Children's Home run by The Bettermeant Group Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2786148 1 Registered provider: The Bettermeant Group Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may require support with their social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. They were spoken to during the inspection.

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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 good

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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: not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2786148 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has made significant progress in all areas of development since living at this home. Staff create an environment for the child to flourish and feel safe, and this has led to significant improvements in the child’s life. For example, the child was subject to a court order that restricted their liberty. Due to the progress made by the child, this order has been removed. The child speaks of their home with pride and a sense of belonging. One external professional said, ‘They [staff] have created a family environment for the child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has made exceptional progress with education. The child is now attending full- time education, following a substantial period out of education. The manager has advocated strongly for the child. As a result, the child now attends an education provision that meets her needs, and she is making excellent progress. The child has now applied for college and is ambitious for their future. Staff value learning and encourage and support the child to fully engage with education. As a result, the child is making excellent progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff consistently celebrate the child’s achievement. Staff praise and encourage the child to continue to make progress. Staff have a shared vision for the best outcome for the child. This helps the child to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support the child to have relationships with those people who are most important to them. This helps the child to have enjoyable relationships with those who are close to them and maintain a sense of identity. A family member said in relation to the care provided by the manager and staff that ‘they should be commended’. They also said that their child ‘feels loved and cared for’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child and staff have developed trusting relationships and established strong bonds, which are built on mutual respect and trust. The child enjoys spending time with staff. This results in the child feeling comfortable in their home and being in the company of staff. This supports the child to continue to make excellent progress because they have trusting and nurturing relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff advocate for the child. Staff supported the child to make a complaint to the local authority when they felt they were not receiving appropriate support. This resulted in the child being listened to and changes made. The support provided by the manager and staff to encourage, support and empower the child to voice their opinions is excellent.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of the child’s needs. This has resulted in a significant decrease in safeguarding risks. The child’s risk assessments are detailed and updated when required. These demonstrate that the staff know how to keep the child Inspection report for children’s home: 2786148 3 safe. Staff are confident in their ability to safeguard the child. The child said, ‘This is the first place I have felt safe.’ As a result, the child has remained settled and stable, and made progress over and above expectations in relation to their safety.

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

The staff encourage and help the child to develop their independence and social skills. Staff work with the child to support them to contribute their views about the relevant care and support plans that guide staff practice. This develops the child’s confidence and self-esteem.

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

Staff understand the child’s risk and vulnerability with internet and phone use. Staff support the child to have a clear understanding of expectations of safe internet and phone use. This enables the child to consider how to keep themselves safe. Staff undertake appropriate measures to ensure that the child uses the phone correctly. This helps to address any potential concerns.

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

The child has access to appropriate support for their well-being. When support has not been readily available, the manager has escalated their concerns to the right external professional agencies. This has resulted in the child having access to suitable services to support with their mental health.

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

The child has achieved their longest period of not going missing from home for several years. This has been achieved because the staff understand the child so well. The staff understand the child’s experiences and have developed such excellent relationships with the child that they have managed to stop the child going missing. This has been exceptional progress.

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

Staff take time to sit down with the child and have open discussions. When staff speak to the child, they focus on areas that are important to the child. The child is supported to participate in day-to-day decisions about their care. The child is comfortable speaking with staff and sharing their wishes. This results in the child feeling listened to. Through these discussions, staff have supported the child on their health journey. As a result, the child’s overall well-being has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a dedicated, committed and ambitious manager. He is supported by a deputy manager and acting responsible individual. They have a shared vision for the child and staff to continue with the outstanding outcomes achieved for the child. The manager ensures that staff receive appropriate training so that they can meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is very good. It is comprehensive and supports staff in providing the child with excellent care. This allows staff to reflect on their care practice and consider how best to support the child. However, actions are not always reviewed at the following supervision. This is an area for development. Staff are able to reflect on their practice in team meetings. Staff feel comfortable sharing their experience and views in these Inspection report for children’s home: 2786148 4 forums. Staff feel valued. One staff member said, ‘I feel incredibly supported by the manager.’ This results in a shared vision to best support the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team is starting to implement improved quality assurance measures. As a result, the manager and the acting responsible individual have very good oversight of the home. This has resulted in areas of development being highlighted and shared with staff, ensuring continued and consistent care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have established strong and meaningful relationships with external professionals. The child is supported to build strong links within their community, including with the police. The manager supports the local officer to attend the home to work with the child, which is helping the child to rebuild their relationship with the police. This improves their confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child, staff and professionals all speak very highly of the manager. He has created a child-focused environment that has helped the child to feel comfortable in the home. One professional said, ‘The child has not been as settled as they are now.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2786148 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. Any actions from previous supervision should be discussed in the next supervision to ensure that there is consistency in those being completed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2786148 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Bettermeant Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 6, Heritage Business Centre, Derby Road, BELPER, Derbyshire DE56 1SW

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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2786148 7 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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