Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Amber Valley

Inspection report children’s home: SC489516 1 SC489516 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 provides care and accommodation for a maximum of two children and young people aged from 10 to 17. It specialises in caring for children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, including, but not exclusively, mild to moderate learning disabilities. The home also works with children and young people who are at risk of, or suffering from, child sexual exploitation, non-compliance with education, self-harm, aggression and engaging in criminal behaviours. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2018.

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC489516 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2017 Full Outstanding 14/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/08/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC489516 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The progress and experiences of children in this placement are exceptional. Children are making significant progress in all areas of their lives. They grow in confidence and self- esteem and display fewer potentially harmful behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children report having very positive experiences and they recognise the difference that living at the home has made to their lives. Children are provided with an outstanding level of care. Children learn to trust adults due to the emotionally warm care that they receive. This in turn enables children to invest in the home. Children know that staff care and that staff are committed to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The management and staff understand the importance of children receiving education. One child who is very new to the home is not yet in education. However, the manager has advocated strongly and explored a variety of creative educational options for this child. Other children who have a significant history of not being educated have re- entered full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have access to appropriate, extensive and individualised leisure activities. They are fully encouraged to pursue their interests and to stay fit and healthy. There is a lot of fun, laughter and high levels of praise and encouragement in the home. A child said, ‘The staff here are very supportive and friendly. It’s like a proper family home. I have a good relationship with all the staff. They are family to me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are respected and valued by staff. Their views are listened to and considered. Their views are continually sought in respect of the day-to-day running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transitions into and out of the home are carefully managed. Management and staff understand that this is a difficult time for children and they work hard to make the move as smooth as possible. One child who has recently moved into the home said, ‘When I got here, I was not expecting the staff to be so friendly. I have never been in a placement where I have settled this quickly. There is such a difference with the staff in comparison to the other homes that I have lived in. They are all amazing.’

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

The care and support that children are receiving are outstanding. Children feel safe in the home and can identify numerous members of staff who they would talk to if they had any concerns. The stable, homely and nurturing environment that is created by the dedicated staff team provides children with a strong sense of safety and well-being.

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

The use of physical intervention is rare. When physical intervention is used, it is done so with skill, sensitivity and for limited periods of time. The manager and staff discuss the use of restraint through debrief sessions. Effective debriefs are also carried out with children. This is extremely effective in ensuring that incidents are dealt with in the best Inspection report children’s home: SC489516 4 possible way and with the least distress for the child.

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

Notwithstanding children having a history of going missing prior to living in this home, the number of incidents dramatically decreases. A reviewing officer said of one child: ‘They were a very high-profile child who was frequently missing. However, the staff have worked well with them and incidents are now rare. The child’s behaviours have significantly stabilised since being in the placement.’

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

Children have clear and detailed behaviour management plans and risk assessments. Behaviour management is effective and is a significant strength of the home. Staff understand children’s behaviours in the context of their troubled histories. The skilled staff team understands the importance of providing firm but fair boundaries. Written feedback to the home by a social worker said: ‘The child often presents very complex behaviours and requires staff who can quickly attune to their changing moods. I have witnessed the team [members] adapt accordingly in ways that were both sensitive and supportive. They avoided confrontation and contained the child’s emotions to prevent any escalation.’

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

Key-work sessions are outstanding. Innovative, fun and creative approaches ensure that children engage in sessions. Children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities are explored in a focused and meaningful way. This highly beneficial approach assists children to start to speak about their experiences and to begin to understand their thoughts and feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership and management are highly effective. The registered manager is hands-on, while not losing sight of her management responsibilities. She is dedicated to improving the lives of children and ensuring that they have uncompromising standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a strong advocate for children. She is tenacious in ensuring that any decisions made in respect of children are planned, well-thought-out and in the child’s best interests. She is an experienced and committed individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by highly skilled senior leaders in the team. They share the manager’s vision to improve the lives of children. The senior leaders are enthusiastic and extremely passionate about children. They are an integral part of the highly successful running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and senior leaders are respected by the staff and the children in the home. The manager and senior leaders are child-focused. All staff spoken to reported that they felt extremely well supported by the manager and the senior leaders. The staff spoke with enthusiasm about their love of working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Productive team meetings and regular, high-quality supervision ensure that practice is monitored and improvements in the delivery of care are made. The manager and senior leaders are committed to making continued improvements and are forward thinking regarding the development of the home and the care that children receive. This drive Inspection report children’s home: SC489516 5 and passion are indicative of a service that is run in an outstanding way.

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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: SC489516 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 Limited, Suites 1 & 5 Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector(s)

Davinia Lawton: social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC489516 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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