Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2483823 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for a maximum of three children and/or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, including, but not exclusively, mild to moderate learning disabilities. The home cares for children and/or young people aged between eight and 17. The home is privately owned. The home’s manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2019.

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Inspection date: 17 December 2019

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2483823 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite this home being judged as good at its full inspection, several shortfalls in practice have been identified during this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has left the home since the last inspection. The ending of the placement was not planned and resulted in the young person having to move at short notice following a significant incident taking place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some parts of the home are unwelcoming and do not represent a homely and nurturing environment for young people. For example, a broken window to the property has been left for a significant amount of time without being repaired. However, senior management were quick to action this during the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have failed to engage one young person living in the home. The young person is left for significant amounts of time in their bedroom with no structure or routine to their day. Although staff complete checks on this young person, these checks are effectively a paperwork exercise. Although attempts are being made, management and staff are failing to effectively form a meaningful relationship with this young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person is not accessing any education or therapeutic support despite this being in place prior to the placement commencing. The lack of education is having an impact on this young person’s daily routines, as well as their future life chances. Although some attempts have been made by the manager, more should have been done to advocate on behalf of this young person to ensure that their needs are being met holistically.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A robust multi-agency approach is not always being taken to ensure that young people’s needs are met. This has resulted in some miscommunication and plans in respect of young people not being as clear and transparent as they should be. On occasions, this has left young people extremely vulnerable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are some shortfalls in behaviour management in the home. Staff do not always demonstrate the skill and persistence to deal with young people’s challenging behaviours effectively. Instead, incidents are left to escalate and, on occasions, are exacerbated by shortfalls in practice. This does not provide young people with a nurturing home environment or with a sense of security and belonging.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some risk assessments have not been updated in response to serious incidents and events. Plans do not fully reflect the current concerns and areas of risk. They fail to provide staff with clear guidance about what actions they should take to reduce risks Inspection report children’s home: 2483823 3 and ensure young people’s safety and well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On one occasion, staff transported a young person to the train station, so they could go shopping in London. This was without any authorisation or agreement from the local authority or the home’s manager. Although this did not result in the young person being harmed, given the young person’s extreme vulnerability, it had the serious potential to do so.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are some monitoring and review systems in place in the home. Despite this, on occasions, managers have not always identified and understood the impact of the quality of care being offered to young people. Although some incidents are reviewed, there is a lack of professional curiosity and challenge of some of the practice that has taken place. The management team was receptive to these shortfalls and is eager and committed to addressing them without delay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective, robust monitoring and review systems need to be developed by the manager. This will assist to ensure that shortfalls in the home are immediately addressed and acted upon. In turn, this will help drive improvements to the service. Inspection report children’s home: 2483823 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2483823 5

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(b)(2)(a)(ix)(xii)) 31/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that young people are helped to understand the impact of violence and bullying between peers. 27/12/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 2483823 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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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

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)) 31/01/2020

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 2483823 7

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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, 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: 2483823 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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