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

Assurance visit report: SC063794 1 SC063794

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Information about this children’s home

This private home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have complex social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left on 18 May 2020. A new manager has started in post and has submitted an application to register.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC063794 2

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The care of children

Nurturing staff are considerate to, and aware of, children’s health needs. For example, timely liaison with health professionals has ensured that one child is no longer prescribed unnecessary medication. When health professionals cannot see children face to face due to COVID-19 restrictions, staff are creative and make arrangements for appointments to be held via video call. When children’s access to specialist services has been delayed, staff have sought to provide children with information and support. For example, staff and children have discussed the effect that the use of drugs can have on health. Children have been well supported by staff to help them understand the COVID-19 pandemic and how to keep themselves and others safe.

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The care of children

Good support from staff helped one child to achieve two GCSEs following a long period out of education. A social worker told the inspector that this was a significant achievement for this child. Another social worker told the inspector that she was impressed with the attention that staff had paid to finding a child a suitable education placement. However, for this child, a relaxed daily routine is not preparing him to be ready for formal learning. For example, inspectors observed the child remaining in bed until lunchtime, and staff report that he struggles to settle to sleep at night and so watches television and plays on his phone.

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The care of children

Staff’s awareness of children’s interests and hobbies has helped to keep children engaged during a time when community activities have been less available. For instance, children have enjoyed playing card games and baking. Staff have noticed children’s talents and made sure that they have access to equipment to promote these, including football and beauty resources.

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The care of children

General discussion, and focused work between children and staff, has helped increase children’s understanding of topical issues such as racism and oppression.

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The care of children

Children have been well supported by staff to keep in touch with their families. Staff acted on the views of one child and were able to arrange for him to visit family in his home area on his birthday. A focus on maintaining relationships has reduced the risk of children feeling isolated from people who are important to them.

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The care of children

Children live in a clean, tidy and welcoming home. Recent refurbishment of external buildings has extended the space available for children. Plans to refurbish the kitchen and the first-floor bathroom will further improve the physical conditions of the home. There has been some recent damage to the home. However, managers have acted to ensure plans are in place for this to be repaired quickly.

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The safety of children

The manager retains good oversight of behaviour management practice and will challenge staff practice. On three occasions, children’s behaviour has been extremely difficult and has involved the police being called to the home. Managers have acted Assurance visit report: SC063794 3 promptly to review and reflect on the events with staff and children and put measures in place to reduce risk.

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The safety of children

Concerns about flaws in staff supervision of children during the night have been investigated, and managers are implementing a range of actions to improve night- time monitoring systems for the benefit of children.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, when they do, staff take prompt action to help locate them. This helps to increase children’s safety.

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The safety of children

Good-quality direct work increases children’s understanding about how to keep themselves safe. For example, work around healthy relationships has helped one child to understand his rights and the issue of consent.

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The safety of children

The manager has not always notified the regulator when significant incidents happen in the home. This compromises the external oversight of the care provided to children.

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Leaders and managers

A new manager took up post in June 2020. The addition of a deputy manager has helped share the leadership tasks, enabling the manager to focus on ensuring that the home is run in accordance with the statement of purpose.

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Leaders and managers

The manager works hard to establish effective relationships with children’s social workers. Managers challenge local authorities when information is not received to inform children’s care and planning.

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Leaders and managers

The manager maintains good oversight of children’s development and provides regular feedback to social workers and staff about children’s progress. Following significant incidents, the manager takes time to reflect on what has happened. This helps her to identify when situations have been managed well and areas for development.

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Leaders and managers

Staff undertake routine health and safety checks of the home environment. This means that the home is a safe place for the children to live. Regular fire drills now take place. However, the manager has not ensured that all staff have undertaken fire safety refresher training. A lack of up-to-date knowledge among the staff team about how to prevent and respond to a fire could compromise children’s safety.

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Leaders and managers

Staff supervision and the induction of new staff have improved since the last inspection. The manager ensures that all staff now receive regular supervision. This means that they have opportunities to reflect on their practice. An annual appraisal provides staff with a further opportunity to consider their development and set targets for the year ahead. Good staff support helps to ensure that staff are aware of their responsibilities in meeting children’s needs and promoting children’s welfare. Assurance visit report: SC063794 4 Four staff are enrolled on a relevant level 3 qualification. However, managers have not planned this well because it is anticipated that some staff will not achieve this award within the required regulatory timescales.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor has continued to monitor the home by undertaking virtual visits to the home since restrictions were imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the quality and usefulness of the independent visitor’s reports is limited due to infrequent interviews with children, social workers and others.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has acted to ensure that all requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met. A recommendation about the quality of records has been remade because these are not always comprehensive.

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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 care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) In particular, ensure staff prepare children well for a return to education by providing them with structure and routine during the school day and a good night-time routine. 04/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25(1)(c)) 04/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)) 04/12/2020

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Recommendations

 All staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the time period if the member of staff Assurance visit report: SC063794 5 hasn’t worked in the role for a prolonged period, such as sick leave or maternity leave, or if it is not reasonable to expect the member of staff to complete in this timescale due to the nature of the hours they work. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person

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Recommendations

must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, the independent person must endeavour to speak to children, relevant professionals and, where appropriate, children’s families.

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elisabeth Brownlees

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Inspectors

Alison Cooper, Social Care Inspector James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC063794 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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