Children's home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 1 SC397293 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for children with autism and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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

Date of last inspection: 13 December 2023

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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: SC397293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/12/2023 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good 19/05/2021 Full Good 14/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, two children have left the home, and two children have moved into the home. The inspector spent time with all the children during the visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children experience a nurturing approach from staff who provide positive and consistent care. As a result, children build positive relationships with the staff. Children have fun and laugh with the staff who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are involved and supported in their preparation for leaving the home. A lot of consideration and sensitive planning goes into preparing them to move. Children are able to visit their new home with staff and purchase items they need for their new home before moving in. Where appropriate, the manager and staff continue to provide emotional support and contact once children move. One child who moved away continues to visit the home, or staff visit him at his home on a regular basis because they understand the gravity of such life-changing experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can visit the home before they move in. Children’s transition plans are well thought out before they arrive. Managers understand the importance of the home meeting the child’s wishes and feelings before they move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are personalised with their favourite items or characters. The manager and staff work with social workers and others who know the child well to make sure that everything is in place before they move in. This helps the team to support children to settle on arrival and make them comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children communicate their wishes and feelings in various ways. Staff have a detailed understanding of each child’s expressions and methods of communication. They involve children in all aspects of their care and act on what they say when possible. Staff observe and listen to children effectively. They understand the children well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well considered and met by the team. Children have comprehensive health plans. Staff work very closely and proactively with various health services. This supports improvements in children’s health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education daily. Well-established routines and structure ensure that children are well prepared for the school day and for when they return home. Staff work with education providers to ensure that there is effective partnership working to help children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to explore their interests and take part in fun, stimulating activities. They access community activities on a regular basis. Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 4 Children have experienced various short breaks and holidays. One child enjoyed a holiday abroad in Portugal, another child went to Darwin Forest. Children’s participation in new experiences supports them to grow in self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has undergone internal improvements and is clean and spacious. Plans are in place to further improve communal areas. The outside garden has been out of bounds for a protracted length of time. It poses potential health and safety risks for the children. Parts of the soft flooring have lifted, and it is not suitable for the needs of the children. The manager has raised the matter with senior leaders, but it remains in need of improvement. This limits and restricts the children’s participation and choice of activities when at home.

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

Children benefit from trusting relationships with staff who provide a strong and consistent routine. Children grow in confidence and self-esteem, which helps them feel safe and secure.

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

The manager and staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities very well. Safeguarding training is thorough and planned to meet the children’s complex needs. Staff understand how to keep children safe. They have an in-depth knowledge of children’s vulnerabilities and the potential risks they may encounter. As a result, they anticipate any potential hazards or risks and take appropriate action to ensure children’s safety.

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

Children are safer because their risk assessments and plans provide clarity and direction for staff. Plans are updated regularly, so they accurately reflect children’s vulnerabilities and the potential risks they may encounter. These plans provide staff with the direction they need to support and protect children.

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

The staff can manage and support children through any worries or anxieties they may have. Children have the stability they need, and this helps to keep them safe. Staff’s attentiveness helps children to feel a sense of security.

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

Although rare, staff sometimes hold children in response to difficult situations. Managers scrutinise records to ensure that any holds used are appropriate and proportionate. Children are offered sensitive support following any incident.

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

All staff have completed mandatory training in key areas, such as safeguarding and first aid. Team meetings and each staff member's one-to-one meeting with their manager include safeguarding matters as an agenda item, but they do not always address it. The team would benefit from further opportunities to have these discussions during their one-to-one meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager talks with compassion and understanding about children. She is reflective and recognises the home’s strengths and areas for development. The manager has a clear vision for the home and remains focused on bringing about continued progress because she knows this will benefit children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak with pride about each child and enjoy their work. They express pleasure in spending time with children and supporting them as they grow and develop. Staff are well supported by the management team and each other. The manager and management team are visible and approachable. They work well together, and staff morale is positive. The team has ambitious, creative plans to continue to improve the outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The monitoring by the manager is robust. Effective management systems are in place. Records are of a high standard and provide detailed analysis of care provision. Regular audits take place, with actions to address any shortfalls. This means the manager clearly understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Development plans are in place to ensure continual improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager strives to promote the development of the staff team. She supports the staff’s development and growth. The management team has developed workshops on the specific needs of the children and practices that underpin staff’s work with children in the home. Staff access a range of bespoke training essential to the individual needs of the children. However, despite the diagnosis of pica in some children, staff have not received training in this area. This is a shortfall in the staff’s training and development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the external environments are safe and suitable to meet children’s needs. 31 July 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the records and outcomes of supervision sessions and team meetings reflect discussions on safeguarding issues. Discussions should allow staff to reflect on their practice and the wider external risks to children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. This is in relation to ensuring that staff receive training in pica awareness. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 7

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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: SC397293 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Council house, Corporation Street, Derby DE1 2FS

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC397293 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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