Children's home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire Dales

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 1 SC439882 Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six children with physical and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides long-term care and short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home, and one child was accessing the short breaks service. Their views contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an acting manager, who is not yet to be 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

Date of last inspection: 19 November 2024

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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: SC439882 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/11/2024 Full Good 20/03/2024 Full Outstanding 07/03/2023 Full Outstanding 05/01/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good care from staff who are highly dedicated to them. Each child is valued as an individual, and staff tailor their support and care to meet their unique needs. For example, staff consistently adapt their communication style and use each child’s preferred method of communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high aspirations for all children. The approach of staff enables children to make notable progress. This has positively impacted on the quality of their lives. For example, one child with a limited diet and lack of interest in mealtimes. Now the child eats with cutlery and sits at the table and enjoys their meals. Another child who remained in their room and did not wish to do any activities, now goes out into the community and participate in several activities. This has helped build their confidence and sense of safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to make their wishes and feelings known. Staff record children’s requests and they are explored as a team. For example, one child wants to go away on holiday. Staff are considering how this can be achieved to provide a positive experience and create happy memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a wide range of activities both in the local community and further afield. Staff actively explore children’s interests with them and work hard to make these experiences possible. As a result, children benefit from increased inclusion within the community. They also have opportunities to try new activities, helping them broaden their experiences and develop a wider understanding of the world around them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend the school that is situated on the same site. Being so close has supported the development of strong relationships between the school and home staff. Should any issues arise relating to the children, both are quick to talk and develop a joint approach to resolving it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an ongoing issue affecting one child. Staff have sought guidance and support from all involved professionals, resulting in a strong multi-agency approach. A range of creative solutions has been explored and implemented, but this has not yet led to any significant change. Professionals remain committed to finding a way forward that will help the child feel more settled and improve their overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While children’s capacity to acquire and develop new skills is acknowledged, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that staff are delivering individualised direct-work sessions. Such sessions are integral to equipping children with essential knowledge for managing everyday life and to supporting the development of their wider understanding of the world. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 4

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

The quality of the children’s risk assessments is inconsistent. While some have been updated recently, others remain out of date. As a result, staff do not have access to the accurate and current information they need to fulfil their caring responsibilities effectively. This impacts on their ability to keep children safe.

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

There have been several incidents within the home. For example, on one occasion a child sustained an injury after harming themselves, yet medical advice was not sought. In addition, when staff have used physical intervention to keep children safe, children have not been offered a debrief afterwards.

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

Medication systems and processes are not yet fully embedded. There have been several medication errors. When these have occurred, the manager has reviewed the errors. Staff involved have undertaken refresher training and their competency assessed prior to them administering medication again. The manager has updated and refined the process, and staff are aware of the expectations of administering medication.

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

Health and Safety audits has been completed to ensure the site remains safe for the staff and children. Where action was needed to resolve an issue, the manager have ensured that these are completed in a timely manner.

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

The location risk assessment does not reflect the recent crime activity. The assessment does not provide sufficient detail regarding the local risks to the children or what action staff would take to reduce the risks, to ensure children were kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the long-standing registered manager has left, and a new manager has been appointed. The new manager has worked in the home for some time and has brought enthusiasm, commitment and positivity to the role. They are always keen to learn and welcome any constructive comments that can benefit and enhance the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has invested time in developing staff skills in key areas, including case recording and effectively capturing the voice of the child. She is committed to involving staff in the day-to-day running of the home and places clear value on their feedback and contributions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has reviewed existing systems and processes and has strengthened them to provide greater clarity and oversight. She routinely scrutinises practice within the home to assure herself that actions are completed and that improvements continue to be made. In addition, the workforce development plan has been updated to reflect both the home’s areas of strength and the aspects where further development is required. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 5 Team meetings are held monthly. Team minutes show a marked improvement in their content. Specific information is now captured and any actions clearly recorded. The team also meet on a regular basis to explore children’s needs and if support to them could be improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are of the view that they are supported in their role. They receive regular supervision and are provided with appropriate guidance to deliver good quality care to the children. Staff say that managers are keen to hear the views of staff and value their opinions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not always notified Ofsted when there has been a serious incident. This hampers Ofsted in ensuring any incident has been responded to appropriately and that the child is safeguarded. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the manager ensuring that children have a debrief following an incident. In addition, risk assessment is up to date and provide staff with the necessary information. 6 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as 6 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 7 prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child;

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that staff have the required competence to administer medication effectively.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that the registered manager notifies Ofsted when there has been a serious event. 6 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff undertake direct work with children on varied topics that enables them to better understand the world around them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should ensure that the information recorded within the location risk assessment is correct and up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 8

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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: SC439882 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Offices, Matlock DE4 3AG

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Inspector

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC439882 10 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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