Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2539201 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children or young people with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2539201 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/01/2020 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2539201 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are being cared for in a very comfortable and nurturing environment. The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. Children have bedrooms which are personalised to their tastes. They have space to explore their individual interests. The manager and staff have strong relationships with children. They regularly spend time together trying new activities. As a result, children grow in confidence and have the opportunity to develop their interests and identities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have developed highly individualised, child-centred care plans. Children are encouraged to contribute to their plans and are actively involved in meetings to review their progress. The manager develops useful resources to enhance the ways in which staff and professionals communicate with children. This helps children to express themselves and relate to others in meaningful ways.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending full-time education. The manager has ensured that both children have bespoke education timetables to meet their individual needs. They are making good progress with their learning and peer relationships. Additional learning opportunities are provided within the home. Children’s meetings have an educational element where staff encourage children to learn about different countries, cultures and world events. The manager also provides a children’s newspaper, which they read regularly. This prompts children to ask questions and helps them to increase their general knowledge.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that children are in good physical health. Children are supported to attend routine appointments and they have a varied and healthy diet. Both children are receiving regular external support with issues related to their cultural and identity needs. This is helping them to maintain positive emotional well- being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported to see and speak to their families. One child has progressed from seeing his family four times per year to spending time with them every month. Another child sees his family every two weeks. Both children have regular phone and video calls in between these times. The manager and staff provide good support with these arrangements because they know how important time with family is for children.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager and staff understand the risks posed to and from children well. They have a good understanding of children’s histories and the impact of their life experiences. Risk assessments are comprehensive and detailed, identifying known and potential risks and vulnerabilities. Assessments are regularly updated, which ensures that staff have accurate information in order to protect children from harm. For one child who previously lived at the home, the manager and staff provided Inspection report for children's home: 2539201 4 extensive support regarding self-injurious behaviour over a prolonged period of time. This prevented the child from coming to significant harm. The support offered to this child has been commended by other professionals involved at that time.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use their skills and experience to manage children’s behaviour effectively. They have a good understanding of children’s developmental needs. As such, the staff adapt their approaches to meet children’s individual needs, and there are very few incidents at the home. Consequently, children experience the stability of a calm environment.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children do not go missing from the home. There has been one incident when a child was missing when already away from the home. The manager and staff responded in a very well-coordinated way in terms of communication with the child, family and professionals. This ensured that the child was returned safely and in a timely way.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager has established a staff team that does not require support from agencies. Staff are recruited safely, which prevents unfamiliar or unvetted adults from caring for children. If children need reassurance at any time, there is always someone available. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A well-qualified, caring and approachable manager leads the home. She has a high level of resilience, and her dedication to the home is exceptional. The manager has established a strong child-centred ethos which unifies the practice of the staff team. The manager has made remarkable changes to the home in a short space of time. This has greatly improved the lives of children in her care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager makes careful decisions about children coming to live at the home. She ensures that children have the stability and security they need to become settled before other children move in. This approach reduces the risk of children having to move on in unplanned ways.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff have welcomed the manager’s focused approach, and they are thriving under her leadership. The team benefits from regular supervision, relevant training and personal development plans. The manager provides a high level of support and is not afraid to challenge practice where necessary. As a result, children consistently receive a high standard of care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is committed to maintaining these high standards. She regularly seeks feedback from internal and external colleagues. The feedback frequently commends the manager and staff for their commitment to children. Professionals have high levels of confidence in the manager and her ability to advocate for the rights of children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is implementing a number of imaginative and ambitious ideas for the development of the home. She is renovating areas of the home for children to have Inspection report for children's home: 2539201 5 therapy and to create music and art projects. This will offer children new ways to express themselves and develop new talents.

p.4

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: 2539201 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland North Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Esland Ltd, Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

p.6

Inspectors

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Julie Knight, Her Majesty’s Inspector Social Care Inspection report for children's home: 2539201 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7