Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC433430 1 SC433430 Registered provider: Esland North Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned by Esland Care.

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers accommodation on a medium- to long-term basis for up to four children and young people. It offers care for very challenging children and young people who have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties as a result of past emotional/physical abuse. Children and young people may display moderate learning difficulties, may have a history of self-harm, sexual exploitation, absconding and/or anti-social or persistent offending behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers care to children and young people ranging from nine to 17 years.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC433430 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/05/2017 Full Good 25/05/2016 Full Good 11/04/2016 Full Inadequate 11/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC433430 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are very happy and settled, and they are making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have extremely positive relationships with staff and report good experiences of living at the home. All three young people spoke with enthusiasm about the care that they receive. One young person said: ‘Staff are really nice. It’s like a family. I would rate the home 11 out of 10. It’s amazing. I love it here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is held in high regard and is seen as a priority. Staff support young people to understand the importance of education. A learning mentor said: ‘The staff have high expectations for young people. If a young person is excluded from school they are not just allowed to sit at home and do nothing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported to become healthier, both physically and emotionally. Once a need is identified, staff are proactive in getting the right services involved. A social worker said: ‘The communication with the staff so far has been amazing. They are very supportive. They are efficient and understand what young people need.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate on behalf of young people in order to ensure that their needs are met. Young people feel listened to and their wishes and feelings are fully considered. One young person said: ‘I have lived at other homes, but I have not been as supported as I am here. If there was a problem, they would help me. Even if it’s only a small problem they will do the best they can.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to take part in individual activities, to stay active and to follow their interests. Young people are respected and valued by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have been involved in the home’s decoration. It is a safe, friendly and welcoming place where young people are thriving. A learning mentor commented that young people ‘shine’.

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

Young people are safe in the home. Comprehensive multi-agency packages of support, good partnership working and individual work carried out by staff with young people provide them with a good level of help and protection. A police community support officer said: ‘They have a good knowledge of the young people they are caring for. It is the best home that I go to. Staff are totally on the ball all of the time.’

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

Carefully planned work undertaken by staff reduces the number of incidents of risk- taking behaviour, such as young people going missing from the home. Concerns regarding child sexual exploitation also reduce. When young people do go missing from the home, the diligence and persistence of staff ensure that young people are returned home safely. The missing person liaison officer said: ‘Staff are excellent and manage Inspection report children’s home: SC433430 4 situations extremely well. All the staff are knowledgeable and fully support young people. They carry out work with young people in relation to the dangers of going missing, which is highly effective and helps young people to understand the risks they place themselves in.’

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

Staff support young people to manage their emotions and behaviours. Proactive behaviour management plans are used effectively and focus on young people’s strengths. Appropriate strategies are used to de-escalate challenging behaviour. A young person said: ‘We have consequences when we do something wrong. The consequences are fair. They are not too short that you won’t learn, but they are not too long which would make you hate staff. They treat people fairly.’

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

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. Management monitoring of all incidents helps to ensure that practice in this area is of a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A new manager is in post and has yet to register with Ofsted. She is suitably experienced for this role and is working towards the required level 5 qualification. This will be completed by the end of 2018.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The previous manager has fully supported the induction of the new manager. The transition has been extremely smooth and successful. Both managers are aspirational and ambitious for young people. Their united vision has resulted in limited disruption to the home during this period of change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers present as motivated and committed to improving the lives of young people. They demand the highest standards from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers ensure that any new transitions into the home are meticulously considered. They take into account the needs of the new and existing young people. Their child- focused approach is outstanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Strong and impressive leadership has assisted to ensure that there is a well-established, very happy staff team. Staff morale is high. There is a cohesive staff group that holds management in high regard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel valued and supported. A member of staff said: ‘Management is great and very supportive. The new manager has been fantastic since she has come in. We were also very lucky with the previous manager. Whenever I need management support, they are just there any time of the day or night. They are just really great and fantastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Quality assurance systems are in place and are comprehensive. This, in addition to leaders and managers being willing to listen to feedback, has helped to drive continuous improvement and ensure that the management of the home is outstanding. Inspection report children’s home: SC433430 5

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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: SC433430 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland North Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Esland North Limited, Suite 1, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Davinia Lawton: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC433430 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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