their hard work is recognised. This means that the child has recently passed the written element of the course. Staff have praised the child for their commitment to education and for what they have achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into and out of the home have not always been managed well and the children have not been suitably matched. This has negatively impacted on the child already living in the home and has resulted in an increase in incidents. However, lessons have been learned and a new process for children moving into the home has been developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A new format for carrying out children’s meetings has been introduced. The manager needs to ensure that staff use this process to actively seek and act on the children’s views.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a detailed and up-to-date safe care plan in place, which serves as an essential tool for staff in providing care and support to the child. This is updated when needed, and staff read it and regularly review it. This ensures that staff remain up to date about the necessary responses to keep the child safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager has worked in close collaboration with external agencies to ensure that the child receives the necessary support from all agencies. Regular meetings are held to share information about the child, and all parties contribute to the overarching care plan and best approach to support the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 4 On occasions, the child has gone missing from the home. When this has happened, staff have been very proactive in their efforts to try and locate the child. All key individuals are kept up to date throughout the incident and are notified when the child is found. There have been times when a return home interview has not been carried out. The manager needs to ensure that this is done to allow for a full understanding of the reasons why the child goes missing.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Appropriate action is taken to ensure that the child is safeguarded effectively. Relevant agencies are promptly informed, and the correct procedures are followed. Following incidents, the child and staff are debriefed, and the manager has good oversight. Lessons learned are shared with the staff to improve practice. Poor practice is challenged and addressed, which ensures that the child is kept safe and standards of practice remain good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there has been a further change in the leadership team. The registered manager has been promoted and an interim manager has daily oversight of the home. The role for a deputy manager remains vacant.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic, nurturing and very child centred. He has a definite vision for the home and wants to provide exceptional care and support to children. While the manager recognises the home’s strengths, he is also aware of areas needing improvement. Through consultation with staff and senior leaders, he has devised a plan with specific targets to ensure that the right changes are made in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is prioritised in the home. The manager wants staff to feel confident in their role and have the right knowledge and skills to support the children. A training programme is being planned in relation to children who will be moving into the home soon. Therefore, the staff will be equipped with the necessary information to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recent leadership changes have been welcomed by the staff, who feel that there has been a positive change in the home. A member of staff commented that the manager ‘praises us and this lifts us up’. The staff are also appreciative of senior managers visiting the home and getting to know the staff. It is also felt that they have a better understanding of the home and its future development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The format of team meetings has recently changed. They are now an open forum for staff to discuss their worries and devise solutions together so that there is a shared commitment to moving forward. The manager is keen to highlight positive practice and provide praise to staff. A member of staff commented that there is a strong ethos of teamwork and said that they value the support from the manager and the positive changes already implemented. Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s views are sought through regular children’s meetings. 2 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 2 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2508344 6 The registered person must ensure that any child moving into the home is matched with the children who already live in the home to ensure that they are compatible with each other and able to live together.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”)setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that independent return home interviews are carried out following a child being missing from the home. 2 September 2024

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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 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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