Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Greenwich

Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 1 SC386134 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 privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people aged from 12 to 17 years who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 23 to 24 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

Date of last inspection: 8 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress in their behaviour from their challenging starting points.  Risk assessments are comprehensive and add value to the overall care planning process. Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 2  Young people make good progress in their education.  Young people build secure and stable relationships with adults in the home.  Young people receive culturally sensitive care from the staff team.  Young people experience positive contact with their families.  Staff and managers provide a homely environment for the young people.  Young people benefit from good partnership working between the staff and professionals.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 10/05/2016 Full Good 13/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/07/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  When commissioning a placement in a children’s home, the placing authority must establish how the home will support the child’s educational needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.7)  The registered person must ensure that the children are informed of how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.19)  Ensure that a review of the quality of care, under Regulations 45, focuses on the

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Recommendations

impact the care is having on the outcomes and improvements for the children. The registered person should also consider what information or data recorded in the home will form part of the evidence base or their analysis and conclusions. The review should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery in the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress from their challenging starting points. For example, some young people experience a reduction in aggressive behaviour. Young people are enabled to recognise their triggers and exercise coping skills. As a result, young people increase their ability to self-regulate their behaviour. One young person is no longer on medication as he is able to manage his impulsivity without it. An independent reviewing officer for a young person, who was previously a subject of a secure order, stated that the home has been ‘a very positive placement’ that provides ‘a nurturing and emotionally supportive environment. The independent reviewing officer further stated that the staff are ‘very clear and consistent in their expectations and boundaries’. Young people receive individualised care from staff who build positive and trusting relationships with them. For example, in key-working sessions young people are

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 4 encouraged to talk about their feelings, which helps to reduce disruptive outbursts. In addition, young people have access to specialist services such as the child and adolescent mental health service when necessary. Young people are in good health and staff ensure that any health concerns are promptly addressed. All of the young people are engaged in education. One young person, who has an educational health care plan, attends an alternative provision and is learning to accept boundaries. This young person’s school professional described the home as ‘one of the best children’s homes’ they have worked with. The home provides support that helps foster integration and de-escalation. The school described the young person as ‘an able student’ and that they are ‘seeing a lot of positive behaviour’ from the young person. Another young person’s educational professional stated that the home is ‘very supportive

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

and very responsive’ and the staff have ‘a good understanding’ of the young person’s needs. She stated that the young person’s attendance is 95% and that he is engaging well with his learning. The young person has ‘high emotional needs’ but he is ‘stable in the home and stable in the school’. The school professional stated, ‘Given his challenging background, he’s proven he can succeed.’ A social worker stated that the home has his young person’s ‘best interest at heart’, and that staff have shown that they ‘will not give up on him, which is what the young person needs at present in order to focus on his education’. Another young person attends a mainstream school and a vocational training centre regularly, where he is learning construction skills. The manager at the vocational centre stated that it is nice to see the young person engaging with the programme and that the home is supportive of the young person. For example, when the young person struggled

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

to attend the programme, the home helped him to change his sleep pattern so that he arrives on time. The manager stated that they have seen ‘a marked change’ in the young person. Young people receive good support to engage with their education. However, there is room for improvement in ensuring that the placing authority identifies an appropriate school or alternative provision for the young person at the time of commissioning a placement in the home. The placing authority should also provide clarity on how the home will support the young person’s educational needs. For example, one young person waited over six months for a school placement after being placed in the home. Young people who are subject to a youth offending referral order are supported to engage with the terms of their order. A youth offending service worker described his young person’s placement as ‘very helpful’ and that ‘there has been good

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

professionalism from the home’ in support of the intervention. Staff regularly talk with the young people about consequences to actions and reinforce the importance of keeping safe. The acting manager ensures that a good admission planning process is in place. This includes impact analysis, meeting with the young people and partner agencies, and arranging visits to the home before any young person is admitted. As a result, young people whose needs cannot be met by the staff team are not offered a placement. Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 5 Consequently, there has been a period of stability in the home, which has benefited the current group of young people. Two young people, who were discharged since the last inspection, had unsatisfactory placement outcomes. This was largely due to the lack of thorough impact assessments at the time of their admission. Young people know how to complain. There was one complaint filed since the last

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

inspection. This was clearly recorded and handled in a timely manner. It also reflects a child-centred outcome. The children’s guide includes information on young people’s rights. However, it does not contain details of how young people can contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Staff offer young people good support and encouragement to develop their independent living skills. A young person stated that he feels confident of his independent skills, such as knowing how to cook, budget his money, clean and shop on his own. Young people experience positive contact with their families. Staff and managers maintain good working relationships with those who matter to the young people. A young person, who did not see his family for several months until he came to live in the home, said that he enjoyed his contact with his parents and siblings. The young person’s face lit up as he talked about his time with his family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s views are incorporated into their care planning. For example, young people have opportunities to choose their activities and meals. Also, young people’s cultural heritage is respected and celebrated. This makes them feel heard and valued. Young people are given opportunities to be a part of the wider community. For example, a young person, along with staff, donated money, food and other items to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. The home is a homely and comfortable and the young people have made it their own. Young people and the staff alike take pride in their home and the warmth they create in it. The positive relationships between the staff and young people are evident. One young person said, ‘This is my second family.’

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

Young people receive good help and protection from the staff and managers who are attuned to their vulnerabilities. Young people state they feel ‘safe’ in the home and are able to identify trusted adults that they can talk to about any concerns. Risk factors associated with child sexual exploitation, self-harming, offending, misusing drugs or alcohol, going missing and radicalisation are assessed and managed well by the staff and the manager. Each young person has a detailed risk assessment in place with specific actions to mitigate the identified risks. Where a young person is suspected of using cannabis, staff and the manager engage the young person in key-working sessions to further assess their vulnerability and educate them about the consequences of substance misuse. Supervised spending is also used as a means to manage the risks to the young person. When young people go missing from the home, staff follow agreed procedures. While

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

return home interviews routinely take place, it is not always clearly recorded whether the Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 6 young person has been offered interviews by an independent person as arranged with the responsible authority. Any emerging factors that may increase the young person’s vulnerability are assessed and discussed by the staff team. Strategy meetings are convened to manage the risks. Consequently, specific action plans are implemented that help to reduce young people’s incidents of going missing. Staff are clear about child protection procedures. Staff also have good knowledge of the factors that potentially escalate the risk levels for each young person and they know how to respond to heightened risks. A Metropolitan police constable and missing persons’ co- ordinator stated, ‘All staff are aware of reporting individuals missing to police, the procedure to follow and are aware of child sexual abuse guidelines. At this current time,

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

I do not have any concerns about the way they are dealing with children in their care or how they are reporting individuals missing to police.’ Since the last inspection, there has been one allegation of harm against a member of staff working in the home. The investigation into the allegation was shared with the appropriate agencies and was handled in line with the statutory guidance. The designated officer said that the outcome was unfounded and praised the home for the way in which it conducted the investigation, which was timely and child-centred. There are no concerns with the home’s safeguarding practice. The systems in place for recording sanctions and restraints are appropriate. Young people’s views are recorded, and there is evidence of the manager’s review of the incidents. The use of restraint is low. Positive behaviour is reinforced through rewards. For example, a young person was rewarded for hoovering the stairs from the ground

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

floor to the top floor of the landing. The young person wrote, ‘Thank you for making me feel good when I do something right.’ The safeguarding policy is comprehensive and meets the requirements of the relevant legislation. The location risk assessment is fit for purpose. The acting manager ensures that the home is properly staffed to provide adequate supervision of the young people and that safe recruitment is in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been without a registered manager since October 2017. The deputy manager is currently the acting manager. She has previously served in the acting role at this home during the course of the year and is currently in the process of registering with Ofsted. The acting manager ensures that the staff team works in partnership with families and professionals to promote positive outcomes for the young people. Professionals have stated that there is good communication from the home. An independent reviewing officer described the home as ‘warm and welcoming’ and that staff ‘provide a detailed report for the looked after child review, which was good’. Staff receive regular supervision that is focused on meeting the young people’s needs and receiving feedback on the quality of their practice. The acting manager utilises supervision to challenge gaps in practice. Records are clear and evidence the steps that

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 7 are taken to help staff improve their practice. Staff members state that they find supervision helpful, in that they receive appropriate support and guidance. Young people’s feedback is actively sought. For example, young people’s views about the staff and manager are considered in appraisals. Young people are asked for their thoughts about a new staff member coming into the home. This makes young people feel that they belong in the home and that they have a voice in the decisions that affect them. The workforce development plan is comprehensive and in line with the regulations. Emerging talent within the staff team is identified and a plan is in place to help cultivate this talent. Staff are aware of the training requirements and state that they find training helpful in their practice. The manager’s assessment of the home’s strengths and areas of improvement is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

thoughtful and considered. She utilises the independent visitor’s reports, which are comprehensive. The manager is able to underpin her evaluation by reference to the quality standards. However, there is room for improvement in the written report under regulation 45. In particular, the action plan for the next six months could detail how the service will evidence the impact it has on the young people’s outcomes. Staff members say that they receive good support from the team. It is quite clear that staff enjoy parenting the young people and helping them experience positive outcomes in their lives.

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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: SC386134 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

Linda Kim-Newby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC386134 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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