Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for one child with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff strive to provide children with good care. They are currently caring for a child who experiences periods of distress. The staff demonstrate considerable energy and determination to meet the child’s needs. They are working hard to help the child re-establish a good routine, particularly with eating and sleeping patterns. This is challenging. However, staff are committed to the child because they want him to make progress. As such, the child is beginning to develop some positive relationships and enjoy new experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager maintains the home to a good standard. When the home becomes damaged, she ensures that repairs are carried out and redecorated. The home is currently being repainted and new furnishings have been purchased to create a homely feel. Photographs and certificates are displayed and reflect the child’s achievements. This helps the child to feel valued and develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is struggling with formal education. As such, the staff are implementing a ‘learning through care’ approach which is supported by the child’s personal education plan. The child is making some progress. For example, he will sit with staff to complete spellings, science projects and woodwork activities. This is helping him to gradually build his levels of confidence and concentration. The child takes pride in his achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are helping the child to reduce his anxiety regarding health appointments. They have supported him to see his GP. This is something he has previously been too frightened to do. This has enabled assessments of the child’s health to be planned and for the child to receive the healthcare needed. Involved professionals recognise this as a significant step. This has been achieved because of the help and support from the manager and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is well supported to spend time with his family. There are planned visits to the home, by family, every week. The manager will arrange meetings with family members to ensure that effective communication takes place and that there are clear expectations in place. Managers do this as they know how important family is to the child, particularly in relation to his cultural needs.

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

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the risks posed to and from the child. Where new risks emerge, managers respond quickly to keep the child safe. They understand the importance of keeping risk assessments up to date which reflect the changing nature of risks and vulnerabilities to the child. There are some specific challenges during the night which are currently being responded to. Managers recognise that risk assessments and safety plans need to be kept under constant review to maintain the child’s safety overnight. The staff have been Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 4 required to manage several incidents, some of which have been serious. They have used their skills and experience to manage these safely. The in-house psychotherapist provides advice and guidance to staff about how to respond to the child during and following incidents. As a result, the frequency and length of

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

The manager notifies relevant agencies of incidents, and practice has improved regarding notifying Ofsted of serious incidents. Managers recognise the importance of embedding this practice further to ensure the regulator has good oversight of safeguarding practices in the home.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that allegations from children are fully investigated and dealt with in a timely way. Outcomes are recorded and actions are taken to ensure that children and staff are supported throughout these processes. This means that children’s concerns are taken seriously, and steps are taken to prevent them from harm.

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

The manager ensures that staff are safely recruited. The home is well staffed which prevents the need for agency workers. If the child needs help or reassurance, there is always a member of staff available. Over time, this is helping the child to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have worked hard to meet the requirements from the last inspection. There is a new and enthusiastic manager leading the home. The manager is well supported by her colleagues. She was previously employed as the deputy manager. The manager has drawn on her knowledge of the home to implement an action plan which has addressed previous shortfalls. This has improved the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager cares deeply about the child living at the home. She shows absolute commitment to providing a home where the child can feel safe, learn and grow. The manager celebrates the child’s every achievement. She encourages the staff to do the same. Consequently, she maintains a positive atmosphere that helps motivate the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have developed an experienced staff team. They have the skills and resilience to meet the needs of the child. Leaders and managers recognise how important maintaining consistency of staff is for the child. As such, they provide regular formal and informal supervision and relevant training. The in-house psychotherapist provides very good support through regular meetings with staff. This ensures that staff remain focused on the needs of the child and maintain good levels of empathy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, staff say they are happy working at the home. New staff are welcomed and provided with a thorough induction. Staff speak warmly about their colleagues. One member of staff likened the home to a ‘big family’. The team feel able to raise any Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 5 concerns and they are praised for their continued commitment to the child. Managers are currently changing the working patterns so that staff can maintain a healthy balance between work and home. This has been welcomed by the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the quality of care provided. They implement lessons learned from incidents and children’s experiences of living at the home. Concerns about practice are dealt with in a timely way and actions are identified to prevent shortfalls developing. This demonstrates a commitment to providing a good standard of care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 6

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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

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that safety plans for during the night are constantly reviewed to maintain the child’s safety. 25 May 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page, 42 paragraph 9.5)  14.10 Regulation 40(4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraphs 14.10 and 14.11)

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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, Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 7 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: 2637140 8

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

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2637140 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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