Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report children’s home: SC488223 1 SC488223 Registered provider: Esland North Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is a privately run children’s home. It provides accommodation and care for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2016

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC488223 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people enjoy very stable placements and benefit from receiving good- quality care from an experienced and dedicated staff team.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people feel respected and valued. They are involved in the day-to-day running of the home and participate in decision-making in areas such as menu planning and redecoration.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Safeguarding young people and helping them to stay safe is a key strength of the home. Individualised risk assessments and behaviour management plans are in place, and are regularly updated following any change in circumstances.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have successfully transferred into homes that are closer to their families.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is enthusiastic and motivated. Staff are respected and valued by the manager, and share her vision for improving the lives and outcomes of young people in their care.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good 03/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC488223 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people continue to make sustained and steady progress. They benefit from the high quality care as a result of the warm, trusting relationships that have been developed. Young people have, and continue to enjoy, stable placements due to a dedicated and motivated staff team. For one young person this has been her longest placement. In recognition of this achievement she commented: ‘I only have one more month to go and I will have been the person to have stayed here the longest.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Enabling young people to reach their full potential is a strength of the home, with staff structuring young people’s time by engaging them in a combination of learning events, sporting and leisure activities. Young people enjoy participating in joint trips to the cinema or bowling and going on day trips, such as to a wildlife park.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Encouraging and promoting young people to engage in formal education is a priority. For one young person, this has been a journey on which staff have been unwaveringly committed to supporting the young person to re-engage in education. This has been achieved through highly individualised planning in partnership with the education provider and in consultation with the young person. For another young person, who is academically able, staff facilitated a visit to a university with a view to attending a residential weekend.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have been successful in moving one young person back to the locality he grew up in. Despite the distance, staff ensured that, throughout the duration of the placement there was regular and meaningful communication between the young person and his family in progressing the overarching plan. Family relationships were nurtured and maintained, with staff supporting regular contact. On leaving the home, the young person wrote: ‘I like the staff. They were alright and I was glad to live with another young person instead of being on my own.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Opportunities are provided for young people to develop better awareness of their culture and religion. For example, one young person was given the choice to practice and celebrate religious events, and was provided with a copy of the Koran and a prayer mat, so that they could observe Ramadan.

p.3

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

Individual risks and vulnerabilities are clearly recognised and understood by staff, resulting in robust and innovative safeguarding procedures that underpin all aspects of staff practice. The ability to minimise behaviours associated with child sexual exploitation has seen, for one young person, a reduction in staffing ratios from 2:1 to 1:1. Key-work sessions have focused on building trust. This has enabled one young person to reflect on past behaviours and focus on making better lifestyle choices. In acknowledgement of her Inspection report children’s home: SC488223 4 progress, she stated: ‘Bad behaviour doesn’t get you anywhere. It’s much better being good, as you achieve much more.’

p.3

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

The manager and staff acknowledge the importance of young people having a voice in all aspects of their care. Engaging and consulting with young people on achievable goals and targets has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of missing episodes and incidents of self-harm. One young person commented: ‘The praise and incentives I get far outweigh getting sanctioned and having to face the consequences.’ As a result, the same young person has now progressed to having overnight contact with a family member.

p.4

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

The positive relationships that staff have with the young people and the work undertaken around personal safety have effectively reduced the risks associated with social media, mobile phones and internet use. One young person said: ‘Staff help me to make the right choices. I always let them check my phone in case I am talking to the wrong people. Staff always check out my boyfriends.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has recently seen the appointment of a new registered manager. In a relatively short period of time the manager has implemented a range of innovative changes and has been described by the staff team as a ‘breath of fresh air’. The manager has introduced new approaches to engaging young people in key-work sessions and has reinforced the importance of timely and accurate recording.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads by example. Her transparent approach and strong commitment to improving the quality of care and outcomes for young people are underpinned by an enthusiastic and committed staff team. As one member of staff commented: ‘Since X [manager] has arrived, my induction has properly started. I have a mentor and get supervision every two weeks.’ Another member of staff said that morale had really improved.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has been very efficient in ensuring that staff are fully abreast of the home’s code of conduct and all policies relating to safe practice. In the past, when there have been procedural shortfalls, the manager has revisited these through team meetings and individual supervisions to ensure that such lapses are unlikely to occur in the future.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Vigorous and thorough referral processes are in place to ensure that the home is equipped to meet young people’s needs and manage the identified risks. Appropriate matching ensures that the impact on young people already in placement is minimised. Young people have the opportunity to become familiar with the home and the staff through a well-planned introduction process which is tailored to meet their needs and reduce parental anxieties.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager undertakes safe recruitment practices and endeavours to employ individuals that possess qualities, skills and experience that will enhance the lives of the Inspection report children’s home: SC488223 5 young people and improve outcomes. Staff are provided with opportunities to further their knowledge base through mandatory and bespoke training. Each member of staff has a development plan that promotes continuous professional learning.

p.4

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.5

Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC488223 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland North Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

p.6

Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC488223 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7