Children's Home run by Ruby Lodge Limited in Derbyshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 1 Registered provider: Ruby Lodge Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 4 children with learning disabilities and sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in December 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspector met and spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 28 October 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environment was observed to be clean, tidy and maintained to an appropriate standard. Previously identified repairs, including works to the upstairs bathroom, have been completed. A small number of minor maintenance issues remain, such as historic staining to a carpet and a plastic protective cover around the television. While these do not present any safety concerns, they detract slightly from the overall presentation and do not fully reflect the needs of the child currently living in the home. Overall, the environment feels warm and welcoming, and no immediate health or safety issues were identified at this visit.

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Findings from the inspection

One child’s placement ended during a period of increasing risk, limited multi-agency coordination and no immediate alternative accommodation being available. This understandably created pressure and impacted on the child’s overall experience. During this period of crisis, staff continued to provide consistent supervision, offered supportive relationships and maintained clear communication with the child and the placing authority. As a result, the child was supported to leave the home safely and with appropriate emotional support.

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Findings from the inspection

The child currently living in the home appears relaxed and comfortable. They engage confidently in activities of their choosing and approach staff naturally for reassurance and interaction. Staff responses are calm, warm and responsive to the child’s needs. The child shows signs of feeling emotionally secure, including positive engagement with the staff and familiarity of relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

Systems are in place to gather the child’s views; however, the tool currently used is generic and does not meaningfully capture the child’s individual experiences, wishes or feelings. Daily records are not written in a way that would be easily understood by the child. Some language used was overly adult-focused, which reduces clarity and accessibility. This limits the extent to which records feel inclusive or reflective of the child’s voice.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments identify a range of known risks. However, the associated strategies are broad and do not always provide clear, practical guidance for staff in responding to specific behaviours or vulnerabilities. Documentation is not presented in a child- friendly format, and there is limited evidence that risk assessments have been regularly discussed with or shared in a meaningful way with the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff managed a period of significant risk that ultimately resulted in the ending of one placement. During this time, they responded to incidents in challenging circumstances and worked to maintain safety. This period also highlighted areas for development in safeguarding knowledge and confidence. There was some reliance on police intervention, and one safeguarding concern was not escalated or notified Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 3 in line with required procedures. These issues were not indicative of widespread failings but demonstrate the need for continued strengthening of safeguarding practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Leadership arrangements are currently in transition. The acting manager has provided steady oversight during a demanding period and has taken practical steps to maintain stability. Both the acting manager and the Responsible Individual show a clear understanding of development needs, including workforce support and service improvement. Staff report improved consistency, clearer communication and increased support, contributing to a calmer and more settled environment for the child currently living here. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 5

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure children are aware of their own safety plans and that appropriate procedures are followed and action is taken when a child makes an allegation against a staff member. 11 May 2026

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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. 11 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 6 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have undergone the appropriate training in order to do their roles. The registered person must also ensure that records are accurate and tailored to the needs of the individual child.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children receive individualised, consistent care and ensure that children are being prepared for when they leave the home as an adult. 11 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 11 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 7 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that all staff can confidently and competently implement behaviour support strategies and only use police as a behaviour support strategy as a last resort.

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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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when a child makes an allegation against a staff member this is notified immediately. 11 May 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that staff are familiar with policies on record- keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit A 82 James Carter Rd, Mildenhill, Suffolk IP28 7DE

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Inspector

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2822638 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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