Children's home run by Esland South Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report children‟s home: SC024089 1 SC024089 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

 The home is owned by a limited company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children.  In its statement of purpose, the provider states that it accommodates children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or leaning disabilities.  The manager was registered in September 2018. He is working towards a level 5 qualification.

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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

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC024089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/11/2016 Full Good 11/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/11/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: SC024089 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1)) 31/12/2018

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Recommendations

 The children‟s guide should help children to understand:  what the day to day routines of the home are („what happens in the home‟);  the Statement of Purpose of the home (the care they can expect to receive while living there);  how to make a complaint in line with the home‟s complaints procedure;  how they can access advocacy support or independent advocacy if eligible; and  how to contact the Office of the Children‟s Commissioner. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards,‟ page 24, paragraph 4.22)  The registered person must ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to: respond to the health needs of children; administer basic first aid and minor illness treatment; help children to manage long-term conditions and where necessary meet specific individual health needs arising from a disability, chronic condition or other complex needs. („Guide to the children‟s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards,‟ page 34, paragraph 7.12)  At least one person on duty at any given time in a children‟s home must have a suitable first aid qualification (regulation 31(2)(a)). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards,‟ page 34, paragraph 7.13) Inspection report children‟s home: SC024089 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in this home and they make good progress here. They described being in lots of other homes which „didn‟t change things but this place has‟ and said that this home „is the best‟. They are settled and happy. Children feel close to the staff, enjoying warm and supportive relationships with them. A parent said that their child is in a „better frame of mind, calmer, more positive‟ and reports „a massive change in three months‟. The staff empower children to feel in control of their lives. A child told the inspector, „I talk to them about any worries and they help me feel better.‟ Children receive a consistent response from staff when pushing boundaries. As a result, incidents of challenging behaviour have significantly declined. Empowering children to feel in control has been instrumental in helping reduce incidents of self-harm. Children develop coping strategies and practical aids to use as an

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

alternative to self-harming. Staff listen to children about what would make their lives better. As a result, children benefit from better arrangements to see their families. Children learn to be responsible for their pets and care for them well. Children are now in good routines and get up each morning ready to learn. This is progress in relation to previous behaviours. Staff are proactive in trying to find education for the children. However, one child is currently without suitable education arrangements. Children are encouraged to be healthy. They get support to deal with substance misuse and their emotional and/or mental health needs. A healthy diet is provided, with staff and children eating together.

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

Due to the home‟s location, and staff diligence, children do not go missing. This is a significant improvement for all of the children. One child said, „I can‟t go missing as the staff follow me!‟ Staff looked at the reasons why children go missing and work effectively to bring about change. Staff help children to begin to come to terms with their past. They help children understand risks to their safety, for example from abusive relationships and sexual exploitation. Staff provide good-quality workshops, followed up by key-work sessions with children. A member of staff told the inspector that these methods „target the risks and help children to understand them‟. Staff recruitment is sound, ensuring that adults are appropriately checked before they are employed at the home. Inspection report children‟s home: SC024089 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been through a turbulent period this inspection year. Staff experienced some very challenging behaviour resulting in some children‟s placements ending. Managers changed the conditions of registration of the home to meet the requirements of referrals. The staff team is mostly new to the home and a new manager has now been registered. The current residents have been at the home for only three months but have been helped to settle and make progress. The manager, leaders and the staff have worked very hard to bring about change. The manager leads the home with a passion and determination to improve children‟s lives. He has empowered the staff team to promote positive outcomes for children. A member of staff told the inspector, „We feel like a team now.‟ Staff are trained to meet children‟s needs, for example in self-harm and suicidal tendencies. Training is ongoing to meet fresh challenges. However, training has lapsed

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

in first aid. The staff and manager advocate for children‟s best interests, such as obtaining mental health support speedily for a child. A social worker said staff „fight the children‟s corner‟. The building is comfortable and well maintained. It is very personal to the children with their artwork and photographs of them and their families decorating the walls. Children are proud of their home and have a say in how it is redecorated. Staff make sure children know everything about the home when they move in. However, the children‟s guide and the statement of purpose do not contain all the required information.

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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: SC024089 6

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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

Jacqueline Graves, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC024089 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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