Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited

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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 manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Information relating to an ongoing investigation in the home was shared with Ofsted following the on-site inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

There is currently one child living in the home. They have remained living at the home since the last inspection.

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The care of children

The child benefits from warm, nurturing relationships with the staff team. The child told the inspector that they get on well with all the staff.

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The care of children

The home is well presented, comfortable and homely. Since the last inspection, the child’s bedroom has been redecorated to reflect their individual tastes.

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The care of children

There are now clear arrangements in place regarding the child’s education. The child works with a tutor at the home, and is also achieving awards for additional work on topics of particular interest to them. This has given the child a sense of purpose and the opportunity to learn new skills.

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The care of children

The child is appropriately encouraged and supported to attend routine medical appointments. Staff liaise with relevant health professionals to ensure that the child’s health needs are being met. The organisation’s in-house psychologist visits the home and is gradually building a relationship with the child.

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The care of children

Key-work sessions capture significant conversations with the child regarding a range of topics. The records appropriately reflect the child’s views, wishes and feelings.

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The safety of children

The child told the inspector that they feel safe living in the home. The child is listened to and supported to talk to staff about any worries or concerns.

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The safety of children

Individual risk management plans detail the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. They include strategies for the staff to follow to keep the child safe. Plans are updated and reviewed regularly.

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The safety of children

On occasion, room searches have not been undertaken swiftly. This has the potential to place the child at further risk. The registered manager has taken appropriate action to address this with the staff team.

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The safety of children

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of staff holding the child to keep them safe. The registered manager has had oversight of this incident, and debriefs with the child and staff are clearly recorded. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 3 There have not been any incidents of the child going missing from the home. Staff are confident about the actions that they would take to keep the child safe should incidents occur.

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The safety of children

Door sensors fitted to the child’s bedroom as a safeguarding measure are kept under review. The registered manager has ensured that the required permissions from the child’s placing authority are now in place.

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The safety of children

Shortfalls were identified in relation to staff recruitment. The registered manager did not have evidence of relevant qualifications for one member of staff. The risk assessments in place had not been reviewed as appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified manager. A permanent staff team is now in place. Staff are gradually getting to know the child. The child told the inspector that they are now cared for by a consistent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Incident records reflect management oversight. Actions are clearly identified and any practice issues are followed up with members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has not always informed relevant professionals, including the designated officer, of significant information without delay. Furthermore, information has not always been shared with the regulator in a timely manner. This limits oversight of practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager responds appropriately to any concerns or complaints raised by the child’s parent. Similarly, the child said that they felt confident that the manager would respond appropriately to any issues or concerns that they may raise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Four of the requirements made at the last inspection have now been met. The provider has been unable to demonstrate how they have met a requirement that was raised in relation to care planning, and the requirement therefore remains in place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 4

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s needs are clearly identified and assessed prior to admission, and the skills of staff can meet the needs of children admitted to the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 27 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that recruitment arrangements are robust and reviewed where appropriate. 27 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 27 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 5 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 4 (e))

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Requirement Due date

Information should be shared with relevant professionals without delay. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 6

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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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Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2648208 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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