Children's Home run by Throughomes Ltd in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 1 Registered provider: Throughomes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home, and their views were considered by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff want the best for children. They persevere through challenging times. Staff are dedicated and motivated. They always recognise children’s progress, no matter what it is, such as walking to school independently or learning to talk about their feelings and emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s wishes and feelings are gathered and considered. For example, one child expressed disappointment that they could not spend unsupervised time with friends in the community. The manager worked closely with the child’s social worker and implemented a plan where the child had increased unsupervised time in the community. This helped the child to recognise that if they speak up, they can influence changes in their care plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has requested an independent advocate for the child. However, despite living at the home for over a year, the child does not currently have an advocate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff take children’s education seriously. Staff worked with school staff to adapt the timetable for a child who was experiencing difficulties with education. This enabled the child to continue to attend education daily and reduced the child’s anxiety in relation to education. As a result, the child is now attending on a full-time basis and taking their mock exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to participate in a range of activities at the home and in the local community. Children have fun. They make friends and enjoy socialising. This helps to develop their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has registered with primary healthcare services and attends appointments. However, staff have not consistently informed medical professionals about delays in scheduling medical appointments. This could delay health treatment being provided to the child.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the risks and potential harm that children may encounter, as well as the necessary actions to take. However, despite regular reviews, risk assessments are not up to date and fail to reflect changes. For example, a risk assessment specifies that a child cannot have a mobile phone, yet someone has purchased one for the child.

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

Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities when they use the internet and social media platforms. They work in partnership with local authorities and develop safety plans that are specific to the child and designed to keep them safe online. Managers maintain good oversight of social media use to ensure the child’s safety. In addition, staff educate the Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 4 child through key-work sessions about the dangers of the internet and how to use it safely, preparing them well for adulthood.

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

Children understand how to raise complaints. Work has been carried out to ensure that all complaints raised by children are recorded and responded to quickly. The manager and staff are using complaint trackers to evidence actions taken and outcomes from any complaints made. This means that the child’s needs are at the centre of the process. The manager ensures that once a complaint has been investigated, the outcome is explained to the child.

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

Children understand the behavioural boundaries and support provided to them by the manager and staff. Over time, they learn to discuss their thoughts and feelings very openly with staff. This means that there are opportunities for staff to provide advice and guidance to children. This helps children to reflect on their behaviour and develop alternative ways to manage strong emotions and feelings without resorting to aggression or risk-taking behaviour.

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

Allegations against staff are taken very seriously by the manager and leaders. The manager ensures that all allegations against staff are investigated thoroughly and works closely with external professionals. This ensures that there is transparency regarding practice. However, on one occasion, Ofsted has not been alerted as required by regulation. This impairs the regulator’s oversight in reviewing notifications and taking necessary action to ensure children’s safety.

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

Staff safely administer medication to children. All staff who administer medication have received the appropriate training. There is clear management oversight, including weekly and monthly audits. This ensures that children receive the medication prescribed to meet their health needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has experienced an unsettled period because of changes in its leadership and management. The newly appointed manager is committed to the role and is currently in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted. He is a supportive and nurturing manager and leads by example. Staff speak fondly of the manager and the support he provides. As a result, staff enjoy working at the home and value the leadership of it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a high turnover of staff since the last inspection, with four staff members leaving and four new staff members joining. The management team has invested significant time and energy into the home and is working with staff to develop and strengthen their skills. This has been successful. Staff are becoming increasingly competent and confident in their roles, and staff morale is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is acutely aware of the effects of staff changes on children. He has worked hard to ensure that staff are carefully recruited and committed to promoting consistent care for children. Children have a good relationship with the management team, which remains visible and accessible to them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 5 The induction plan in place for new staff is comprehensive. Staff value the organisation’s approach, and they feel well prepared with essential knowledge and skills before they work with children. The manager ensures that staff receive the training they need to meet children’s individual needs. This can be specifically for a child or a wider safeguarding or developmental topic.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions. However, these lack meaningful reflection. This is a missed learning opportunity for staff. Team meetings take place and are well attended. They include development sessions for staff to enhance their knowledge. This includes understanding children’s individual needs and the therapeutic approach used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring systems have improved since the last inspection. Using these systems, he has direct oversight of all the work carried out with the child. The manager is keen to improve the practice in the home and uses audits and feedback to continually seek to improve the service and children’s experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 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 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 managers ensuring that risk assessments are kept up to date and reflect current and accurate information. 26 May 2025

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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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)(c)(e)) 26 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that children’s health appointments take place and delays from health professionals in scheduling appointments are challenged. 26 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, allowing them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support. Where possible, this should be provided by a person chosen by the child. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate who will advise them and ensure that they have the necessary support to express their views, wishes

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Recommendations

and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)

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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: 2716966 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Westgreen Avenue, Allenton, Derby DE24 9AP

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Inspector

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2716966 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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