Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 1 SC2699847 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 home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience 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

There is no registered manager in post. An interim manager is currently supporting the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 23 May 2023, a full inspection was carried out and the home was judged to be inadequate. Compliance notices were served under regulation 6 (the quality and purpose of care standard), regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). This visit took place to monitor the actions taken by the provider in relation to the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight in the home has improved. Leaders have ensured that the child’s plans now contain all known risks and clear strategies to support the staff in safeguarding the child. The child now has access to all of her personal belongings and action has been taken to make the house feel more comfortable and homely.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have worked with the child to educate her on the importance of internet safety and relationships. Leaders have ensured that safeguarding measures in the home are followed, and the child’s electronic devices are checked in line with risk plans. When concerns have been identified, the staff have been proactive in addressing these with the child and ensuring that professionals are made aware. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 2 Staff have not been successful in supporting the child to access their education provision. Staff have not been proactive or innovative in their approach to promoting the child’s educational needs.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the child has started to attend church on a weekly basis and continues to attend the gym daily. This supports the child’s emotional and spiritual well-being.

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This monitoring visit

There is now a consistent staff team, which has helped the child to develop some positive relationships with the staff who support her. Staff were able to discuss the progress made in this area and gave examples of the child seeking out support and occasionally wanting to spend time with staff.

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This monitoring visit

The child’s health needs are now being met. The staff have worked with professionals to ensure that the child has access to a dentist and prescribed medication.

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This monitoring visit

Action has been taken through training and team meetings to ensure that staff are aware of the whistle-blowing procedures and can confidently discuss the action they would take in the event of safeguarding concerns and allegations in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed training on internet safety, self-harm, complaints and the home’s chosen model of care. Staff reflected on the benefits of this training in their day-to-day practice during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the progress made, the three compliance notices are met. The remaining requirements made at the last inspection were not considered at this visit and are restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 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 with the given timescales.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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 placement plans are followed. In addition, ensure that any changes to children’s education are agreed with their placing authority. 31 July 2023

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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; 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 5 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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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

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Requirement Due date

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 health diagnoses made by a child’s doctor are acted on and any medication prescribed is accessed and provided to the child. In addition, ensure 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— 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 6 is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

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.

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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 a fire. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

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 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 7 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.

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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,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

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 practices are always followed to safeguard children effectively in the home. 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 8 ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation.

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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 managers ensuring that 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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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)) 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 9 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there is clear accountability of reporting an allegation. In addition, ensure 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))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that rotas are factually accurate and contain the full names of staff working in the home. 31 July 2023

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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. 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 10 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.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 11

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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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Inspectors

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2699847 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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