Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 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 one of a number of homes operated by a private company. The home’s statement of purpose states that it is registered to provide care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023. She is currently undertaking the necessary qualifications.

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Information about this children’s home

Children living in the home also have access to the organisation’s school and therapy departments.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection on 22 March 2023. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 2 Following the full inspection, two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out an unannounced monitoring visit on 16 June 2023 to monitor the provider’s progress towards meeting the steps in the compliance notices. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were no children living at the home. However, despite the absence of children, the manager and staff demonstrated adherence to the compliance steps. It was determined at a case review following the monitoring visit that the compliance notices had been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 4

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improvement to be good

There is currently one child living in the home. The child has lived in the home for several weeks. The house is homely and nicely furnished. The child’s bedroom is comfortable and personalised to reflect their interests.

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improvement to be good

The child’s transition into the home was child-centred and well planned. The staff team was involved in the preparation for the move. The child was able to spend time with the staff team before they moved into the home. The child’s parent and social worker spoke positively to the inspector about the support provided to the child and about the regular updates they receive in relation to the child’s progress.

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improvement to be good

The child is settling into the home and has started to develop positive relationships with the staff team. The company’s clinical lead regularly supports the staff team with the work it does with the child to support positive emotional well-being. Key- work sessions evidence that the child is starting to feel more comfortable talking to the staff. The child is supported to enjoy activities with the staff and has had a short break away to visit friends and family.

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improvement to be good

The manager is in the process of negotiating the child’s education programme to ensure that it meets the child’s needs. Plans have been identified to implement clear boundaries and expectations in relation to the child’s education attendance once they return to school. However, these are not yet in place and their impact cannot be measured.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff team have not developed effective working relationships with key professionals. Opportunities to proactively challenge other professionals and additional agencies about decisions made about the child’s care have been missed. This reduces consistency in the messages the child is receiving from the professionals around them.

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improvement to be good

The child’s plans have not been updated to reflect their current needs and the progress they have made or to identify any further support they may require. Consequently, staff do not have access to relevant information or guidance on how to meet the child’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding practices are continuing to be embedded to ensure that all staff know how to respond to safeguarding incidents and understand how to keep the child safe. The child’s individual risk and behaviour support plans require improvement. They do not provide staff with clear strategies for staff to follow. On one occasion, welfare checks were not completed following an incident of self-injurious behaviour Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 5 by the child. Although there was no significant impact on that occasion, this shortfall in practice reduces opportunities to safeguard the child.

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improvement to be good

There has been a reduction in risks for the child since moving to the home. There have been no reported incidents of the child being missing from the home and no serious incidents. Incentive charts are in place to support the child with positive behaviour, choices and routines. The staff team has been effective in supporting the child to safely manage their behaviour, and there have not been any incidents of staff needing to hold the child to keep them safe.

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improvement to be good

During the child’s introduction to the home, staff spoke about fire safety procedures. However, staff have failed to engage the child in a fire drill procedure in line with the organisation’s policies and procedures.

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improvement to be good

There have been no formal complaints made by the child. House meetings demonstrate that the child’s views are heard and that the manager follows up on any requests or concerns shared. Complaints received from the neighbours about parking and the fire alarm sounding have been responded to appropriately by the manager. The manager is working well with the neighbours to repair relationships.

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good

The manager is developing her knowledge of the sector and the service. She is organised and committed to improving outcomes for children. The manager recognises the key areas of development for the home, but equally identifies the strengths and skills of the staff team. She is using this to drive improvements in the home.

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good

The manager has offered stability to the home and the staff team. Staff say morale is improving and that there has been an increase in the support they receive from the management team.

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good

Management oversight and monitoring systems are continuing to be implemented to ensure that there is effective scrutiny of the home. The quality of the independent visitor reports has improved, but reports do not always include a full and thorough assessment of the service provided to the child.

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good

There have been several staff changes since the last inspection. Recruitment is ongoing, and shortfalls are covered by staff from within the organisation. However, this has led to inconsistent practice in the team, which is not helpful to the child. This is something that the manager is taking action to address.

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good

All staff are provided with regular supervision. Probationary reviews are undertaken frequently with staff who are new to their role to closely monitor their learning and development and address any practice issues. The manager ensures that staff access training that is specific to the child’s individual needs and risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 6 Team meetings take place regularly. They are focused on improving practice, addressing shortfalls and providing staff with clarity about their roles and responsibilities. Staff presentations have also been used to revisit staff’s understanding of policies, procedures and safe practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 7

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 12 October 2023

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s individual behaviour support plans provide staff with clear guidance in relation to the action they should take should a child go missing from the home, be under the influence of substances or be at risk of causing harm to themselves. 12 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 8 Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that staff implement this guidance into practice to keep the child safe.

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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

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

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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)(h)) 12 October 2023

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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 kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s care and support plans are kept up to date to reflect the child’s needs and progress. 12 October 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislations. Specifically, a fire drill should be carried out within the agreed timescales, as set out in the company’s policies, when children move into the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they demonstrate every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)  The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 9

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Recommendations

in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2649739 10

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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

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2649739 11 regulates and inspects 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 who are 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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