| Description | Covering the Stephenson, Arkwright and Brunel Units
Admission registers 1984-2014, Residents Minutes 1986-2014, Inspection Reports 2004-2014, Managers Minutes 1997-2014, Incident/Event Registers 1989-2014, Residents Feedback 1997-2014, Staff Communications 2003-2004, Management papers 2008-2014, Other |
| Administrative History | The original scheme was to build in the grounds of Clay Cross Hall a centre to provide for more difficult and disturbed boys, partly with the intention of removing the unsatisfactory arrangement whereby the boys were accommodated outside the county. The home opened in September 1977 as Greenacres (although the original proposal was Peghoe House), operating as a short-term Observation and Assessment Centre. In at least the 1980s, there was also provision on site known as the Greenacres School. Having been established as secure unit, an extension was approved in October 1985 and a new secure unit for young offenders was opened on 6 Apr 1988.
A new secure unit opened in 1996 and in March 1997 the home was re-branded as 125C Market Street. According to the Children's Services Plan 1997-2000, by 1997 a "significant reduction in short-term 'holding' placements has been achieved". This building was demolished and a new home was built in 2007-2008 on the site of Brunel's car park called Stephenson Unit. The unit provided short term and emergency beds for up to 7 young people aged 11-17 years needing immediate care due to behavioural difficulties, involvements with the police or substance misuse. On 22 September 2015 Cabinet Members approved closure of the home following an Ofsted Inspection on 6 August 2014, a compliance notice and further inspection where the overall judgement was inadequate. As of July 2016, there are no residents at the home (the last resident was present c.2014/15) and staff occupying the building provide outreach support. However, from August 2016, residents of The Old Post House (see DCC/SC/1/13) were temporarily accommodated at the former Stephenson Unit while their building was renovated.
Historic Units: The Home's Child Registers indicate from 1992 that there were three separate units compiling the building these were - Arkwright (with about 6 bedrooms), Stephenson (with 7 bedrooms in 2005) and Brunel (also known as The Bungalow) which included a secure element to the unit. There were also 3 Independent Living Flats as part of the building (c.1995). Brunel was originally built to accommodate just two children, increased to 5 or 6 beds in 1985 and 8 beds in c.1993. There was a temporary closure of Brunel for repairs due to fire damage between November 1995 and June 1996. Stephenson Unit was indicated in Home's Staff and Child Registers as out of use between 20 January 1997 and 13 May 1997, and Arkwright Unit was indicated as unused from 1 May 1998. The Brunel unit closed in June 2004.
Clientele: Generally accommodating children and young people aged 8-18 years, who had been victims of neglect and abuse, with behavioural difficulties, high levels of vulnerability and involvements with the police. However did provide emergency accommodation to a young mum and baby. Originally only for boys, Greenacres took girls for the first time in 1985. In 1986, 44 Derbyshire children were admitted, though only 28 in 1988. |
| Custodial History | These records were transferred to Derbyshire Record Office in Oct 2003 under D6094 and Sep 2016 under D7971, and re-accessioned to DCC/SC in August 2018. |