Children's Home run by Parkwood Care Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 1 Registered provider: Parkwood Care Limited

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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 registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was run by a suitably qualified manager who had been registered with Ofsted since May 2024. The manager was promoted in January 2025 and will be applying to become the responsible individual of the home. The deputy manager has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager. Both were present for the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. The inspector met and spoke with both children.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a home that is spacious, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. The environment reflects a sense of individuality and warmth, with personal touches such as photographs of the children and their artwork proudly displayed. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, which fosters a sense of ownership and belonging. For example, one child has creatively painted a family tree on their bedroom wall, which highlights the home’s child-centred approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and speak positively about them, demonstrating positive, nurturing relationships. Staff prioritise building trust and meaningful connections with children, creating an environment that is focused on their well-being and best interests. Despite the challenges that can arise, staff remain committed to achieving positive outcomes for the children. As a result, children respond well to staff and are building secure and trusting relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and well cared for in this home. Observations of staff interactions and conversations with children confirm that they feel valued and comfortable in their home. Children describe having positive and supportive relationships with staff, which enhances their sense of stability and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff demonstrate an exceptional ability to adapt their care to meet the individual needs of children. For example, staff have worked closely with health professionals and the parents of one child with complex health needs to ensure that the child’s care is tailored and effective. This collaborative approach has ensured that the child feels supported and their specific needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the leadership team act as strong advocates for children. For example, they have proactively sought appropriate referrals and chased information to secure the right health services for one child. This persistence has ensured that the child now has an accurate diagnosis and access to the support they need, which was not in place prior to their arrival at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are areas of improvement needed. For one child, there have been delays in obtaining key information from the placing authority. Although the manager has taken steps to request this information from the social worker, further escalation was needed to resolve the matter more promptly. This delay has meant that staff do not yet have all the relevant details to fully support the child’s care plan.

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

Children benefit from a proactive approach to identifying and managing risks. Risk assessment documents are regularly reviewed and are detailed, providing clear guidance on how to minimise risks and support children effectively. Some risk assessments Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 3 demonstrate a strong understanding of the child’s needs and associated risks. However, in one instance, a risk assessment did not fully explore or reflect key risks for the child, meaning the assessment lacked a comprehensive approach to managing these risks.

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

Risk assessments are written in a child-friendly manner, which makes them accessible to the children. However, these assessments are not consistently shared with children, and there is limited evidence of children’s input or understanding of their own risks being captured. For one child, their perspective and awareness of risk have not been adequately reflected in their records.

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

Children feel safe in the home and have not raised any complaints. When allegations are made, these are managed with sensitivity and urgency. The home provides thorough support to both the child and the staff member involved, ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed.

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

Physical interventions are managed safely and effectively. These incidents are clearly recorded and include detailed accounts of preventative measures taken before physical intervention was used. Debrief discussions with children are regularly conducted, allowing children to reflect on the incident and further supporting their well-being. For one child, the use of physical interventions has significantly reduced, highlighting the positive impact of the staff’s approach.

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

Incident reports are comprehensive and completed in a timely manner, ensuring that key details are captured promptly while events are still fresh in the minds of those involved. The reports focus on the child’s experiences, ensuring that their perspectives and feelings are central to the analysis of incidents. Many reports include debriefs with the children, providing them with an opportunity to reflect on what happened, express their emotions and feel heard. This approach helps children process the events and promotes their emotional well-being.

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

Missing-from-home episodes are managed appropriately, with a clear system in place to respond to such incidents. Staff understand the triggers that may lead to children going missing and take action to minimise these risks. However, for one child who frequently goes missing, the records do not consistently capture the active efforts made to search for them or demonstrate sufficient professional curiosity about where the child has been or who they have been with. Improving this aspect of recording would enhance the overall safeguarding response for this child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager was recently promoted and will be applying to become the responsible individual of the home. The deputy manager has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager. Both were present for the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Both the previous and acting manager are highly committed, passionate and experienced, bringing a wealth of knowledge and skills to their roles. The leadership Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 4 team demonstrates a clear dedication to the children and the team and leaders are readily available to staff and children. This approachable and supportive leadership ensures the smooth running of the home and promotes a culture of openness and trust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team has a thorough understanding of the strengths and areas for development within the staff team. There are clear plans to support staff development and upskilling, ensuring that staff are well-equipped to meet the complex needs of the children in their care. This forward-thinking approach contributes to continuous improvement across the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the support they receive from the management team. They report feeling valued and well supported in their roles, which enhances their ability to deliver high-quality care. Staff demonstrate a strong knowledge of the children’s individual needs and are confident in managing risks effectively. Their dedication and passion for their roles were evident in discussions, with expressed genuine care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team have established strong relationships with external professionals, who provided positive feedback to the inspector. Communication with professionals is effective, and the staff team works collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for the children. One social worker commented, ‘The home is great. The staff are all lovely, really helpful, efficient and committed. They haven’t given up on [child].’ Another social worker noted, ‘They understand and deliver the care plan really well, even though it is a complex plan. Their reports are detailed, and I rarely have any questions. They attend meetings regularly and provide appropriate challenge for [child] when necessary.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s families give positive feedback about the care provided. One parent said, ‘They really care about [child]. They are super responsive and always keep me updated. I have never had a situation where I haven’t had the help and support I’ve needed from the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team provides effective support and challenge to the staff team through regular supervision discussions and team meetings. This ensures that professional development is prioritised and creates an environment where good practice can thrive. The leadership team also recognises the emotional impact of the work on staff and offers appropriate support to ensure their well-being is maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While mandatory training is up to date, there are gaps in specific areas of training, particularly in relation to child criminal exploitation. Although this has not significantly impacted the quality of care overall, it has highlighted a missed opportunity to strengthen the team’s understanding of certain risks. For example, recent training could have supported staff in identifying and responding more swiftly to specific risk factors for one child. The manager acknowledges this and has plans in place to address these gaps to ensure the team is fully equipped to meet all aspects of the children’s needs. Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that risk assessments are updated in line with the needs of the child. 16 March 2025

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the relevant training to support the needs of the child. 16 March 2025 Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when the placing authority does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs. Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the skills for safeguarding that include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe both within and outside the home. Staff should support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe and that

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Recommendations

the home is an environment which supports this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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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 children’s home: 2773682 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parkwood Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 5, Level 4, Arrive, Tomorrow Building, Media City, Salford, Greater Manchester M50 2AB

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Inspector

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2773682 8 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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