Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2642643 1 Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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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 owned by a local authority. The home is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. All children were spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2023, and they were present during this inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 10 October 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: 2642643 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2023 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2642643 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have left the home, and their experiences are considered during this inspection. The children live in a very well-presented home that creates a warm and welcoming environment. Photos of the children are displayed throughout, and this creates a sense of belonging for the children. Children are actively involved in decoration of their home, which has recently included the creation of a sensory room. One child is also playing a key role in designing the garden area. As a result, children take ownership of their home and have a sense of pride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in their education, considering their starting points when moving to the home. Children are attending educational provisions that are tailored to meet their individual needs. When these provisions do not meet the needs of children, staff advocate on behalf of the children to ensure that they receive the most appropriate support. In instances where children’s attendance is low, staff actively encourage and motivate them to engage in their learning. Staff provide additional support to further enhance the children’s educational development. Staff understand the vital role that education plays in the children’s development and success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have left the home are supported through clear, thoughtful and well- planned transitions. There is close collaboration with external professionals to ensure that the appropriate support is in place for each child as they move forward. The children’s voices are always heard and their views on their future are shared with the wider support network. One child who recently left shared a heartfelt message, expressing gratitude to the staff for ‘not giving up’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff invest time in building meaningful relationships with each child, taking a genuine interest in their individual hobbies and likes. This supports children to build trusting relationships with staff. Children are encouraged to participate in a diverse range of activities, offering them opportunities to explore and develop their talents and passions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are celebrated no matter how big or small these may be. This is supported by documents for the children that show their progress and their achievements while living in the home. As a result, children feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views, wishes and feeling of children are not fully considered when new children come to live at the home. For example, one child was moved into the home and there was a lack of consultation with other children to gain their thoughts and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have safe and meaningful relationships with those who are closest to them. Staff build relationships with children’s families and provide regular updates to family members on children’s progress. A family member for one child said: ‘Staff are amazing.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2642643 4

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

The staff have faced some challenges in managing children’s behaviour, due to the complex needs of the children. However, when incidents of concern have arisen, they have been managed well. As a result, there has been a noticeable reduction in incidents for one child. Following any concerns, children’s professional support networks are informed. The children’s individual risk assessments are updated accordingly, incorporating relevant and accurate information to ensure that staff take appropriate actions to safeguard the children.

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

When children go missing from care, there is a well-coordinated response from staff. Staff conduct thorough searches of local areas and reach out to relevant people to help locate children. When children return, they are given the opportunity to speak openly about why they went missing. This helps staff to understand the underlying reasons for the children leaving the home and provide the necessary support to address any concerns and ensure the child’s well-being moving forward.

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

The manager actively seeks out specialist support to ensure that the children’s needs are fully met. When appropriate responses are not received from external professional agencies, the manager escalates the matter to ensure that the necessary support is provided. Support extends not only to the children but also to the staff, ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills required to effectively care for the children.

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

Children are provided with the space to speak with staff about how they are feeling, including if they have been affected by incidents. Conversations with children are handled with sensitivity and care. When children make a complaint, there are clear actions taken to address the issues raised. As a result, children’s wishes and concerns are considered, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

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

When concerns arise regarding children using substances, staff engage in thorough and thoughtful work to help children understand the risks and consequences of this behaviour. Staff employ creative and tailored approaches to engage the children, ensuring that the support is both effective and relevant to their needs. As a result, there is dedicated support. This has led to a significant reduction in substance use among the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is led by a dedicated manager who consistently prioritises the children’s best interests. Despite facing significant challenges during this period, both staff and managers have remained committed to the children’s well-being. Staff have expressed their appreciation for the support they receive from the manager. The manager ensures that staff are given the necessary space to reflect after significant incidents, creating an environment where staff feel valued and can prioritise their own well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has effective oversight of the home. The manager regularly analyses and evaluates incidents. This allows the manager to highlight areas of good Inspection report for children’s home: 2642643 5 practice and identify areas of development. This approach not only supports the ongoing development of staff but also ensures that children consistently receive good quality care that is tailored to their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior leadership members, within the organisation, have not considered the views or insights of the manager. On one occasion, children were admitted to the home despite the registered manager’s concerns. Important decisions relating to this were made without the manager’s involvement in these discussions. This lack of inclusion has led to the manager feeling unheard and is having an impact on their ability to effectively lead and make informed decisions that align with the best interests of the children and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular and effective professional supervision, which provides them with valuable space to reflect on their care practice. In addition, regular team meetings further strengthen staff development. Staff express that these sessions are highly beneficial, helping them to feel supported and empowered. This supports staff to be equipped to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a strong and collaborative working relationship with the team around each child. Professionals praise the staff and manager for their commitment to the children and their efforts in ensuring that the children’s voices are heard and respected. When concerns arise, the manager is quick to engage the wider network, ensuring that a tailored and comprehensive plan is put in place to address any issues. One professional shared that the manager and staff ‘communicate brilliantly’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2642643 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

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered provider ensuring that the register manager is involved in decision-making for children being admitted to the home. 6 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that children’s voices are listened to when making decisions about children coming into the home. The registered person should ensure that children have the space to continuously share their wishes and feelings when concerns are raised regarding the impact of other children within the home. 6 April 2025

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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: 2642643 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: Derbyshire County Council, County Offices, Matlock DE4 3AG

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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2642643 8 regulates and 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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