Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035976 1 SC035976 Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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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 is registered to provide care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and registered with Ofsted in March 2022.

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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: 5 December 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Outstanding 17/10/2022 Full Good 10/08/2021 Full Good 24/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC035976 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a very good environment that reflects a family home. Children are consulted about their home and can make decisions around decoration and layout of the building. The manager and organisation are ambitious and want to continue to develop the home. Consequently, there is currently extensive building and development work taking place. This will significantly improve the living standards for children, provide additional space and make this an excellent home for children. The management have considered the children’s needs throughout, which has ensured minimal disruption to the children. The manager and staff have consulted with children over all the changes and taken their views into account.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making significant progress in all areas of the development. They are happy, settled in their home and safe. The managers and staff regularly review their progress in collaboration with external professional agencies and ensure that additional help and support is provided to children, if required. Staff celebrate children’s achievements no matter what these are. The children are praised and encouraged to continue with the progress made. For example, one child is now attending the police cadets, another is enjoying football and is able to socialise with others. This is notably strong progress for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have made exceptional progress with education. One child is enrolled for second year at college. Two other children have recently sat exams and exceeded expectations. This is excellent progress as the children have missed out on a significant amount of learning given earlier placement disruptions. Learning is highly valued and encouraged by staff and this is supporting the children to do well in education. A real strength in the home is how the children enjoy their learning. They now have the confidence to learn where previously this was missing. This is outstanding, because the children now see that education is crucial for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to have relationships with important people in their lives. One child is now forming a relationship with a key family member who has been absent for the child’s life for a considerable period. Staff promote meaningful and safe family time. This provides children with a continued sense of identity and means they can have an enjoyable relationship with those close to them now and going forwards.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and staff have developed trusting relationships. The children and staff have strong bonds with lots of fun and laughter. The children seek staff out and want to and enjoy spending time with them. This results in children feeling comfortable in their home and is the basis for children to make excellent progress that is sustained over time. Children say they feel listened to, and their voices are heard by staff. Children have not had to make complaints, but they identify the manager as someone they could talk to if they wanted to express any concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035976 4

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

Children’s behaviour is generally very good. However, if more challenging incidents do take place, the staff respond well to these behaviours. Staff maintain good behavioural boundaries with the children, and this means children understand what is expected of them and what constitutes good behaviour. Staff will undertake sensitive and thoughtful discussions with children following any concerning behaviours from the children. The manager and staff will work with other external agencies if they have ongoing concerns for a child to ensure that the right services are in place to meet the identified need of the child.

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

When children go missing from care there are good and well-coordinated responses. Staff search the local area for children and try to contact the children immediately, and if required, staff will contact the police. Return interviews are always completed by the local authority. This allows children to explain why they went missing and for those working with the children to understand what needs to be put in place to prevent them from going missing again.

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

The manager understands the importance of safer recruitment and vetting of new staff. The manager ensures that all the required checks are completed before new staff get to work with the children. New staff are introduced to children gradually, because the manager understands that sudden change can disrupt children and he wants to ensure that the children and staff develop the relationships that will mean children are safe and make excellent and sustained progress.

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

Children are very settled in the home. There has only been one incident of physical intervention, which was appropriate and proportionate and for a minimal period. The child was spoken to after the restraint and given the opportunity to voice how the incident impacted them. There are no concerns that children are using drugs or alcohol. Staff understand triggers for children’s behaviour and how to respond effectively, which results in positive de-escalation. Children respond well to staff, and this has been achieved through the development of very good relationships between children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a dedicated, committed and ambitious manager. He is very well supported by an equally dedicated deputy manager. They have developed a strong working relationship. They have a shared vision for the children and staff. An external professional stated of the manager: ‘He genuinely cares.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported by the manager and deputy. They receive very good and regular individual supervision, which they find beneficial. Additionally, the manager and deputy are always available to the staff and spend a great deal of time working directly with children and staff. This means that managers understand what is happening in the home. They role model good care practice and make themselves constantly available. The staff feel their views are listened to and they regularly meet at team meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035976 5 Meetings are reflective and consider all aspects of care for the children, and continued development. This results in consistent care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a culture of aspiration and high expectations for the children. There is a committed and well-trained group of staff. The managers ensure that staff have training relevant to the needs of the children. For example, the manager and staff have devoted development days tailored to the individual needs of the children. This enables them to reflect on their needs and develop their practice to better meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Records are written to the children. Staff use sensitive language that the children will understand. This provides a clear sense of the children’s journey. Children are actively involved in their care planning, which gives children the opportunity to have a say about issues and decisions that affect them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are consistently providing excellent quality of care to the children, which is child focused. Staff have the children’s best interest at heart. They speak lovingly about the children, which is a reflection of the strength of the relationships between them. Inspection report for 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 for children’s home: SC035976 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Derbyshire County Council, County Offices, Matlock DE4 3AG

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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC035976 8 regulates and inspects 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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