Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Derby

Unique reference number SC478986 Inspector Caroline Brailsford Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Esland North Limited Registered person address Unit 4, Ednaston Home Farm Brailsford ASHBOURNE Derbyshire DE6 3AY Responsible individual John Stamp Registered manager Sarah Victoria Pearson Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 12 Inspection date 26/06/2014

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care inadequate Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

This home was re-registered under the current company in May 2014 after previously being registered under two other companies in the past year. Therefore this is the first inspection to the home since the new company took over. There has been three Registered Managers in the home during the past 12 months. Therefore, there has been a period of instability for young people and staff. The new Registered Manager has been very clear and realistic from the beginning about what the priorities were initially and what still needs to be done to ensure that young people are offered an improved quality of care.

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Overall effectiveness

Despite some shortfalls identified, the outcomes for young people are good in most aspects of their lives, including some areas of safeguarding where young people are significantly safer as a direct result of living at this home. For example, their self- harm has reduced and their behaviour and criminal activity has improved. Young people have also made significant improvements to their education with the support of staff. Some young people have been studying hard for their exams with the support of staff and some young people are now accessing education for the first time in a long time. This allows them to make progress, develop their confidence and be more successful in their chosen vocation or career.

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Overall effectiveness

It is clear that the new management arrangements have made a difference in a very 3 of 12 short space of time. Improvements are clear, such as the management and motivation of the staff team. Despite this, the quality of care provided to young people is inadequate because of shortfalls in the maintenance of the environment which is poor and in the arrangements for the self administration of medication. In addition, there are several other shortfalls in relation to risk assessment documentation, staff training, the records, permissions from the local authority for the use of surveillance in the home (door alarms) and also for areas of the building where young people cannot have free access such as the kitchen. In addition, there has been a complaint about a staff member which was not sent to Ofsted in line with schedule 5 of the Regulations. The manager is fully aware of what the shortfalls in the home are and what she needs to do to put things right. Clear planning and

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Overall effectiveness

monitoring means that she has already got plans in place to make the required improvements. Some issues identified are mainly around documentation and therefore have not impacted on young people to date. However, these issues have the potential to impact on young people in the future if they are not put right. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to care for 7 young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is divided between 2 buildings on the same site, comprising of the main house (Oakwood House) and The Lodge.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that mechanical monitoring devices for the surveillance of children are not used except for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned and where the following condition is met: the child's placing authority consents to the use of the measure (Regulation 22,1,(a)) 23/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that adequate precautions are taken against the risk of fire, this is in particular relation to the fire risk assessment (Regulation 32,1(a)) 23/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the home used by children are kept clear and reasonable decorated and maintained (Reg 31,2(e)) 23/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there are suitable arrangements made for the recording, handling, safekeeping and safe administration of any medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21(1)) 23/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall, without delay, notify the persons indicated in respect of column 2 of the 23/07/2014 5 of 12 table; this is in particular relation to notifications to Ofsted. (Regulation 30 and Schedule 5)

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that physical restrictions on normal movement within or from the hom are only used where agreed with the responsible authority and if appropriate parents, such restrictions for one child do not impose similar restrictions on ot children (NMS 10.4)  ensure that risk assessments of the whole children's home environment are carried out, to identify any potential harm sources of harm to the children are recorded in writing and regularly reviewed (NMS 10.8)  ensure that records are clear, up to date, stored securely, and contribute to a understanding of a child's life (NMS 22)  ensure that staff receive high quality training to enhance their individual skills and to keep them up-to-date with professional and legal developments, this is particular relation to self harm training. (NMS 18) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are well respected and are assisted to develop and make sense of their own background and identity, allowing their self-esteem to develop and increase. Young people express views on their community and education that are responded to by staff. Where young people feel that their culture and identity does not allow them the feeling of belonging they would like, then staff listen and respond accordingly so that young people can feel more part of the community. For example, there is a planned school change for one young person as a result of listening to their comments.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Most young people make significant progress with their education at this home. For some young people, they are now accessing education for the first time. Education packages are built around young people's needs and interests and therefore they are more motivated to attend and make progress. For example, college courses and community based education offers an alternative education based around music and sport. This has assisted young people in getting back in to education. One social worker said that a young person is making 'huge steps with their education' . As a result, their confidence and ability to learn has significantly improved. In addition, where young people have experienced multiple placements, they are supported very quickly by staff so that their education is not disrupted. For example, ensuring that their GCSE curriculum continues in it's momentum so that young people sit their exams with increased confidence and good preparation. This assists young people in

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Outcomes for children and young people good

their future and allows them to work towards their chosen career.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people also benefit from opportunities to develop practical knowledge and life skills. This supports the development of their independence and helps them to become more self-reliant and responsible. Staff are well aware of young peoples interests and talents and match activities accordingly, for example activities such as water-skiing and beauty treatments.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have made good progress with regard to their health. Relationships between staff and young people are good, which allows for some good support and direct work where young people learn a lot about their own health. This promotes young people's understanding of health issues such as drug use and self-harm. Where some young people have had significant issues in relation to self-harm prior to being in this placement, these incidents have reduced to the extent that they are few and far between. One young person was particularly pleased about this and indicated that there has been a great reduction in their self-harming behaviour, commenting 'I am safer'.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people also experience a reduction in their offending behaviour. Staff work closely with young people, placing social workers and youth offending teams so that 7 of 12 young people are supported to reduce their offending activity. Young people, social workers and parents unanimously feel that this is an area where young people have progressed and a parent illustrated this point by saying that their young person 'is on target to improve in criminal behaviour'.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's contacts with people important to them have also improved. One social worker commented that staff support contacts particularly well. Staff build on all contacts sensitively so that young people develop relationships that will be important to them for their future. Arrangements are negotiated and agreed sensitively with placing social workers and always in consultation with young people.

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Quality of care inadequate

The staff team are mostly new to the home during the last year and are still developing individually and in their team working. They already know each others' strengths so that a good quality of care can be offered by individuals in the team. Staff have started to make a difference to consistency in the home, particularly with behaviour, where there are fewer incidents and young people are supported by a positive approach, particularly with the use of incentives and rewards. One young person said that they are pleased that their behaviour was 'much better' and that they felt 'more settled'. These improvements to behaviour make a significant difference to other aspects of young people’s lives, for example, in their education where positive behaviour means that they are fully open to learning. Staff have also appropriately and actively supported one young person in sitting their GCSE exams and have looked for creative solutions to get other young people back into education.

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Quality of care inadequate

Young people are fully involved in discussions about their care and there are regular opportunities provided for them to contribute ideas and suggestions in relation to the running of the home. For example, young people's meetings are regular and offer opportunities to express views and ideas about the running of the home. Young people are listened to by staff and the manager is very keen to ensure that she gives young people a response to all requests. Where the response indicates that something is not possible, then it is clearly documented that young people are assisted to understand why. Young people are well aware of the complaints procedure and are fully listened to because all complaints are taken seriously. They are also asked for their views about the outcome of the complaint. Because they feel listened to, this helps them to feel some autonomy in their own lives. This also enables them to grow in confidence and to learn that they do have a voice.

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Quality of care inadequate

Young people’s care planning ensures that their needs are assessed and the actions are set out regarding how each need will be met. Staff fully understand young people's individual needs and know what care should be delivered to meet them. In addition, High staffing ratios ensure that the care planned for young people can consistently be delivered. 8 of 12 The home’s location and design is well suited to young people's needs. The locality provides good access to a range of amenities, services and transport links. However the environment is not well maintained and looks unsightly in many areas. Young people feel that the environment is poor. Young people's comments include, 'the garden looks like a graveyard' and the bathroom is 'nasty'. Some of the unsightly areas include the bathroom to the left hand side of the building upstairs, where the paintwork is marked and stained. This bathroom was also found to be dirty with the

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Quality of care inadequate

bin overflowing. Around the house, the paintwork is stained and in places the plaster significantly marked, including in one young person's bedroom. The doors to the main house and to the annex known as the lodge are cracked and look unsightly. In addition, the office and front doors are boarded up as a result of some recent damage caused by young people. The garden is overgrown in places at the back of the main house and there are large amounts of garden waste left on the property. There is also broken furniture in the lounge and in the dining room. Damage to the property continues which shows that young people do not always have respect or value their home.

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Quality of care inadequate

The arrangements for the administration of medication is not always safe because the arrangements for self- administration are not clear. Where young people self- administer their medication, there is a risk assessment setting out some of the risk factors and what additional measures are in place for staff to take, for example the recording of when the young person administers the medication. However, there was one medication found to be not recorded in the young person's risk assessment or on their medication administration sheets. The young person, and the manager were clear that this had been prescribed by the doctor. However, although this is recorded in an individual key working session with young person, it is not recorded appropriately in the medication records or in the young person's health documentation. There are also no records to show that the young person's administration of the medication is being monitored. The shortfalls have the potential

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Quality of care inadequate

to put the young people at risk because the medication is not being recorded or monitored appropriately in the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people's behaviour has significantly improved as a result of the positive approach taken by staff. There are no physical interventions in the home, despite the young people displaying some behaviours that are difficult to manage. Staff training in behaviour management for all staff re-enforces and further promotes the positive approach to young people. This has helped young to make progress and develop their self-esteem.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The home has safeguarding policies which include procedures to be followed in the event of a child protection concern. Staff are very clear about what they must do, reporting that they would always respond immediately and discuss concerns with their manager without delay. In addition, they are very aware of important 9 of 12 safeguarding information with regard to individuals and are very committed to safety and welfare. For example, in particular relation to self-harm issues. Their awareness has ensured that young people are fully protected in this area and as a result of the work, their self-harm is significantly reduced.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people rarely go missing from this home, despite this being an issue for them before. Where they do go missing, staff are very vigilant and proactive in looking them. They work with other professionals to share information at the earliest opportunity. However, for two young people, their risk assessments in relation to missing were not fully reflective of staffs' good practice. This has not impacted on young people because staff are pro-active in their approach. However, this has the potential to cause confusion about what steps should be taken in the future. In addition, there were some areas of risk that were not fully covered for example young people going out on busy roads on their pushbikes and the arrangements for staff supervision of young people during the night. The fire risk assessment is in date and minimises the risk of fire to some degree for example, weekly tests of the fire alarm system and regular fire drills are practiced by all young people which help to

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

keep young people and staff safe. However, the risk assessment does not reflect the fact that young people smoke in their bedrooms. All the issues with regard to risk assessments were put right during the inspection by the Registered Manager showing her proactive approach to safeguarding. The issues with regard to risk assessments are documentation issues rather than issues that directly impact on young people. This is because the staff are knowledgeable and fully aware of what they must do to keep the young people safe. However, there is the potential for important safety information to be missed in the future if this is not put right.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Where young people have been missing and there have been concerns about their welfare, there has been an improvement in their safety as a direct result of the action staff have taken. Staff have been proactive in working with other agencies, for example social workers and the police.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Recruitment practices are very good, which helps to protect young people from the risk of harm and abuse. Despite the recruitment records being kept centrally at head office, the manager has made it her business to scrutinise them all, showing her commitment to the protection and welfare of young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager was registered by Ofsted in May 2014. She holds the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 4 in Management and in Childcare. She is also committed to completing the Diploma level 5 in Management reflecting her commitment to continued learning. She is experienced in the management of residential children's home's and has a background of previously being a Registered Manager with Ofsted. 10 of 12 It is evident that the new management arrangements have already been effective in a very short time. The Registered Manager reports that the home had a lot of problems when she first started. Also that it has not been possible in the short time available, to make all the required relevant changes required to ensure good quality of care to young people. However, it is very clear that The new manager and the deputy are very enthusiastic and energetic for improvement. Improvements include record keeping, training and supervision of staff. The managers have also motivated

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Leadership and management adequate

existing and new staff to support young people more effectively with their behaviour. Staff report a feeling of higher moral and speak highly of the new management arrangements. One staff said 'I Like what I see'. Young people also agree that the manager leads the home well and their comments include 'she is good'. The manager demonstrates that she is fully committed to ensuring that the quality and standard of care is improved as soon as possible. Young people and staff are all reassured by the skills in the leadership team and feel that the home is being well led.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home’s Statement of Purpose covers all the requirements as detailed in Schedule 1 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001. The document reflects correctly the work taking place and the home operates within it's conditions of registration.

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Leadership and management adequate

There is a procedure for notifying appropriate authorities of significant events as required under Regulation 30 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 and most notifications have been sent to Ofsted in a timely manor. However, one notification has not been sent. Whilst this is an isolated incident, this has not allowed Ofsted to appropriately check that the actions taken ensure that young people are protected in accordance with the Regulations. This has not yet impacted on young people; however it may do so in future if this is not put right.

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Leadership and management adequate

The training, induction and supervision of staff are good. Staff receive appropriate training and this helps to ensure they are able to meet the needs of young people. Staff training has helped to keep young people safe and promote their welfare. This training has included mandatory training in first aid, safeguarding and behaviour management. However, despite staff having a good working knowledge of self-harm issues, they have not completed formal training in self-harm. This training would ensure that in the future, all staff are fully aware of how they can support young people and minimise such behaviour. The manager uses personnel procedures very effectively to manage her team and to ensure that only staff with the best qualities and commitment work in the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

Effective monitoring by the manager has taken place in the home and there have been regular visits from the provider which help to make sure that the young people make progress. Where several issues have been identified through the provider's own visits to the home, most issues have been out right quickly, with the exception of issues regarding the redecoration of the building. The Registered Manager is very keen to continue the robust monitoring to improve the quality of care further. There is a clear correlation between her findings and the development plan, which sets out plans for further improvement. Some areas of monitoring are very robust, in that 11 of 12 there are questionnaires sent to young people, parents and placing authorities. These questionnaires help the manager to measure the progress that young people are making, ensuring that young people experience good outcomes in many areas of

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Leadership and management adequate

Records in the home do not always reflect the work taking place for example some shortfalls in risk assessment documentation and in the home's log book and young people's records, where it is not always clear enough to see exactly how young people are monitored in the home should they or other professionals wish to reflect on any issues in the future.

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Leadership and management adequate

There are some practices in the home where the required permissions from other professionals and parents have not been sought. One issue is in relation to the locking of the kitchen door to prevent young people from entering this room when they please. Staff and management are clear that this is to prevent behaviours in the kitchen late at night. However, the permissions are not recorded in the home as the Standards require. In addition, the use of door monitors to ensure the safety of young people at night are used. There is no permissions for these devices either, although there are very clear risk assessments in place, demonstrating their use to be crucial to the safety and wellbeing of young people. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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