Children's home run by East Midlands Care Matters Limited in Amber Valley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 1 SC381522 Registered provider: East Midlands Care Matters Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional needs. Some children may also have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2008.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. Two children were spoken to.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2023 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/01/2022 Full Good 19/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and welcoming home. Children are consulted about how their home is decorated. They take pride in their bedrooms, and their individual personalities shine through in how their rooms are personalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support safe and meaningful relationships for children. They advocate for children to spend time with those people who are important to them. This supports children with their identity and in building relationships with those people who are most important in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are captured daily. Staff understand children’s preferred method of communication. This supports children to feel listened to. Staff speak to children with sensitivity and know them well. This enables children to continue to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in all areas of development. The manager and staff regularly review progress, in collaboration with external agencies, and ensure that additional help is provided to children. One family member said, ‘The progress for [name of child] is just marvellous.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusting relationships with staff. They can identify adults they can talk to if they have any worries. Children and staff have strong bonds with each other, with lots of fun and laughter. This results in children feeling comfortable and settled in their home.

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

Allegations and suspicion of harm are acted on quickly by the manager. However, staff do not always escalate issues in a timely manner when a child has shared a concern about staff. The manager has highlighted this as an area of learning for staff. Appropriate agencies are informed when there are concerns relating to children. This means that there is an appropriate multi-agency response, which helps to keep children safe.

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

The manager understands the importance of safer recruitment of staff. She ensures that all appropriate checks are completed before staff start work in the home. This helps to keep children safe.

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

Children’s behaviour is generally good. If incidents of concerning behaviour occur, staff respond well to these behaviours. Incidents are well documented; however, these are not always evaluated by the manager. This is an area for development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 4 Children have good care planning documents, which are reviewed regularly. Staff have a clear understanding of the children’s needs and vulnerabilities and know how to respond to children’s risk-taking behaviours. Children can make choices and decisions about their day-to-day plans. This has supported one child on their journey to independence.

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

The use of door alarms is not reviewed by managers or reflected in children’s care plans. The use of door alarms can impact on children’s need for privacy and create an institutional feel. This is not yet kept under regular review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a dedicated and committed manager. One professional said that the manager is ‘an incredible advocate’ and that she cares a lot about the children. The manager can identify strengths and areas for development in overall care practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are aspirational for the children. Staff and the manager have established good working relationships with external professionals. Professionals supporting children have regular communication from the manager and staff. This results in continued support and services for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective and regular supervision. They can reflect on their practice and discuss safeguarding relating to the children. Staff are given space to talk further in team meetings and have open discussions on how to best support the children. This supports staff development and provides consistent care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff have received training to enable them to successfully support the children in their care. However, not all staff have received disability and autism training to support the needs of one child. This means there are shortfalls in some staff’s knowledge. Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 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 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.

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that there is regular monitoring in place and these are reviewed by the provider. 18 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 6 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all those working in the home have specific training to meet the needs of the children, including disability and autism. 18 March 2025

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Recommendations

 Monitoring equipment should have a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. The use of door alarms should be reviewed and within documents outlined in the home’s policy. Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance from the placing authority in writing at the time of a child’s placement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  Children must be listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 7 manager in the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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: SC381522 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Midlands Care Matters Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 58 Brackendale Road, Swanwick, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 1DX

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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC381522 9 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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