Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 1 SC059037 Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home offering care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of many managed by this independent provider.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are making exceptional progress as a result of the dedication, passion and commitment of staff and managers.  Ambitious and dedicated staff and managers believe in the young people and, as a result, young people believe in themselves. They have developed confidence and ambition and have dreams about a positive future for themselves.  Staff have developed excellent relationships with young people based on honesty, respect and trust. Young people feel genuinely valued and cared for and are thriving in this extremely nurturing environment.  Young people have developed strong and healthy attachments to staff who know them extremely well, and who bring emotional warmth, security and stability to their lives.  Supervision of young people is meticulous and non-invasive. Young people are safe and report that they feel ‘absolutely safe’.  Staff listen, and are highly responsive to, young people’s specific needs.

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Key findings from this inspection

Purposeful direct work with young people enables them to develop a deeper understanding of their own behaviour and ensures that young people are able to recognise and successfully regulate this.  Staff and managers ensure that the voice of young people is at the centre of decision-making. Young people are empowered to express their views and wishes about all aspects of their lives. As a result, young people are beginning to positively shape their own destiny.  The registered manager’s calm and committed leadership, in addition to her meticulous attention to detail, ensures the prevalence of a culture of excellent practice which benefits young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Interim Improved in effectiveness 04/08/2016 Full Outstanding 31/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are making significant and sustained improvements in all aspects of their lives. Staff and managers provide stability, consistency and safety, which enables young people to learn to trust the adults who care for them. As a result, young people are making exceptional progress. Staff know young people extremely well, and understand their hopes and aspirations as well as their worries and fears. Consequently, staff understand young people’s behaviour and are able to nurture and support them. One social worker said, ‘I feel that staff regularly go above and beyond what is expected for the children in their care. My child has made excellent progress whilst at this home. The staff really have her interests at heart and make sure that she is safe and happy.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel valued because they know that their opinions are important to staff. One young person said, ‘Staff make you feel really important, and listen to what we have to say. They ask for our views and opinions, and give us choices about our lives.’ In addition to carefully planned and productive key-working sessions, staff ensure that they meet with young people regularly as a group. Staff use these meetings to consult with young people, engage them in topical discussions about issues which affect them, and maximise these opportunities to raise young people’s levels of social awareness and increase their understanding of current issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff give excellent attention to all aspects of young people’s health needs, and maintain detailed health plans to ensure that young people receive the health services they require. Staff undertake individual work with young people during which they focus upon health needs, and use these sessions as a platform to support young people to take responsibility for aspects of their own health. Staff encourage young people to eat healthily, take regular exercise and engage in activities which promote a healthy lifestyle. This has resulted in the development of a culture whereby young people are conscious of the need to take care of their own health both now and in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have excellent attendance at school and are making significant progress in their education. The manager has been proactive and tenacious in ensuring that a suitable educational provision has been provided for one young person who has recently moved into the home. Staff are creative in providing additional, fun educational opportunities to enhance young people’s learning. Staff ensure that young people understand the importance, and benefits, of education. Staff inspire young people to be ambitious for themselves. They have successfully supported one young person with her particular interest and talent in music. As a result, the young person has had the opportunity to record her music, and is enrolled on a college course to further develop this talent. One young person said, ‘I never thought I was good at anything in school, but the staff believe in me, and encourage me, and praise me like mad when I do

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

something well. I like to paint and would like to be an artist, and I know that staff will support me to do this if I work hard.’ A social worker said, ‘[Name of young person] is making excellent progress in her education, far better than I would have ever expected. I know this is the result of the time and energy on the part of the staff in encouraging Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 4 and praising her, and supporting her learning to make this stimulating and enjoyable.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Excellent links with the local community ensure that young people are able to take part in a wide range of activities which they enjoy. In addition, staff have developed links to local charities, including a dog rescue centre and a local homelessness charity, to enable young people to develop empathy and to learn about the needs of others. One young person has a keen interest in working with people who have learning disabilities, and staff are cultivating her interest through discussion and research.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff appreciate the importance of developing young people’s independence skills according to their age and ability. Young people are motivated by their individual independence plans and the targeted support of staff. One young person is now walking home from school with her friends, a small but significant step for her. Staff and managers have gone to considerable lengths to arrange a carefully considered, and risk assessed, package of support for one young person who has moved into semi- independent accommodation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff listen, and speak to young people with respect. Staff value young people’s individuality and continually create opportunities to work closely with them to reinforce their special qualities and help them to build their resilience and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are making exceptional improvements in managing their emotions and regulating their own behaviour. Young people are encouraged to contribute to the development of their Positive Behaviour Support Plans and this has resulted in young people feeling empowered, and more in control, of their own behaviour, which in turn has led to significant reductions in aggressive behaviour. Young people are able to recognise their own strengths and abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Contact with family members is promoted effectively by staff who have developed positive relationships with members of the young people’s family networks. Staff are sensitive to the impact of contact arrangements and make every effort to ensure that this is a positive experience. Staff arranged for one young person’s older sister to help get her ready for her school prom. Staff positively encourage young people to develop friendships outside of the home, and friends are generally seen as welcome visitors. Staff ensure that they get to know young people’s friends and their families, thereby ensuring that young people have a positive experience of friendships and relationships outside of the home.

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

Staff and managers provide a warm and secure environment where young people flourish and make excellent progress. Secure and trusting relationships between staff and the young people, as well as the staff’s deep understanding of young people’s emotional needs, reduces the necessity for physical intervention when young people become distressed or angry. Young people who previously had difficulties in forming relationships are better able to express themselves, participate in group experiences and Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 5 demonstrate and receive appropriate affection. One young person said, ‘I feel looked after and absolutely safe. I can always talk to any of the staff and they know me really well. They show me every day that they care about me. I didn’t think I was worth caring about until I came to live here.’

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

Staff and managers identify the risks to young people, and these are clearly set out in individualised risk assessments. Risk assessments are shared with young people through key-working meetings, and are frequently updated. These form the basis of the work with young people to help them recognise the risks to themselves, and to reflect upon their behaviour accordingly. Staff work robustly with other agencies to keep young people safe, and know their local area well. Young people demonstrate an excellent sense of keeping themselves safe. One young person was able to reflect on previous aspects of her behaviour and said, ‘The staff have helped me to understand how I used to make myself unsafe. I still don’t really understand why I did this, but I think I am getting there.’ This is an incredibly powerful demonstration of the young person’s progress and the impact of the excellent work undertaken by staff.

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

There have been no incidents of young people leaving the home without permission. However, robust protocols are in place to protect young people should such an event occur.

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

Staff safeguarding training is robust, up to date and includes training around radicalisation, child sexual exploitation, internet and social media safety.

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

Exceptional and non-invasive supervision of young people by staff ensures that they are kept safe both inside, and outside, of the home. As a result, young people are enabled to develop skills for their future independence in a safe way. Young people are supported to take appropriate risks, which provides a strong foundation for their adult lives.

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

Meticulous attention by the staff and manager to matters of health and safety ensures that young people are safe. Health and safety checks are undertaken frequently and maintenance issues are addressed promptly. Fire equipment checks and drills are undertaken regularly and young people are well versed in the actions to be taken in case of a fire.

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

Robust recruitment processes reduce the likelihood of unsuitable adults working with the young people. Clear and effective communication within the staff team ensures that information is shared about the potential risks to young people, and this results in young people being appropriately and effectively protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership in respect of the young people’s care is exceptional. The manager demonstrates commitment and passion, and is ambitious for young people. She has successfully established a culture of high aspirations across the staff team. The manager Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 6 is visible to the young people, who have developed secure and trusting relationships with her. The manager is committed to providing a stable, family environment in which the young people receive care that helps them to realise their full potential. One young person said, ‘[The manager] is like a really good mum. She loves us all and cares for us really well. She is always there for us and makes sure that this is a brilliant home for us to live [in]. She makes it like a big family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed a highly skilled staff team which fully understands, and is able to meet, the young people’s needs. The induction of new staff is thorough and has been designed by the manager to ensure that staff understand the ethos of the home, the policies and procedures, and that they get to know the young people and their care plans extremely well. Despite some staff changes, a core of experienced staff promotes stability and consistency for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff meetings take place on a regular basis and provide a forum for reflection and discussion about young people’s plans and progress. Staff report that discussions in team meetings provide clarity, consistency and focus in terms of the care and progress of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff supervision is reflective, analytical and focused upon relationships with, and the progress of, the young people. Staff are supervised regularly and the manager addresses any areas of concerns with sensitivity, but also with a clear sense of direction and expectation. One staff member said, ‘[The manager] is fantastic. She knows the young people so well. She is supportive and reflective, and passionate about the kids. She is an excellent manager and knows everything that goes on here in detail. The young people’s happiness and safety are absolutely paramount to her and everything she does reflects this. She embraces a strong philosophy of teamwork and consistency of care and approach for the young people. I have never worked anywhere like this before. Her care of the young people is excellent.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Decision-making in respect of young people who come to live in the home is exceptional. This results in young people only being placed when their needs can be properly met, and ensures that any impact upon other young people is measured and considered. Thoughtful and sensitively planned transitions promote the stability of placements for all of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is remarkable in her advocacy for young people. Relationships with external professionals are positive, which supports the manager in challenging agencies when decisions are not in young people’s best interests. For example, the manager successfully challenged one local authority when a decision had been taken to place a young person in a semi-independent setting which clearly did not meet her needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager rigorously monitors the service, and this ensures that young people continually receive a high standard of care. Any shortfalls identified are addressed in a timely manner. The manager values the input of the independent visitor and ensures that any matters raised are rectified. Her whole-team approach ensures that staff also take responsibility for shortfalls, which serves to ensure that they continually Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 7 strive for improvement. Quarterly reports provided by the manager are evaluative and comprehensive, demonstrating the manager’s detailed scrutiny of practice and recordings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A comprehensive statement of purpose provides a clear and accurate reflection of the aims of this service and how it is provided.

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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 differences 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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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: SC059037 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector(s)

Jacqueline Georghiou, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC059037 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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