Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for one child who may have social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good 07/11/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 3

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outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from a highly motivated and knowledgeable team. Care practice is informed by research into children’s specific needs, which provides them with nurturing care from an informed approach. Staff do not give up on children, even at times of great distress. Their motivation and resilience are commendable. The child living at the home knows that staff care about him and said, ‘They [staff] have helped me work through some difficult times and fought for me.’ The practice in the home consistently exceeds the standard of good and has resulted in excellent outcomes for the child.

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outstanding

The child has made substantial progress at school. His attendance has improved significantly from being regularly absent to now going into lessons and wanting to learn. He has recently sat his GCSE exams, in which he exceeded expectations. The child is proud of this achievement. The manager and staff have been influential in developing innovative practice with the school to help the child to manage the classroom environment. They are now in the process of securing a college placement for him. The child also recently attended a prom at school, which was an important event in his life.

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outstanding

The manager and staff include the child in his care plan. He has been part of the planning meetings and discussions. The child is very happy with how the staff have supported him with this process. By listening to him, the staff team has reduced the child’s anxieties about living away from his family. The manager and staff have been instrumental in building his time with family from four times per year to every weekend. Their commitment to achieving this has been life changing for the child.

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outstanding

The child is in good health. He eats well and the staff use creative ways for him to try new foods. The child has a specific medical condition, which the manager and staff have researched in detail. They have implemented their research into every aspect of his care. This has helped the child to manage his health in positive ways and has changed the way he sees himself. The child has had access to a range of specialist services to meet his needs. These have always been accessed in a timely way.

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outstanding

The manager and staff include the child in all aspects of the running of the home. The house is designed to meet his specific needs and preferences. The manager has worked very hard to ensure that the child has a say in decision-making. This makes the child feel valued and empowered. When the child was unhappy with practice from an external agency, he was supported to make a complaint. This was effective in changing the response to the child, and practice improved as a result.

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outstanding

The child has opportunities to take part in an exciting range of activities, including a holiday abroad, outdoor adventures and community events. This has helped him to Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 4 grow in confidence and manage social situations. The child also has regular opportunities to see friends and have sleepovers, which he very much enjoys as any child would.

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outstanding

The child is being well prepared for moving on and is learning independence skills. There is exceptional work happening to support this transition. The research-based practice in the home is being shared with the child’s family. They are finding this valuable, and it is helping them to understand the child’s needs in more depth. As a result, their time together is as positive as it can be.

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outstanding

The manager and staff have been required to manage a considerable range of incidents. Risks posed to and from the child have been ever changing and have required a dynamic response. The manager and staff have worked above and beyond their roles to prevent the child from coming to harm. They combine their knowledge of the child with their understanding of research to manage situations in a safe way. Incidents are recorded in meticulous detail. The manager provides thorough analysis to help the team to understand the ongoing context, and this enables them to anticipate when harmful situations may occur. Overall, there is highly effective planning, which has helped to reduce risks and ensured that the child could remain living at the home. Multi-agency working in relation to risk management has been exceptional. There are excellent relationships with the police, school, and social care. Together, all agencies have helped to minimise risks to the child. Risk management plans are

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outstanding

detailed and have been written specifically for the child’s needs. The learning styles of staff have also been considered when designing the plans. There is clear guidance about steps to take in all situations. The manager has undertaken specific work to develop good practice in relation to the risk of exploitation. This means that the staff have a detailed knowledge of where risks exist outside of the home. Staff care deeply about the child, and this is reflected in their responses when he has been missing from home. They work tirelessly to ensure that he returns and do not give up on looking for him. They keep in contact with him, where possible, and also with family and friends until he is located. They work hard to understand the reasons for why he is missing and change their practice to try to reduce risk. Missing incidents have reduced considerably as staff have listened to the child and helped

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outstanding

him to value his time at the home. This has kept the child safer over time. The manager and staff use their skills and experience to support the child with difficult feelings. They use trauma-informed research creatively to achieve this. As a result, the child is now able to reflect more on his behaviour and he has developed healthy ways to manage his emotions. The child trusts the adults who are caring for him. This is because their care is consistent and sensitive to his needs. The child understands his risk management Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 5 plan and could describe it well. He said that he knows that the staff care about him because they make sure that he is safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is impressive. She has achieved exceptional outcomes for the child in her care. The manager is highly ambitious for children and does not compromise on her expectations. The manager holds professionals accountable for their actions through strong advocacy for children’s rights. She shows considerable determination when challenging shortfalls in practice. This has led to positive changes within organisations, which will benefit other children. The manager has implemented research into practice in a meaningful way, which has contributed to achieving excellent outcomes for the child. Her work extends beyond the home as she is contributing to improving practice across the region. The manager is an excellent role model to her colleagues. There is an experienced and knowledgeable staff team, who work very well together. The effective synthesis of their skills has resulted in a very high standard

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

of child-centred care. Their commitment to the child is commendable, and this is sustained through good-quality supervision, support and development. The staff are regularly consulted in terms of developing practice in the home and are highly motivated to improve the child’s life chances. The staff benefit from a range of core and specialist training, which enables them to meet the needs of the child to a very high standard. New staff are recruited safely and receive a well-organised induction. Individual development plans ensure that the team is always reflecting on and improving their practice. Staff bring ideas to the manager as this is encouraged and valued. They feel listened to and well supported. Professionals speak very highly of the manager; they say that her communication is excellent and that she has driven the child’s care planning through uncertain times, keeping him at the centre of decision-making. A range of experienced professionals

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

say that this is the best children’s home that they have worked with. The manager has exceptional oversight of the home, following a well-informed development plan. She has made a significant impact during her first year as manager. There are plans to continue this momentum, which mean that practice will remain live and up to date. Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 6

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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: 2501397 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Richard Matthews

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Shaneaka Taylor-Pinnock

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 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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