Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 1 SC059037 Registered provider: Esland South Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2019 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 2 February 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/02/2022 Full Good 30/07/2019 Full Good 16/01/2019 Full Good 15/08/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 3

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outstanding

Children feel loved, nurtured, well cared for and that the staff go above and beyond for them. One child said, ‘I am a better person for being here.’ When asked what it is like to live at the home, a child said, ‘It is the best I have ever had, I wouldn’t change anything.’ Consequently, children have secure and enriching relationships with staff who have changed their lives.

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outstanding

There is a strong emphasis on children having similar experiences and opportunities as their peers. Children really appreciate this. For example, children have friends over to stay and are learning new skills, such as crochet. One child has completed training and is going to volunteer at a local activity group for small children. This is something that was not thought possible previously.

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outstanding

One child has moved into and on from the home since the last inspection. The registered manager carefully considered this child’s care planning and how they would support their needs. However, new behaviours emerged, and the child expressed a wish to move on. The two children remaining in the home are very settled and are making exceptional progress. There are early plans for one child to move on to independent living. This is being supported by staff to ensure that the child has the skills and resilience for this.

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outstanding

Positive behaviour is encouraged and rewarded. Children are supported to have great experiences because of the dedication of the registered manager and staff team. For example, a once-in-a-lifetime trip is being funded for one child.

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outstanding

Children make marked progress in their education. Both attend mainstream school and are helped by staff with their additional studies to prepare for upcoming exams. Children enjoy reading and are provided with literature and educational experiences, such as visiting places of natural interest and national parks.

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outstanding

Staff support children to have a balanced, healthy lifestyle and to attend regular routine health appointments. There are effective arrangements to manage children’s medication. When children can, they are encouraged and supported to take responsibility for their own medication. This develops their independence.

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outstanding

Staff demonstrate excellent knowledge of safeguarding practice and have completed relevant training. Any concerns or complaints made by children are taken seriously and addressed swiftly. One child said that they feel respected by the staff, and it is acknowledged if people make mistakes. The registered manager ensures that concerns are shared with relevant agencies when required. Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 4 Children’s risk management plans are regularly updated and shared with staff. This helps staff to know children well and fully understand their needs. Incidents for children are rare. When they do occur, they are managed sensitively. During one child’s time in the home, staff needed to physically intervene to support them to be safe. The registered manager ensures that children and staff are spoken to following such incidents. Additionally, the registered manager held lessons-learned sessions

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outstanding

with staff during a recent difficult period. This provided staff with the opportunity to reflect and consider what could be done differently. The learning identified helps staff to further develop their practice.

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outstanding

The risks around children going missing from home have significantly reduced and there have been no incidents of this nature for a considerable period. One child attributed this improvement to feeling so well cared for that they do not need to. When children have previously gone missing, staff have gone above and beyond to help them. For instance, staff helped to look for the child when they were not at work. This made the child feel genuinely loved and cared for and demonstrates the impassioned care that children receive.

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outstanding

The home is well presented and is a warm and welcoming environment for children. The home operates as a three-bed home while being registered for four children. The registered provider plans to amend the registration.

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outstanding

On one occasion, the safer recruitment processes for an agency member of staff were not to the same standard as permanent staff. This was an isolated incident and was rectified during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Following a period of absence, the registered manager has returned and settled quickly back into her role. She is passionate and committed to the children having the best care and life experiences possible. The children see her as a role model and have trust in her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s care is enhanced and underpinned by research-informed practice. The registered manager has embedded therapeutic models of practice. She continually reviews children’s care planning and identifies where they can constantly strive to improve the lives of children. One child has carried out her own research and proudly told the inspector, in detail, why she feels that her care is ‘outstanding’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a small and consistent staff team. The registered manager has plans to recruit more staff before moving any more children into the home. This is to ensure that there is sufficient staff to meet the children’s needs and the children living in the home continue to receive excellent care. There are robust plans to continually develop the staff and the home. The registered manager correctly identifies that a core strength of the home is the commitment of the staff and their dedication. Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 5 All staff are skilled and have the required experience to support the children’s care needs. This is enhanced by the in-house therapist, who provides bespoke development sessions for staff. This ensures that the care is always child centred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported to have regular supervision, debriefs and annual appraisals. Team meetings are frequent and provide an opportunity to discuss children’s care plans and progress. The registered manager ensures that staff feel valued and invites their feedback in team meetings. A recent lessons-learned exercise looked at what could have been done differently regarding the care of the child who left the home and what they could collectively do moving forward as a team. This is because reflective practice is at the core of the staff team. They want every child to succeed in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, agency staff should be subject to the same scrutiny as employed staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC059037 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 1 and 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC059037 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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