Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 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 owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in this home at the time of the inspection, and the inspector spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no manager in post. The home is being led by the regional manager in the absence of a registered manager.

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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: 17 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This home was judged to be inadequate at the last full inspection on 17 October 2023.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the inspection, three compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 6, the quality and purpose Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 2 of care standard, regulation 11, the positive relationships standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

An unannounced monitoring visit was completed on 7 December 2023 to monitor the provider’s progress towards meeting the steps in the compliance notices. At the time of the monitoring visit, there was one child living in the home, and the manager and staff were able to demonstrate 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: 2621334 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2023 Full Inadequate 08/12/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been fully refurbished since the last full inspection and now appears warm and welcoming. The child has been involved in choosing the new decor of the home. There are photos of the child displayed on the walls.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise spending quality time with the child, playing with them and engaging in structured activities. Staff have successfully encouraged the child to try new activities in the community and are supporting the child to identify new hobbies. The child’s social worker said, ‘There has been some tenacity in trying to support longer term interests rather than accepting [name of child]’s standard responses of wanting to remain at home.’ This helps the child to develop more trusting relationships with staff and provides opportunities for them to experience social interaction with peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of the child spending time with their family. Staff facilitate regular visits and arrange activities out for the child and their sibling to enjoy together. This supports the sibling relationship and helps them to create memories together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their education and have advocated for further opportunities for the child at school. Staff work with the child’s school to enable them to provide support with key topics at home. Staff help the child to think about their goals for their future and what they need to do to achieve these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their health and hygiene and help them to understand healthy habits. Staff ensure that the child attends medical appointments and takes any medication needed. Staff are helping them to understand their own development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A clinical psychotherapist is supporting the team to provide trauma-informed care that is specific for the child. This helps the team to better understand the child’s responses and ensures that the care it provides is tailored to meet the child’s needs.

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

The child feels safe living in the home and has positive relationships with the staff team. Staff respond to the child consistently and focus on nurture and support when they become upset. When staff have to hold the child to keep them safe, they have spoken with the child about this afterwards. This supports the child’s understanding of their own emotions and behaviour.

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

Staff talk to the child about their emotions and how to cope with them. Staff help the child to understand how to stay safe in the community and online. Staff are supporting the child to develop independent living skills at a pace that works for them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 5 The child has never gone missing from home. However, there is a plan in place for staff to follow should the child go missing. This supports staff to keep the child safe.

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

There have been no complaints or allegations of harm made. However, staff encourage the child to share their views and offer them complaints forms when they have grumbles. This helps the child understand that their views are important and that staff want to listen.

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

Staff work closely with other professionals to keep the child safe and to plan for the child’s future. They appropriately challenge other professionals when there are concerns that the child’s needs are not being met. This ensures that the adults working with the child keep each other accountable to provide the very best care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is currently no manager in post at this home. The regional manager is supporting the day-to-day running of the home. Staff have noticed a significant improvement in the quality of the leadership since the regional manager took over this role. One member of staff said, ‘The regional manager has come in and really taken the reins and steered us in a new direction.’ Senior managers are actively recruiting for a permanent manager for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in this home and are feeling well supported. Staff comment on the positive momentum the regional manager has brought to the home and are looking forward to continued improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The regional manager has been occasionally working on shift with the staff team. This has enabled her to develop a better understanding of the child’s needs and to role model good practice to the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have provided additional training for staff to help them to better understand the child’s individual needs. Managers have provided opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and the changes that have been made. Managers have encouraged staff to think about their own development goals but have not yet completed annual appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are being supported to complete their qualifications while prioritising time with the child. However, some staff have not been able to complete their diplomas within the timescales specified in regulation. This does not ensure that the staff team has the knowledge expected to care for vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers make use of internal and external monitoring to ensure that the home is providing the quality of care expected for the child. The quality of this monitoring has improved significantly and is being embedded into practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff working in the home are supported to achieve the relevant qualification within the identified time frame. 25 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff receive an appraisal of their performance and development needs at least once annually. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 2621334 8

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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

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2621334 9 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 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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