Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Greenwich

Inspection report for children's home: SC386134 1 SC386134 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 home provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in December 2008. The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were three children living at the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

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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: SC386134 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 28/07/2021 Full Good 07/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC386134 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making exceptional and sustained progress from their individual starting points since living in the home. Children’s emotional and physical health, confidence and self-esteem have significantly improved. Children are actively encouraged to attend and engage in education and participate in activities in the home and community. A social worker said about one child, ‘The progress they have made is remarkable.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have been supported to develop and sustain trusting and meaningful relationships by skilled, nurturing, consistent and caring adults who have a range of experience and skills. The well-established and stable team of adults are a consistent and reliable source of support for children. A social worker said one child’s progress was due to the outstanding relationships that they have with adults in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have comprehensive care plans that fully reflect their voice, needs and vulnerabilities. Children’s ‘My support plan’ captures their voice to ensure that their wishes and feelings influence and shape the care they receive and how they would like to be helped.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged and motivated by highly skilled adults who collaborate with external professionals to ensure that children achieve their goals and aspirations. Children benefit from highly effective team around the child meetings, facilitated by a therapist, to ensure that their needs are fully understood so adults can provide the right help and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported by having clear, consistent and appropriate boundaries and routines that are relevant to their individual needs. They are helped to better manage difficult feelings that impact on their behaviour, to help them settle into the home. Children are in good physical health and have access to therapy to support their emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are helped to take part in social and recreational activities that reflect their individual interests. They are developing confidence and enjoy being part of their community. Children are supported to develop their independence through a range of activities, such as creating their own menus, shopping, budgeting, cooking, cleaning, attending to their personal care and using public transport. This helps ensure children are well prepared for their futures. One child said, ‘I love living here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s meaningful and purposeful conversations with staff provide them with opportunities to talk through their aspirations, feelings and worries. They learn how to keep themselves safe when using the internet and social media. Children’s rights are fully considered. Children said they know who they can talk to if they are unhappy, and they have access to independent advocates. Children provide feedback about their care through feedback forms and weekly meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Family time is actively encouraged and supported by staff so children can enjoy time with the people who are important to them. Children’s wishes and feelings about Inspection report for children's home: SC386134 4 spending time with their families influence any changes to these arrangements. This ensures that children are always at the heart of practice.

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

Children receive exceptional help and protection from compassionate staff who understand their needs. Children have individual comprehensive high-quality risk assessments that are reviewed on a regular basis and amended to reflect emerging or reducing risks and needs. Children are protected in the home; they feel safe and secure. They trust the adults caring for them to respond immediately if they share any concerns. Safeguarding incidents and physical intervention are rare, due to the strong relational practice in the home.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour and are thoughtful and sensitive with children. Staff know how to engage children to reduce challenging behaviours through effective and appropriate intervention strategies. Children tell staff what they find helpful when they are feeling distressed. This is recorded in their individual risk assessments.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. Consistent and relational support has ensured that children feel a strong sense of safety and well-being and do not go missing from the home.

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

Staff understand child protection and whistle-blowing policies and who they need to speak with should they have any concerns, including the local authority designated officer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, in December 2023, leaders and managers have continued to provide consistent and highly effective services for children. The outstanding level of care has led to sustained improvements in the lives of children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have an excellent understanding of the home and are responsive to professional challenge and scrutiny by the independent visitor. A comprehensive home development plan ensures leaders have a continuous focus on developing the home and the excellent quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective communication with key stakeholders has enabled managers to develop and sustain positive working relationships with parents, carers, social workers, therapists and education staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly effective registered manager is ambitious for children and creates a positive and highly effective culture in the home. This is supporting the retention of staff and ensures children receive consistent, high-quality and continuous care by trusted child- centred adults. Inspection report for children's home: SC386134 5 Leaders and managers are effective in providing outstanding help and support to children living in the home. Managers and adults caring for children are highly aspirational for all children and ensure high standards of individualised care. This includes advocating on behalf of children with other agencies to ensure their needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff induction programme and learning opportunities are comprehensive and ensure staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to care for children effectively. Staff are trained to ensure they embed the preferred model of care in their everyday interactions with children. Staff benefit from continuous learning to develop their skills to meet the needs of children through research-informed practice discussions in team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive supervision on a regular basis and engage in monthly staff meetings. Team around the child meetings, facilitated by a therapist, support staff to reflect on children’s needs and explore different approaches to help children. This ensures children are at the centre of adults’ thinking and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Annual appraisals and reviews support staff to evaluate their development and identify future learning needs and career aspirations. Career progression opportunities are available to staff in the home. This helps ensure children continue to be cared for by adults that they know.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel well supported to achieve their career aspirations in the home and describe leaders and managers as helpful, supportive and approachable. Staff achievements are celebrated and rewarded by the organisation. This ensures the contribution of staff to improving the lives of children is recognised and valued.

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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: SC386134 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

Nicki Shaw, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC386134 7 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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