Children's home run by Devon County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 1 Registered provider: Devon 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

The home is managed by a local authority and registered to provide care for up to three children, primarily as a short-break service. The children may have a physical disability, learning disability and/or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

Nine children receive short breaks at this home. At the time of this inspection, one child was staying for their short break.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post who has not yet applied to register with Ofsted

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 19 September 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2024 Full Good 29/11/2023 Full Good 26/07/2022 Full Good 09/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 3

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improvement to be good

One child was seen and spoken to during this inspection. The progress of children is mixed and there are some shortfalls in the arrangements to keep children safe. Some children have made progress since coming to stay in this home. Other children have not always received clear and consistent support from the staff. Leaders and managers have not always made effective decisions about the arrangements for new children to stay in the home.

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improvement to be good

The home is presented as clean and comfortable. There are comfortable sofas to sit on and spacious areas for children to play. Some improvements have been made to the inside of the home since the last inspection and this work is ongoing. One of the fire doors has been damaged and is awaiting repairs. The children benefit from having a large garden to play in. There is play equipment in the garden for children to use, including a large bucket swing, which children do enjoy. The trampoline is broken, and a new one is being ordered. There are plans to make some changes to the outside areas so that there is more space for children to play. There are window restrictors in place throughout the home, and it is not clear if these are necessary for all children who stay. This makes the home feel less homely and more institutionalised.

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improvement to be good

Children have been cared for by a stable team of staff. Children benefit from being supported by adults who are familiar to them. Some children have been enjoying short breaks at the home for several years. The children have good routines and appropriate boundaries in place for them. The staff know familiar children well. They understand how children communicate and so are better able to meet their needs. For newer children, this is still being developed, and staff are still getting to know these children.

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improvement to be good

Staff have supported some children to feel more comfortable with more items in their environment or with being cared for by people outside of their family. Children have been able to access a wide range of activities. They enjoy going out for trips to the local park, for walks or to visit the beach. One child was seen to enjoy going out for a drive with staff. They enjoyed listening to their favourite music in the car and watching the other vehicles on the road.

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improvement to be good

There has been positive communication between staff and other people who are important to the children. Regular meetings are held for children, and these are well attended by the staff. One social worker said that there is usually timely communication with managers and staff. This helps to keep children safe. When incidents involving children happen the social worker is kept fully informed of what has taken place. There is regular communication with parents and health professionals, so the staff understand children’s changing needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 4

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improvement to be good

When safeguarding concerns have been identified, managers have usually taken robust action, but this has not always been consistent. There have been occasions when children have hurt other children or members of staff. Staff have been worried about the safety of children when incidents have occurred.

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improvement to be good

One child recently moved to this home from another setting due to the impact of their needs on other children. Managers did not complete a risk assessment to fully understand whether it was safe for this child to stay in the home alongside other children. This resulted in occasions where children and staff were hurt. Significant incidents have occurred, including one child being harmed in their room by another child. Learning is being taken from these events to improve practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

During one incident when a child became upset, they hit a glass panel in the door and sustained an injury to their arm from the glass. Staff took effective action to minimise the impact on the child and to support them effectively. The child was seen promptly for medical attention and supported well by staff during their time at the hospital. Learning is being taken from this event to ensure that more appropriate safety glass is in place in all doors in the home so the glass does not shatter and cause an injury to a child.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always administer medication for children as required. Medication has been administered late, and on one occasion some medication could not be found to administer. The staff acknowledged that there have been some difficulties using new electronic recording systems that are in place for medication. Leaders and managers are addressing this, completing an investigation to better understand the issues around medication practice. Further training is being provided to staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff identify and track unexplained marks to children. Staff show curiosity to understand what has happened. Physical intervention has been used to keep children and staff safe. In records, it is not always clear how long restraints last for and clearer recording is needed. Managers are taking action to address this and to improve recording practice with staff.

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

Leadership and management of the home has been weaker since the last inspection. Staff and managers acknowledge that there has been a lot of change, including new managers being in post, some children leaving and some new children moving in.

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

Staff indicate that morale has been low. Some staff say they have not always felt safe working in the home. They said they are offered regular training and supervision, but they have not always felt well supported. The staff said they do not always understand why some decisions are being made. However, they are positive about the new manager, who they say is working hard to make changes to improve things in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 5 Monitoring and review systems are not always consistent or effective. This impedes leaders’ abilities to identify shortfalls and to improve practice. Although there is management oversight seen in children’s records, action is not always taken in a timely way to address the concerns they identify. Managers are taking steps to address these weaknesses and to ensure that the systems in place are more effective.

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

The new manager understands what is working well in the home and what needs to change. They are open to discussion and reflection about the gaps that have been identified. The manager understands what needs to change to make things better for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that it is safe for children to stay together in the home. 25 July 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

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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child 25 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 7 and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is clear guidance to support staff to promote children’s safety and welfare. In addition, ensure that management oversight is used to understand and improve the quality of care for children.

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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: 2530021 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Devon County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devon County Council, Chief Executive’s Directorate, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD

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Inspector

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2530021 9 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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Inspector

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