Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for one child who may have emotional, behavioural and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2023 Full Outstanding 10/05/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good 07/11/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved on since the last full inspection. He had lived at the home for a significant period. This transition was planned well. He remains in contact with the home, which shows the enduring relationships he has with the staff. The manager shared relevant information with the child’s new provider but omitted to share one potential risk. This has not impacted on the child but had the potential to do so. This has since been rectified. Another child has moved into the home. She has settled well after a period of adjustment. The staff have worked hard to help the child with her emotional well-being. Staff are supporting the child to manage her feelings in healthier ways and to develop emotional literacy. The child has professional therapy at school as well as therapeutic parenting at home. As a result, she is making good progress. The child has a good routine. With perseverance from the staff, she now sleeps better

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

and has an active lifestyle. She has 100% attendance at school and is making progress academically. The child is also making friends and starting to spend time with them outside of school. She is working towards having some independent social time with friends in the future. The child’s health is regularly reviewed, and she attends routine health appointments. She receives good support with developmental issues through sensitive direct work. For example, staff are teaching the child about healthy relationships and friendships, which is helping her to increase her social skills. The staff ensure the child enjoys activities and holidays. She regularly sees her family. The child celebrated her birthday recently at a surprise trampoline party organised for her. Staff capture important occasions in photos which they add to a memory book. This means the child will have these to look back on when she gets older.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly seek the child’s views through house meetings. Records of these meetings are not yet effective in capturing all discussions held with the child. The manager recognises the importance of developing a system for this, to ensure the child has a full record of her daily life.

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

The manager and staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities well. There are strategies in place to keep the child safe online, such as phone checks and ongoing direct work. When incidents of concern have occurred, the child is able to share her worries with the manager. The manager shares any concerns with the relevant authorities. Strategies in place have helped to keep the child safe. The manager has undertaken thorough risk assessments for most situations. However, he failed to consider one of the child’s vulnerabilities in their risk management plan, and Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 4 a day trip to a local beauty spot had not been risk assessed. So far, this has not impacted on the child. During the inspection, the manager recognised the importance of assessing all situations in future to minimise risk of harm. The staff have managed some serious incidents involving the child. Staff generally record

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

incidents well, in an empathic way. Staff reflect with the child following any physical interventions to help identify alternative ways of keeping her safe. This has been effective, as incidents have reduced over time. Leaders and managers have good oversight of complaints and allegations. They work effectively with the relevant agencies to respond in a timely way. The child has made one allegation about a member of staff. The child has been supported to work through this and there are no ongoing concerns resulting from the allegation. Staff have appropriately undertaken room searches when they have been concerned about the child’s welfare. Staff have managed these well and have sensitively explained to the child why they were necessary. Staff practice in this area has reduced risks for all children living in the home. The manager recruits staff safely, using required vetting procedures. This prevents

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

children being cared for by unsuitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recently registered with Ofsted. He is new to the role and is open to learning and development. After a period of change, he now has a stable staff team who get along well and work effectively together. The manager’s priority is to establish the team further to increase consistency of care. An experienced senior care worker who knows the home well confidently leads the less experienced staff. The manager also has good support from his line manager, who is in regular contact and has good oversight of the home. The manager has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve for the child and how he is going to help her achieve her goals. He spends regular time with her and is confident in setting boundaries as well as offering praise and rewards. The child trusts the manager and can go to him with her worries because she knows she will be listened to. The manager knows that there is more to do to ensure the physical environment of the home

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

is made more welcoming and homely. Staff have received appropriate training to meet the child’s needs and keep her safe. They also benefit from regular supervision which helps them to evaluate their performance and reflect on their relationships with the child. This helps staff to develop self-awareness and confidence. New staff receive a thorough induction, which they say helps them in their work. Staff say they are well supported by their manager and morale in the home is good. The manager has good interpersonal skills. He has dealt effectively with some complaints from neighbours, which has prevented relationships from deteriorating. The manager has developed positive relationships with external agencies and has been able Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 5 to work through any issues with constructive discussions. External professionals have confidence in the manager and the care provided to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children and is a homely, domestic environment. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food hygiene, etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.6)  The registered person should have clear policies and procedures for sharing relevant information pertaining to child protection to the placing authority or local authority where the home is situated if appropriate, or to a new provision when a child moves. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This includes recording children’s meetings in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2501397 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 Ltd, Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2501397 8 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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