Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 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 is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who was registered in January 2023. He is suitably experienced and working towards a relevant 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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home. Managers recognised that the home and living alongside other children was no longer suitable for him. Decisions were made in the best interests of this child and the other children at the home. As a result, the home is much more stable following an unsettled period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a spacious and homely environment. There are plans for redecoration and for making improvements to some areas of the home that are looking worn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have very positive relationships with staff. They can identify trusted staff to confide in and seek support from. Children are comfortable and confident spending time with staff. One child told the inspector that staff treat them with respect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to have good relationships with their families. Family members are very complimentary about the care provided at the home. Staff help children to spend quality time with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The two children living at the home are both making progress. One child is preparing to move on from the home, as he is approaching his 18 Birthday. . Staff provide a good balance between support and encouraging independence. As a result, he is developing the skills and knowledge needed for independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respond to children’s physical and emotional health needs. Children access healthcare. Staff benefit from advice from the organisation’s clinical lead in relation to children’s emotional health needs. This increases their confidence in caring for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to and staff provide written feedback through a ‘you said we did’ approach, as part of formal consultation. An example of this is when one child requested a pet and this was granted. As a result, he is learning to look after his pet and developing independence in his ability to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child attends school and has been well supported by staff to prepare for his recent assessments. Staff are knowledgeable about his school life and celebrate progress with him. However, the child does not yet know which high school he will be going to. Managers and staff have not escalated this with professionals or spoken to the child about this. This could impact the success of his transition to high school.

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

Staff know what the risks for each child are. They know what actions must be taken to keep the children in their care safe. Actions are clearly set out in children’s plans. Plans are reviewed and amended to reflect change in needs and risks. Reduction in Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 4 risks for children is a clear indicator that children are making progress at the home. One child told the inspector that the staff keep him safe.

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

Children are learning how to keep themselves safe and understand risk. For example, one child is getting his first mobile phone. Staff have spent time with him to discuss the risks. Staff listened to his views and have jointly agreed a plan with him for his use of the phone and how they will monitor this.

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

Children at the home have clear routines. They understand what is expected of them. As a result, there have recently been very few behavioural incidents. Children do not often go missing. Staff know how to respond in the event of children going missing, and this is clearly set out in each child’s plans. One child has an agreed plan for him to spend part of the week at his girlfriend’s home. Staff keep regular contact with him and he very much welcomes this, responding with enthusiasm to staff calls.

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

Since the last inspection, steps have been taken to improve the way physical interventions, should they be needed, are managed. All staff know that only those who are appropriately trained can be involved in a physical intervention with a child. All permanent staff are fully trained. Prompts are in place to ensure debriefs with children always take place and are recorded.

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

There have also been improvements in the way children’s complaints are responded to. This ensures that complaints are acknowledged and that children receive a written response.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good oversight of the home and knows what progress children are making. Plans and targets are amended to ensure children’s continued progress, in line with their age and stage of development. For example, one child moved on from an incentive-based reward system to holding his own budget.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the registered manager. Permanent staff receive supervisions, however, their frequency has been inconsistent at times. Agency staff have a good introduction to the home. However, they have not received any formal supervision, despite one agency staff member working at the home regularly. This is a missed opportunity for staff development and monitoring of agency workers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home notifies the regulator of serious incidents. However, the manager has not always ensured that actions are completed in a timely way. For example, staff retraining around allegations was an identified action following one incident. There has been a delay in this being carried out. This is somewhat mitigated by discussions in a team meeting, but this is not well documented. This could result in allegations being poorly managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has taken effective action to address poor staff performance. This action has had a positive impact on the motivation and morale of Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 5 the staff team. The home has a stable staff team and staff are enthusiastic about their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation provides a comprehensive induction and training programme to staff. This equips them with the knowledge and skills to provide quality care to children. The registered manager has sourced bespoke training to target areas of development for the staff. For example, a training session around direct work was held recently. As a result, the staff are more confident to broach a wider variety of topics with children and the quality and quantity of direct work has increased. Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the supervision of casual staff and the frequency and recording of all supervision. 28 July 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have an understanding of how schools function, including the processes for admission to schools, the role of designated teachers for looked after children and the role of the headteacher of the virtual school. This is to ensure that children’s transitions to new schools are well planned. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.10)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. When a training need is identified, this should be delivered without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 7

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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: 2570055 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 Ltd, Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2570055 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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