Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 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

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide care for one child. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The interim manager has been in post since May 2022. She has submitted an application to register 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in this home receives good care from a staff team who know them well. The inspector observed warm and familiar relationships between the child and staff. Staff are proud of the progress the child has made since living in this home. The child told the inspector that staff make the home ‘as good as it can be’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child moved into the home in a planned and considered way. Staff spent time with the child before they moved into the home and the child and family members were able to visit the home before the child moved in permanently. The child’s parent said, ‘They [staff] made it nice and smooth.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to engage in a range of activities that they enjoy and staff have supported activities that are a considerable distance from the home. They celebrate the child’s accomplishments and awards the child has received are on display in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress with their education from their starting point. Following a period of home tuition, the child has achieved the required qualifications to gain a place in college, where he will start his course after the summer break. However, managers have not escalated an education, health and care plan application swiftly, to ensure that the right support is in place to support this transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with the people who are important to him, and staff appreciate the significance of these relationships. Family and friends are able to visit the home. Feedback from the child’s parent was positive about the progress the child has made since moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends routine health appointments and is encouraged to play their part in looking after their own health. The child has accessed support for their emotional well-being from the organisation’s in-house psychologist and also receives support from a professional external to the organisation. However, there is limited evidence in the child’s plans as to how this support has informed staff practice, as laid down in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has regular opportunities to share their views about the home and the care they receive. They are aware of the complaints procedure and have used this when they are unhappy about issues in the home. The manager has taken appropriate action to respond to the child’s views and complaints.

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

The child benefits from high levels of staff supervision. Individual risk management plans assess the presenting risks and include the strategies staff should use to Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 4 manage these risks. The manager and staff continue to review these plans to ensure that the identified strategies remain effective.

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

Staff work closely with other colleagues in the local authority to manage high levels of risk. This collaborative approach means that professionals contribute to and take responsibility for keeping the child safe. The child was previously subject to a deprivation of liberty order, however, this has recently been revoked.

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

Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. They consult with the child regarding their view of risk, and the measures in place to keep them safe. The child gets on well with staff and will talk about things that they are worried about, which is an effective safeguard.

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

When serious incidents have occurred, leaders and managers have taken appropriate action. The manager has informed relevant professionals, including the local authority designated officer, of matters of concern in the home. Appropriate action has been taken to ensure that staff’s practice safeguards children.

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

When searches of the child’s bedroom are undertaken, the rationale for these decisions is clear and appropriate. Records show if the child has given permission for the search or is aware if the search is taking place and the actions staff have taken as a result of the search. However, the recording of one search was not completed . The manager had taken steps to address this with the staff who carried out the room search.

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

Staff have physically intervened on one occasion in order to keep the child safe. Incentives are in place to encourage positive behaviour and sanctions are used rarely in this home. However, when these measures have been imposed, they have not been recorded or reviewed in a timely manner and records of discussions with the child lack detail.

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

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from this home. Staff spoken to during the inspection were clear about the action they would take should the child go missing.

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

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff, including agency staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been several changes to the management arrangements of this home since it was registered. The support provided to staff by the home’s responsible individual has contributed to the stability of the home during this period. There is now a permanent, suitably qualified manager in post who has submitted her application to register with Ofsted. Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 5 Feedback from staff describes a supportive environment, and staff were positive about the impact the manager has had since she was appointed. The staff benefit from regular team meetings, which encourage them to reflect on their practice and the work undertaken with the child living in the home. Staff receive regular supervision. However, records do not consistently show how staff are encouraged to reflect on their own practice and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed a range of training to support them in their roles. Specialist training has been sourced to support key areas of concern for the child and this has also been offered to the child’s family members. However, for some staff, the manager has not assured herself that they have the skills and training necessary to safely care for the child living in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home receives monthly visits from an independent person. This supports the manager to understand the strengths and areas for development in the home. The manager’s review of the quality of care report identifies a number of actions to improve the home. The report also shows that progress has been made to complete these actions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals spoke positively about the home and say that there is good communication about the child’s progress and any incidents that have occurred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager must ensure that the actual hours worked by her and the staff are included on the home’s rota. This will ensure that there are accurate records kept should there be any safeguarding concerns. Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 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 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff are trained in the safe removal of ligatures and training records are in place for all staff working in the home. Also, that therapeutic input is clearly recorded in the child’s care plan, as per the home’s statement of purpose. 1 September 2022

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; 1 September 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 7 the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that records are completed and reviewed promptly, and that consultation with the child is clearly recorded.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all hours that staff, including the registered manager, have worked are recorded on the home’s duty rosters. 1 September 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff supervision enables staff to reflect on their own feelings and behaviour and how their own feelings and behaviour may affect the children they care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)

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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: 2648027 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland North 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

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 10 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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