Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Greenwich

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 1 SC386134

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Esland South Limited

Monitoring visit 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 between 12 to 17 years. The home‘s statement of purpose states that the home cares for young people who have social and/or behavioural difficulties. The registered manager formally resigned his position with Ofsted in August 2019. A new manager has moved to the home from another position in the organisation. She is presently preparing an application for registration with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 15 July 2019. Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted has made no change to this judgement.

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This monitoring visit

There were 11 requirements and 10 recommendations made at the full inspection. The home has succeeded in addressing six requirements and three recommendations. Therefore, the remaining requirements and recommendations are repeated.

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This monitoring visit

Five new staff members have joined the home since the last inspection. Three members of staff have left. An updated statement of purpose accurately records the staffing changes.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager said that she feels that the new staff team has a new sense of purpose and ‘impetus’. This is evidenced by increased proactivity, such as staff contacting young people’s relatives and arranging for young people to attend important family gatherings. Case recordings show that the resumption of their family contact has supported young people to improve their behaviours and build trust in the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

The induction of new staff is supported by improved supervisory arrangements. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 2 Supervision sessions allow the staff to have opportunities to understand and engage with the improvements proposed by the new management team.

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This monitoring visit

A new deputy manager has been appointed. He plans to commence working towards the management qualification in September 2019.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no young people admitted to the home since the last inspection. There have not been any reports of episodes of young people going missing or receiving sanctions, or incidents of restraint in the home, since the last inspection. Consequently, it has not been possible to assess the home’s progress towards meeting the relevant requirements and recommendations.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have benefited from receiving a bespoke training programme. Topics have included refresher safeguarding training that focused on the risks posed to young people when they go missing.

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This monitoring visit

The local police have visited the home and have agreed to meet with managers monthly, to review risk assessments and discuss any concerns around young people going out in the local community’.

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This monitoring visit

Case recordings have improved. Files now record the progress of young people more effectively. In addition, risk assessments and care plans have been improved as a result of managers regularly auditing them.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are presently completing: the assessment of risks posed to young people when they are in the local community’ a management progress report; and the workforce development plan. Managers stated that these documents are planned to be completed before the end of September 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment has been improved and made safer. The home now benefits from having a working alarm system which alerts night-staff to young people leaving the building at night. A programme of redecoration and refurbishment is underway. The garden now benefits from having outdoor furniture, a trampoline and a new paddling pool.

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This monitoring visit

Young people benefit from having access to an enhanced range of activities. During the summer holidays, staff offered young people planned daily outings. One young person had just returned from an enjoyable week at the seaside with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Medication arrangements are safer. All staff have completed the appropriate training. Staff have ensured that one young person received the specialist support he required regarding medication’. The young person now fully understands the impact that not taking his medication can have on his behaviour. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/07/2019 Full Inadequate 14/08/2018 Full Good 23/11/2017 Full Good 08/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 4

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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 review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‘s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2))

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Requirement Due date

This is with reference to the specific risks posed by gangs and child sexual exploitation in the local area. 30/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (―the missing child policy‖) setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent.

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Requirement Due date

Before implementing, or making an amendment which the registered person considers to be substantive to, the missing child policy, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person; and

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Requirement Due date

have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. (Regulation 34(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) In particular, ensure that staff adhere to the missing 30/10/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 5 procedure and report young people missing when they are unsure of their location. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‘s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers should have oversight of all physical interventions in the home. 30/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system of monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children‘s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided to children. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 30/10/2019

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Recommendations

 Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 6 standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when

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Recommendations

assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Ensure that a workforce plan is in place which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: – detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of Purpose; – detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications); – detail the process for managing and improving poor performance. The

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Recommendations

plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. This is also with reference to ensuring that staff receive training in radicalisation and refresher training in safeguarding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The behaviour management strategy should always be understood and applied by staff and must be kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.34)  Staff should take account of information provided by return home interviews following episodes when a child has been missing. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 7

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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

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC386134 8 to 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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