Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 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 is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for a maximum of three children. The home cares for children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The recently appointed home’s manager has applied to be registered.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting 27 April 2021 to carry out a full inspection. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was carried out following a requires improvement to be good judgement at the last inspection.

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Inspection date: 10 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 10 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 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 sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. He is currently going through the registration process. The manager has created a supportive, nurturing, happy home where children are loved, and staff are valued. As a result, staff stability has been maintained since the last full inspection, and children say that they like living at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff feel fully supported and enjoy their work. Staff share the ethos and vision of the manager, and they are highly motivated. One staff member said, ‘The manager has completely turned the home around from what it was previously. We now have a clear picture of where we are going as a home and what our end goals are.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is reflective, thoughtful and seeks to improve his practice. There is a willingness to accept that things may not work, but also a real desire to get it right for children. As a result, children are receiving care that meets their current and emerging needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are of good quality. These assessments and plans provide detailed guidance to staff on how to manage risks safely and effectively. They incorporate the therapeutic approach of the home, and this runs through these documents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is generally welcoming and comfortable. However, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a delay in some maintenance work being completed in the home. The environment has started to improve; however, there are still a number of outstanding maintenance issues that require completion.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to make suitable arrangements to ensure that all staff have had specific training to meet the needs of children prior to them coming to live in the home. One child, who recently moved into the home, is on the autism spectrum, but specific training for staff has not yet been delivered. A plan is now in place to rectify this, with training scheduled very soon.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents and allegations have been appropriately reported to placing local authorities, the designated officer for the local authority and Ofsted. Managers maintain detailed chronologies and have proactively followed up any delay in information-sharing by agencies. Managers undertake lessons-learned exercises where appropriate. As a result, there have been changes to policies and procedures and improved practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 3 There is improved evaluation of any incidents, including the use of physical intervention. Managers provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and their responses to incidents. As a result, there has been a reduction in incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have worked to change the culture of the home, moving to a therapeutic approach, and supporting children to learn through natural consequences rather than sanctions. There is now a high emphasis on recognising and rewarding positive behaviour. Children are responding well to this new approach. Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/03/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/06/2019 Full Good 28/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 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 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

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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that required maintenance work is completed to keep children safe, and that the home is maintained to a good standard of repair. 28 March 2022

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the required training to meet the individual needs of children. 28 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 6

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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 for children’s home: 1276249 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: Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1276249 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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