Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Amber Valley

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 1 Registered provider: 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 privately run and is registered to provide care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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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

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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Inspection date: 19 December 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has recently moved into the home. Collaborative working with the child’s placing authority and previous carers enabled the child to move in a planned way. Staff have taken the time to get to know the child and understand their individual risks and vulnerabilities. This has supported the child to settle and to develop meaningful relationships with the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

After the previous child moved from the home, a complaint was received which raised serious concerns about the conduct and behaviour of staff. At this inspection, it was demonstrated by the provider that these concerns have been taken seriously and are being investigated in accordance with safeguarding procedures.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are clear in their understanding of whistle-blowing. Leaders and managers have ensured that all staff have received additional training in professional boundaries, safeguarding and whistle-blowing to ensure that they know what to report and when, and who they should report concerns to. This provides assurances that staff understand their responsibilities in making sure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a change in manager since the last inspection. The manager has ensured that staff have received effective, regular supervision. Any issues relating to performance are swiftly addressed to ensure that good-quality care and support are delivered to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Shortfalls were identified during the inspection as the manager and staff did not challenge a plan from the child’s placing authority around the child’s use of e-cigarettes. This also resulted in the organisation’s policy around the use of e-cigarettes not being adhered to.

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Findings from the inspection

It is practice in the home to lock the kitchen each evening with no clear rationale or plan to review the decision. This unnecessarily restricts the child’s movement around the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment practices are followed, and the provider takes reasonable steps to ensure that staff working at the home are safe to work with children.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Good 04/05/2022 Full Good 30/11/2021 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the organisation’s policy around the use of e-cigarettes is adhered to and that practice in the home around the child’s use of e-cigarettes does not compromise children’s safety. 15 March 2024

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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— 15 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 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

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children have access to all areas of the home, except areas that are restricted for safeguarding purposes. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 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 Limited, Suites 1 and 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1214270 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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