Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 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 home provides care for up to three children who have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022 and is currently working towards the required qualification.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/10/2021 Full Outstanding 08/10/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have recently moved into the home. The registered manager ensured that their transition was well planned and took place in a supportive manner. As a result, the children are settled and forming positive relationships with staff. Both children say that they like the home and get on well with the staff. Transitions out of the home are also well supported to ensure that children move on in a planned manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff keep children busy and encourage them to attend activities. One child has recently joined a local boxing club, which he enjoys. Staff try their best to offer children experiences that will help them to develop socially and grow in confidence. Staff have regular conversations with children to support them with their worries and concerns and to seek their wishes, views and opinions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are not yet in full-time education and receive several hours of online tuition a week. While additional activities and informal education are offered at the home, this is not clearly recorded. As a result, the extent of staff support with education is unclear.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have put in place detailed care plans that provide staff with essential information on children’s needs. However, plans to help children to develop their independence are not yet in place. The new manager is aware of this and has plans to address this without delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a large, homely environment that is welcoming, clean and tidy. Children have personalised their bedrooms and say that they like their bedrooms and have everything they need.

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

Children are safe and feel safe. Regular key-work sessions between children and staff focus on key areas that children need support with. Children get along with each other and there is no bullying.

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

Staff understand the risks and potential hazards for each child. When necessary, staff take effective action to safeguard children. Risk assessments are in place and provide sufficient strategies for staff to use to support children and reduce risk.

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

Staff reward children for positive behaviour and achievements, which helps children learn to make positive choices. When necessary, staff will impose consequences on children to discourage undesirable behaviour. The manager has not reviewed the effectiveness of these consequences to assure himself that they are helpful. Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 4 The manager has ensured that new staff are recruited safely. All relevant checks have been carried out before new staff start their employment. This means that staff have been suitably vetted to work with children.

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

Children rarely go missing from care and serious incidents are infrequent. When children have gone missing, staff have not maintained detailed records. As a result, it is not clear if staff have taken sufficient action to keep in contact with the child to bring about their safe return. In addition, the manager has not ensured that children are offered an independent return home interview on their return. Therefore, an opportunity to learn lessons is missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the team has experienced significant changes. The previous manager and six members of the team have left. A new registered manager has commenced in post and has rebuilt the staff team. Children are now cared for by a small but very dedicated team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel supported by the manager, who is visible and available to them. Staff receive regular supervision. They have access to monthly team meetings and reflective practice sessions which provide the opportunity for staff to reflect on practice issues and children’s needs. Newly recruited staff are provided with a thorough induction that helps them understand their roles and the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a comprehensive range of training available to staff and most staff have completed the key training for their roles. This means that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to care for the children safely. One member of staff has not obtained the residential childcare qualification within the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team work positively with professionals and communication is good. Feedback from professionals is overwhelmingly positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are some aspects of recording and documentation that could improve, for example ensuring that physical intervention paperwork is reviewed within the required time frame. Despite the shortfalls identified, staff are providing good care to children, and children benefit from living at the home. The new manager is aware of the areas that could be improved and has plans in place to address these. Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period;

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that all staff obtain the required qualification within the required time frame. 24 April 2023

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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— 24 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 6 the name of the child;

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager reviews records of physical intervention within the required time frame.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that the manager reviews the effectiveness of any consequences issued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the child is offered an independent return home interview when they return home after a period of being missing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that staff maintain a full and accurate record of missing-from-care episodes which outlines what actions have been taken. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should ensure that bedroom door alarms are only used for safeguarding purposes and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2483693 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 Limited, Suites 1 and 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2483693 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 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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