Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire Dales

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 1 SC439882 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 operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six children with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. The home provides long-term care and short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home, and one child was accessing short breaks.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Outstanding 07/03/2023 Full Outstanding 05/01/2022 Full Outstanding 18/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been some changes to children living in the home since the last inspection. A child who lived at the home for a long time has now moved out and new children have been welcomed into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide children with a good standard of care. Staff work hard to ensure that their relationships with the children are always positive. Children value the support and care they receive from the staff and enjoy spending time with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers are strong advocates for children and ensure that children’s transitions remain focused on their needs and are seamless. Due to staff’s caring and nurturing approach, children who have moved out of the home remain in contact with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported the children to develop their interests. Staff use various communication tools to help children access activities they are interested in. Staff are patient in their approach and allow the children time to process what is being asked of them. Children’s disabilities are acknowledged and supported and not seen as a barrier to them having good and fulfilling life experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are attentive and responsive to children, and they easily understand their needs and requests. This thorough understanding of each child means that staff act quickly when they recognise new behaviours or changes in children. The staff and managers are patient with children and try to explore different approaches until the child’s needs become clear.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children are healthy. A significant number of external health professionals are involved with the children. Staff are confident to raise any specific health issues and work alongside parents to ensure that everything is seen through to conclusion.

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

Safeguarding children inside and outside the home requires meticulous planning. This planning reduces risk and keeps children safe. Risk assessments are continually reviewed to accurately reflect levels of risk. This means that, when possible, children can experience new challenges and develop new skills while remaining safe.

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

There is a clear medication procedure. Staff receive necessary training to ensure that they are competent to administer medication. However, since the previous inspection, there have been several medication errors. One error was not reported to managers for two days, and staff did not take immediate action to determine the impact on the child. Ofsted was not notified of this incident. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 4 The children have a high level of needs and require close supervision. Therefore, they do not go missing and are not at risk of any form of exploitation. The children are safe when they are online as staff monitor the content that they access.

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

When staff hold children, this is well managed. On these occasions, the staff are quick to respond, and any intervention is for the shortest length of time. Debriefs are carried out with children and staff, and they all have the manager’s oversight. Any lessons learned are shared with the team and, if necessary, practice is adapted to ensure that children remain safe.

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

The necessary health and safety checks have been carried out to ensure that the environment is safe for children and staff. Children have clear evacuation plans should the fire alarm sound. Children need to be involved in regular fire drills so that they know how to respond when the alarm is raised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very committed to the children and staff, and she is very well supported by two deputy managers. They work well together and have a shared vision for the home and how they intend to provide excellent care for the children. They have created a culture of high expectations and an excellent standard of care for children. As a result, children thrive in this nurturing environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings enable in-depth discussions about each child, including their progress, any concerns and their overall care. The meetings provide time for learning and development. This has led to ongoing improvements in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works hard to develop and sustain relationships with children’s families and external professional agencies. Communication has been key in this area, and the manager ensures that everyone is updated on a regular basis about any issues affecting children. Parents and professionals are overwhelmingly positive about the staff and how well they support the children. One professional said, ‘They (managers and staff) are incredible.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The oversight and actions of the manager are not what they should be in relation to some operational matters. The manager has not identified potential risks associated with reducing staff on some evening shifts. When the manager was alerted to the concerns about this practice, she took immediate action to rectify the issue. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there is management oversight of rotas so that children are always fully supported. 9 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the required competence to administer medication effectively. 9 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 9 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 6 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager notifies Ofsted when there has been a serious event.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children feel safe and are safe. Children should be involved in regular fire drills and be supported and shown what to do in an event of a fire. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: SC439882 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: County Offices, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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