Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1257013 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 home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children aged between 10 and 17 years of age. It is set over two buildings on the same gated site. The home cares for children who have emotional, social, learning and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1257013 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children who currently live at this home are settled and making good progress. One social worker said: ‘The routines and structures are really benefiting the child, and his anxieties are now reduced.’ Another social worker said: ‘This is a really positive placement. Staff are very supportive of family contact, and the child’s independence skills have improved.’ All the children are receiving some form of education and they are engaging well. For some, this is a real achievement. Children are now involved in lots of activities in the community. For example, they belong to boxing, wrestling and football clubs. This helps them to develop and improve their self-esteem, confidence and social skills. Children are now better matched with each other. Managers acknowledge that there have been some matching issues in the past, and the impact of children on each other had not been fully assessed. Three children have left the home since the last

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection. For some of these children, this was because the home was not meeting their needs and they were at risk of harm. Managers and staff facilitated these moves to make them as smooth as possible, and some children are still in touch with the home. When children go missing from this home, staff do their best to follow them and encourage them to return. They liaise with the police and report children missing in line with agreed protocols. The manager has challenged local authorities when return home interviews have not been carried out, and she requests information from these interviews, in order to keep children safer. Staff have benefited from training in understanding attachment and the impact of trauma. As a result, the management of behaviour is much better, and physical intervention has been used rarely. Negative consequences are also used infrequently, and there is an emphasis on rewarding good behaviour. However, the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager has not monitored the consequences log as frequently as necessary. One consequence was vague and not time limited, children had not routinely given their comments and there was little evidence of managerial oversight. This could lead to unfair or inappropriate responses to children’s behaviour. Partnership working is good. Visitors to the home are made welcome, communication is of good quality and frequent, and children benefit from partners working consistently as a result of appropriate information sharing. One social worker said: ‘Communication is brilliant. Staff email me updates and contact me about any concerns.’ Four requirements and two recommendations were set at the last inspection. These have all been addressed. Consequently, children are safer, they are benefiting from positive relationships with staff and they are engaging in leisure pursuits. The Inspection report children’s home: 1257013 3

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager has provided better leadership through improved monitoring and staff training. Inspection report children’s home: 1257013 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1257013 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair, and the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, and paragraph 9.36)

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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: 1257013 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 Ltd, Suite 1, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Ros Chapman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1257013 7 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

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

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