Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child lived in the home; however, two children had lived together during this inspection period.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023 when this home opened. She also manages another home for this company. She has the required qualification and skills to manage a children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were 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 (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in all areas of their lives. Staff help children to participate in their planned education. One child, who struggled to concentrate for more than a few minutes, is now able to spend an hour focusing on their learning. The child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional needs are met. Staff are trained by the company therapist to understand the children’s vulnerabilities. The therapist also directly supports children or sources other specialist workers, such as art therapists, when this is needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how they help the children to make progress. They are knowledgeable about children’s likes and dislikes and support them to develop a strong sense of identity. Staff offer nurturing care that encourages children to trust them. Some children who previously found it hard to accept affectionate gestures now enjoy this. This shows the improved quality of relationships between staff and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from time spent with their families and friends. Children can build positive memories as their time with their families and friends is often combined with days out and fun activities. Some children return to live with their family, and when this is the plan, it is done at the child’s pace.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The premises feels like a family home, with photos of the children in the shared areas as well as in their own rooms. Children are encouraged to influence how the home is decorated, and their opinions are valued and acted on. The children really enjoy the garden; it has been designed for them and includes a large trampoline, inflatable pool and picnic bench.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has had new health needs emerge. Staff ensure that appropriate medical support and advice is sought. Leaders and managers ensure that staff are trained to understand and respond to the children’s health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has specific cultural needs. These are consistently met by staff providing special ingredients for meals and observing religious festivals. Staff have increased their understanding of the child’s cultural needs through reading, research and working effectively with the child’s family. Staff have also fasted alongside the child to be supportive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s move to a new home was fast and unplanned. While leaders shared information with the staff at the child’s new home, they did not explain to the child how the move was not their fault. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 4

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. They know the detail in the children’s safety plans and implement the strategies within them. Training is tailored to help the staff have the right skills to recognise and manage the children’s risks. The staff regularly receive reflective supervision to ensure risk management is consistently reviewed and delivered.

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

There are effective multi-agency working arrangements. Leaders and managers are swift to tell the relevant professionals about contacts and behaviours in the community that may pose a risk to the children. To protect children, the staff collaborate with social workers to implement safety plans to limit where children go and who they spend time with.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, there was an extended period where one child did go missing and, during this time, was exposed to risk. The actions that the staff took to return the child showed tenacity, searching repeatedly for hours at a time. This action by staff did lead to the child’s return.

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

The same child went missing again a few days later. This second incident may have been avoided, but one agency member of staff did not follow the child’s plan. They failed to provide proper supervision of the child and did not take effective action to manage the risk. This was not a permanent member of the staff team.

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

Leaders ensure safe recruitment checks are completed. The onboarding process means that the provider can explore concerns about an applicant that were identified through the recruitment process. On one occasion, concerns were explored, and a member of staff was employed who later had their employment terminated. The system had not prevented this person from being appointed, so it was not wholly effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have excellent insight into children’s needs. They are thorough when responding to incidents and emerging risks. They have an appetite to strive to continually improve staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work effectively as part of the wider team to progress children’s plans. They support the staff to teach the children independence skills. They have introduced a tracking system to promote progress in this area and enable children to move on from the home when they are capable of living with reduced care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s investigations into incidents and allegations are timely, detailed and objective. Lessons learned are identified and implemented. Leaders are aware of areas for improvement and have plans in place to address these. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 5 One strength is how managers take account of children’s wishes. When a child has a strong view about which staff provide their care, then this is respected. This promotes the building of close relationships between staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions and team meetings routinely take place and provide the manager with an opportunity to check out staff’s understanding and competence. These discussions also promote a consistent approach from the team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all staff, including agency staff, understand and implement children’s plans. They should also ensure that staff are allocated to children in a way that aligns to the child’s vulnerability. 30 September 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should note that as well as longer-term support for children to move on from the home effectively (Regulation 6 (2)(b)(vi)), the home has an important role in supporting each child leaving the home in the period immediately before their departure. The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 7  The registered person should maintain good employment practice as set out in regulations 31-33. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61,

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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: 2721016 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: Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 9 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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