Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 1

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Esland North Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for three children. According to the statement of purpose, this home is for three children who are experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2019.

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This monitoring visit

On 4 December 2020 Ofsted received specific concerns relating to the leadership and management of the home, the safeguarding of three children, suitability and sufficiency of staff, and behaviours of children and damage to the home. Ofsted immediately followed up these concerns with the provider and placing authority, and in response received assurances of the steps taken to ensure the immediate safety of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted reviewed records relating to the concerns and liaised with the social workers responsible for the children living in the home. Because of the findings from this off- site inspection activity, an urgent on-site inspection was carried out.

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This monitoring visit

During the monitoring visit, serious weaknesses were identified that placed the children at significant risk of harm. The provider had recognised the seriousness of the situation and begun to take steps to identify an alternative home for one child who had recently moved in. This child moved out on the day of the visit and Ofsted issued a restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers failed to evaluate sufficiently the impact of a third child moving into the home on the other children already living there. A poor matching decision was made that has significantly affected the stability of the home and the well-being of the children. This is the second serious matching error this year, with Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 2 the provider not demonstrating sufficient learning from the previous matching decision and the negative impact on the long-term residents.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been unable to safely respond to the current new child’s behaviour, resulting in children and staff being assaulted and injured. This has included staff being grabbed, punched and bitten and children being hit and racially taunted.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents have resulted in damage to the home, including broken windows and damage to children’s bedroom walls. Staff were instructed to call the police during one incident. This response was unreasonable and excessive. This same poor practice was identified at the monitoring visit in July 2020, however, on this occasion no arrests were made.

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This monitoring visit

Staffing arrangements are fragile. Both the manager and deputy manager have resigned from their posts, and agency and bank staff are regularly working in the home. A member of staff described the current situation in the home as ‘horrendous’.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured that children are consistently provided with sufficiently good care, routines or stability. For example, the children have on occasion been awake throughout the night because of incidents. This means the children’s ability to engage in meaningful education and activities is compromised. One child shared with the inspector their upset from witnessing their home being damaged and adults who look after them being assaulted and called names.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to monitor, review and report a safeguarding incident in line with statutory requirements or in a timely manner. In addition, leaders and managers have not notified Ofsted of the seriousness of the incidents that have occurred in the past month, in accordance with the regulations.

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This monitoring visit

Three requirements made at the assurance visit in September 2020 will remain in place. This is because of insufficient evidence to demonstrate that they have been met. A further five requirements are made because of the serious and widespread failings identified during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are aware of the serious failings and have provided assurances to Ofsted in the form of an action plan. Ofsted will undertake monitoring inspections to review the actions that leaders and managers take to comply with the requirements of the regulations and the restriction notice.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure that young people’s plans are regularly updated and contain relevant information to support staff in meeting the needs of children. 1 November 2020

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure procedures are in place to respond to complaints from children. 1 November 2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 4 The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (5)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that all potential employees provide a full employment history and dates of employment are cross referenced with the dates supplied by references. 1 November 2020

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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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

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

The conditions are— 8 January 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 5 that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(v)(vii)(viii)(c)(i)(ii) (3(a)(b)(c)(i))

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, 8 January 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 6 sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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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

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; 8 January 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 7 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 8 January 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 8 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 8 January 2021

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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.

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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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Inspector

Linda Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2519260 9 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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