Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Bexley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 1 SC387684 Registered provider: Esland South Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to six children. The home’s statement of purpose states that care is provided for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers planned, emergency and respite placements.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 8 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 8 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have worked positively towards implementing the requirements and recommendations raised at the full inspection. Although these have not been fully implemented, there is clear evidence of tangible, sustained, positive progress. The manager of the home was not in post at the time of the full inspection. The manager has had a significant determined focus on improving the quality of care for children and management oversight of the home, which is having a positive impact on outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of this inspection, there were four children living in the home. Since the last inspection, there have been three children discharged and three children admitted. Children at the home report being happy, listened to, valued and safe. Children report positive interactions with staff, who are concerned for their welfare and help them engage in activities that are important to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents report that they feel the needs of their children are well met and that staff communicate with them effectively. Parents are kept up to date with relevant information about their children. Parents identify that they are positively welcomed when they visit the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff are working well with partners and social workers, who are positive about the professional relationships and their clear input into planning for children. The manager and staff positively promote education. However, one child continues to receive home tuition and is still not in full-time education, despite being admitted to the home in August 2021. The manager and staff need to be a stronger advocate with partner agencies when children’s education needs are not being met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Stability within the group of care staff has increased significantly since the last inspection, with minimal changes in staffing. This has helped children to feel secure and helps them to build trusting relationships with staff. Staff report the home as being a different place to eight months ago and highlight the positive impact of the current manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children who go missing from the home experience a well-coordinated response and there is a clear plan to safeguard them. Staff make determined efforts to keep in touch with children while they are missing, make efforts to locate them and to understand the reasons why they went missing on their return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regular key-work sessions with children are held covering a variety of themes designed to help children. These are well recorded and evidence positive Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 3 engagement with children, but would benefit from stronger evaluation of their impact.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of this inspection, there is only the current manager of the home who holds the level three qualification in residential childcare. The manager is aware of the need to ensure that staff enrolled on this programme complete it in a timely manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments identify risks to children well and relevant information is added when incidents occur. However, measures and actions designed to reduce these risks are not well defined and are not clearly reviewed to determine their effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording of children’s day-to-day experiences has improved, and the recording is written to children in a sensitive manner. However, the records do not currently provide sufficient information concerning children’s emotions, wishes and feelings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff supervision has improved in terms of frequency and quality. However, it is still not delivered consistent with the home’s statement of purpose, particularly regarding the provision of group supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Impact assessments undertaken when considering potential admissions to the home identify potential impacts on other children currently placed. However, impact assessments would benefit from greater clarity as to how the staff would be able to meet the specific unique needs of individual children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2019 Full Good 26/11/2018 Full Good 13/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments and behaviour management plans are kept up to date, regularly reviewed and are explicit in relation to the actions required to keep children safe. 1 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that group supervision takes place in line with what is stated in the statement of purpose. 1 April 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records in relation to children contain more information evidencing their emotions, wishes and feelings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that impact risk assessments include specific detail as to how the staff can meet the specific unique individual needs of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 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: SC387684 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Andy Whippey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 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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