Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 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 owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in November 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaged in education. One child has recently been given a reduced timetable and is receiving home tutoring. Another child is making good progress at college. Staff are supportive of children’s aspirations and recognise that they have the potential to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is encouraged and supported by the staff. Children can spend time with people who are important to them. When family time is not possible, staff nurture the children’s friendships with peers. Staff try to ensure that children do not spend long periods of time in their bedrooms. Staff offer a variety of activities and opportunities to pursue hobbies. These nurture relationships with staff and lessen children’s isolation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well understood by the staff, and children access local health professionals when needed. One child has complex mental health. Staff are proactive in ensuring that the child is well supported by local mental health services. Staff are committed to understanding the triggers for self-injurious behaviours. They work closely with other professionals to ensure that children’s emotional needs are met. Therefore, children know that they have people who they can talk to about their feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand and voice their feelings during regular key- work sessions with staff. Staff model acceptance and challenge any discrimination. This has helped one child to explore their identity in a safe way. As a result, children understand that the care offered to them is unconditional.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are thorough, individualised and updated regularly. They fully recognise children’s strengths and identities. These help the staff to understand what is important to the children. Consequently, children are cared for by staff who know them well and are emotionally attuned to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is kept to a good standard and feels like a family home. Children choose how to decorate their bedrooms, and these reflect their personalities. However, the staff are not aware of drawings on a child’s bedroom walls that are of an inappropriate nature. The home allows children to keep pets, which they very much enjoy caring for. This has contributed to children feeling settled at the home.

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

Risk assessments are thorough and updated regularly. Risks are categorised according to how likely they are to occur at the current time. They detail practical advice for staff before, during and after incidents. Staff understand the children’s behaviours well and respond dynamically to risk. Staff do not shame children and Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 4 work to help them to understand why certain behaviours are dangerous. Consequently, risk-taking behaviours reduce for some children.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. Going missing from home was previously an issue for one child. When staff do not know children’s whereabouts, they make no assumptions about the child’s safety. They follow agreed protocols carefully and inform the necessary professionals. Children are welcomed back to the home warmly and a debrief is offered for both children and staff. This helps to keep children safe and encourages them to return.

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

Incidents are handled well and recorded fully. There is good management oversight that allows for staff reflection and learning. Children feel able to share their feelings and know how to make a complaint. Concerns raised by children are taken seriously and responded to sensitively. As a result, children feel that they have a voice and are listened to by senior staff.

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

Staff are committed to children and do not ‘give up’ on them. One child was particularly vulnerable in the community and known to have been involved with a gang. The manager coordinated a multi-agency response and carefully planned for the child’s transition to another home. This ensured the child’s safety, reducing risks of harm and criminality. Staff advocated for another child in hospital, recognising when they needed additional professional support to meet their needs. Children feel protected by staff and this child was keen to return to their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a consistent staff team. The team are overseen by a suitably experienced manager and responsible individual. Professionals highlighted the manager’s commitment to the children and her willingness to prioritise quality time with children. Staff and the manager have developed meaningful relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and feel well supported by the manager. There is a strong team identity and staff feel that they can rely on and trust one another. Staff receive a varied induction and comprehensive training programme. Specific training is offered when it is required to enhance children’s care. Children are cared for by staff who are well equipped to understand their experiences and manage their behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive robust and regular supervision. They have the space to reflect on incidents and share concerns about children. The manager recognises the impact of the work on their well-being, and staff can openly discuss their feelings. Therefore, staff feel valued by the manager. Several members of the staff team have been supported to progress into senior positions, supporting their professional development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 5 There is a system in place to track children’s progress. Weekly and monthly reviews of the children’s experiences are shared with relevant professionals. This allows the manager and staff to review the impact of their care on the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have the skills and confidence to communicate easily and understand the importance of listening to and responding to the children. Staff should understand that they have a responsibility to observe, notice and respond to children who are expressing their views, acknowledging that it is not the sole responsibility of the child to articulate these. They should also understand how children might communicate their feelings through their behaviour or non-verbally, especially when the child has a disability that does not allow them to communicate. This refers to pictures drawn on a bedroom wall that include inappropriate images and derogatory comments about the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10)

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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: 2553861 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: Esland Limited Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kathleen McGowan

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Inspector

Louise Copping, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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