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Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 1 SC437069

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Registered provider: Derbyshire County Council

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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 owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is being led by a manager, who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 9 December 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 these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: SC437069 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 has recently experienced a turbulent time as there has been different managers leading the home within a short timeframe. A new manager has recently been appointed but they are yet to be registered by Ofsted. This has offered some assurances to the staff that the new appointee is committed to the home, children and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out and two children remain living in the home. The children are supported to see important people in their lives and spend quality time with them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are proactive in ensuring that the children’s health needs are met. Staff have supported children when extra assessments of their health are needed and ensured that any actions are completed.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has spent time reviewing the systems within the home. Changes have been implemented to support the effectiveness and efficiency of the home. When key documents are updated, they are shared with staff. However, the manager does not have a process in place to assure themselves that all staff are reading these essential documents. If staff are not equipped with the most up to date information about each child, then there is the risk that they may not be responded to appropriately.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has worked hard to create a positive and motivating environment for the staff. In response, staff have been re-energised in their role and appreciate being included in discussions about developments in the home. They are of the view that they are ‘‘on the right track’ and have started to enjoy their role more and remain committed to working in the home and therefore providing consistent care for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are in receipt of regular individualised supervision and have also benefited from a group supervision. Managers are not following up on personal issues raised by staff. In addition, a member of staff has requested essential training for their role, and it could not be identified if this had yet been actioned.

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Findings from the inspection

There have not been any physical interventions since the last full inspection. The debriefs for the children and staff continue to be developed. Staff have not received any training about the approach needed to complete child debriefs.

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Findings from the inspection

The medication process has been reviewed and further developed by managers. However, since the changes have been implemented, there have been 2 medication errors, meaning that the process is not yet effective. The staff took the correct Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 3 action when the errors were identified. The manager failed to notify Ofsted when a serious error was made.

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Findings from the inspection

The location risk assessment has been updated and clearly identifies the risk in the local area and what has been implemented to reduce those risks. This requirement has been met.

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Findings from the inspection

There have not been any new team members since the last inspection to evidence how the recruitment checks have been strengthened.

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Findings from the inspection

Professionals advised that they are able to identify that there has been improved communication between them and staff within the home in comparison to the last few months. This has promoted greater partnership working that has contributed to achieving better outcomes for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Six requirements were set at the last full inspection. One requirement has been met, and one new requirement has been set. The recommendation made at the last full inspection remains. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/03/2025 Full Good 03/01/2024 Full Outstanding 17/01/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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. 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments and home care plans identify known and potential risk for each child and staff are familiar with them. 26 June 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—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as 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)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff follow the medication process and that all paperwork relating to medication is up to date. 26 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 6 The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff and children are debriefed after measures of control have been used. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 26 June 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

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 staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the staff work together to improve outcomes for children. Relevant information is shared with staff in a timely manner, and documents are updated when needed. Ensure that there are suitable monitoring and review systems. 26 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 7 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The employment of staff standard is that the registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing personal development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice led supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once a year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are supervised in line with the home’s supervision policy. Ensure that staff are provided with supervision following any concerns relating to practice. 26 June 2026

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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, ensure that notifications are submitted when required. 26 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that there is good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment processes are followed to minimise potential risks to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 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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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC437069 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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