Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Bexley

Inspection report for children's home: SC387684 1 SC387684

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Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to six children who may experience emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2021. The responsible individual was present for the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC387684 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC387684 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from effective, high-quality support from staff. Relationships between children and staff are positive and children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children are not participating in education. Staff are persistent in their efforts to support children back into formal education and they identify activities that will assist in building children’s readiness for learning and their confidence. There is effective information-sharing between the home and education services for children. Children’s educational needs are seen as important, and staff address children’s emotional needs to promote better educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independent-living skills in preparation for when they leave care. Children have helped to devise a new independent-living plan so that they can identify the skills they need to develop, depending on their age and abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance for children of family and other significant relationships. Children are supported to maintain meaningful contact with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint and their complaints are treated seriously. Staff listen to the views of children and act on their reasonable requests. Staff provide children with a range of positive activities and children’s hobbies and interests are encouraged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is clean, comfortable and decorated to a good standard. There are photos of the children displayed throughout the house. This adds to the homely atmosphere.

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

The manager and staff help to build children’s resilience and support them to feel safe and secure in the home. Children and staff establish close and trusting relationships.

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

However, since the previous inspection, allegations have been made against some staff. Allegations are responded to appropriately by leaders and managers, with information shared with the local authority designated officer and the concerns investigated accordingly. The recording of allegations and the actions taken by leaders and managers is detailed. Well-written records capture the scrutiny and rigour applied by the investigating officer. At the time of the inspection, one allegation against a member of staff was still under investigation. Inspection report for children's home: SC387684 4 Staff are good role models, who encourage positive behaviours from children. There is a learning culture in the home that supports staff in developing their understanding of children’s behaviours and how they can adapt their responses to meet children’s needs. With the support of an in-house therapist, staff develop and

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

implement effective de-escalation techniques. This has resulted in incidents of physical intervention reducing over time.

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

Children who go missing from the home experience a well-coordinated response and staff work collaboratively with families and key professionals to safeguard children. Staff take action to contact children and encourage their safe return home. However, the manager does not ensure that local authorities provide each child with an independent return home interview. This potentially means that the opportunity to try to understand why a child has gone missing, and to make them safer, may be missed.

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

Staff who are involved in the administration of medication do not all follow instructions regarding prescribed doses and/or the time of day that medication should be administered. This resulted in a medication error and has the potential to be harmful to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children live in a pleasant, well-run home. Every effort is made to ensure that children receive the best possible care, support and protection. The registered manager and deputy manager are appropriately skilled and experienced. They are aspirational and enthusiastic leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they enjoy working at the home and feel supported and valued by leaders and managers. Staff have regular supervision and team meetings. They are supported to undertake their roles effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Joined-up working with professionals, parents and children is consistently strong. Social workers and teachers praise the manager and the care the staff provide. Staff demonstrate a real commitment to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team. This helps to ensure that children have consistent and predictable care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good systems in place to monitor and review the quality of care children receive. Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the home’s areas for development. They also recognise children’s progress and celebrate their achievements. Inspection report for children's home: SC387684 5

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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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 27 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing or away from home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The registered person should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: SC387684 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Maud Pipim-Addo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC387684 7 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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Inspector

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