Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 1 SC2699847 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 provider. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in October 2022 The registered manager has recently resigned and the post of manager is currently vacant. An interim manager is currently supporting the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted. The care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 3

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inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in care planning, management oversight and safeguarding practices in the home. Consequently, in the short time the child has lived in the home, their progress and experiences have been limited and their safety has been compromised.

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inadequate

The child’s emotional health needs are not being met. Staff have not promoted the development of positive relationships with the child. The lack of clear routines and boundaries in the home means that the child spends long periods of time alone in their room, with staff talking to them through the door. This limits opportunities for the child to develop a sense of belonging in the home or to develop trusting relationships with staff.

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inadequate

The child’s education is not being supported or promoted. The education plan agreed by the child’s placing authority is not being followed. The child’s access to education has been reduced without consultation with their placing authority. Plans and expectations for the child when they are not accessing education are not robust. This significantly impacts on the child’s progress in their education, reduces their opportunities for learning and limits their future aspirations.

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inadequate

The child has opportunities to engage in activities. However, staff do not always proactively encourage the child to take part. The child does attend the gym daily and enjoys keeping fit. However, expectations for staff to support the child with their activities are unclear.

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inadequate

The child’s health needs are not being met. The child is not registered with a dental practice. It was also identified during the inspection that prescribed medication had not been collected for the child.

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inadequate

Family time is promoted, and the staff have ensured that there is a clear plan in place to support the child in maintaining these important relationships.

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inadequate

The home is well maintained but is not a homely environment. The child’s bedroom is well appointed, and efforts have been made to personalise their room. However, a number of the child’s personal items were locked away in another room, despite their social worker raising this with the staff team.

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

Risk management in the home is not robust. The manager has failed to ensure that all risks have been suitably assessed. The child’s plans contain conflicting information and do not include clear strategies for staff to follow to keep the child safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 4 Leaders and managers have not ensured that staff are provided with clear guidance or training to support their understanding and increase their knowledge of how to safely support the child with known risks and vulnerabilities. Not all staff have completed training in child sexual exploitation and keeping safe online.

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

Staff do not understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children. Strategies in place to safeguard the child online are ineffective and not used consistently. Staff were not aware of the risks that they should monitor. Some staff were not aware that the child was communicating with people online through their gaming device.

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

The child is struggling to build trusting relationships with staff and achieve a strong sense of safety. This has been significantly impacted by the high turnover of staff in the home and the inconsistent level of care provided.

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

Complaints and allegations are not responded to effectively. There has been a significant delay in the sharing of allegations and information shared with professionals was inconsistent. This lack of transparency impacts on the safety of the child living in the home.

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

Leaders and managers have failed to follow safer recruitment practices for both permanent and non-permanent staff working in the home. This does not ensure that the adults caring for the child are suitably vetted.

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

Fire safety in the home is compromised. Not all staff have been made aware of the home’s evacuation procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in the leadership and management in the home. The management team has not adequately monitored and reviewed the operation of the home and the quality of care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new interim manager has temporarily taken over the management of the home. They are suitably qualified and experienced. They understand the shortfalls and have developed an improvement plan. However, the changes identified are not currently embedded in day-to-day practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are shortfalls in the management and oversight of incidents. The management team has not responded effectively to safeguarding incidents in the home. This leaves the child at risk of suffering further harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not professionally curious and have not been proactive in requesting information from the child’s placing authority. The child does not have an up-to-date local authority care plan. This does not ensure that the child is receiving the support that they need, or that the staff have the essential paperwork to safeguard the child and inform their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 5 Staff duty rotas do not accurately detail the actual hours the manager has been at the home. Full names of staff are not always recorded. The lack of transparency about who is on duty potentially places children at risk and compromises the continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervision arrangements are not robust. Supervision has not taken place for a number of months. This prevents staff from reflecting on their practice and on the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A clinician offers support to staff to help them develop their skills and understanding of the child’s needs. The frequency of the support to staff has now been increased, following recognition of the high staff turnover due to a lack of support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 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, The 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s plans contain consistent, clear and accurate guidance for staff to follow to keep children safe. In addition, that staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in 9 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 7 keeping children safe and that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to do so.

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Requirement Due date

*The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(vi)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s plans are followed and that individualised care is provided by the staff team. 9 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 9 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that the home is managed in a way that is consistent with the aims of the statement of purpose. In addition, that all staff have access to relevant training to meet the child’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 9 promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement.

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children are encouraged to attend education and that their placing authority plans are followed. In addition, that any changes to children’s education are agreed with their placing authority.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 10 that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any health diagnosis made by a child’s GP is acted on and any medication prescribed is accessed and provided to the child. In addition, that the child is registered with a dentist.

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the child has access to all their belongings, unless there is a specific risk assessment in place that limits their access to certain items. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(27) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should ensure that staff working at the home are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 11 The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(iii) (2)(a)(b)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that Ofsted is kept informed of management changes in the home and that there is a registered manager in post without delay. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31 (1)) 31 July 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.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 12 the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; 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) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that safer recruitment is always practised, to safeguard children living in the home effectively.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(b) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and manager ensuring that both permanent and non-permanent staff receive regular practice-related supervision from individuals who are trained and experienced in the supervision of staff.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must also ensure that the appointment of staff is subject to a probationary period and review. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 13 provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there is clear accountability in relation to reporting an allegation. In addition, that all allegations are reported to relevant parties without delay and that records are clearly maintained.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that children’s records are accurate and up to date. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b)) 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 14 Leaders and managers must ensure that rotas are factually accurate and contain the full names of staff working in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (4))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all complaints are thoroughly investigated, and that any outcomes are clearly explained to the child. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2699847 15

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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

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2699847 16 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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