Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 1 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 22 January 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this 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 requires improvement to be 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: 25 September 2023

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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: SC480161 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/09/2023 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/06/2021 Full Good 18/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living in this home say they are happy. They are supported by a consistent staff team, which has helped them to make progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational achievement is supported and celebrated. Two of the children are settled in school and college, and one child is moving on to their next provision, having completed their exams. Professionals and families say that the support provided by staff has helped the children to succeed. One professional said that the level of support is ‘excellent’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views matter in the home, and these are gathered in a variety of ways, including children’s meetings and individual time spent with key workers. This ensures that children feel valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are updated regularly and give clear strategies for staff to follow to help them to meet the needs of individual children. Good health is seen as important, and there are facilities in the home and activities nearby to help children develop into healthy adults. Health needs are responded to quickly and effectively when they arise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have positive relationships with family, friends and those important to them. A family member, when commenting on the level of support that children receive, said, ‘I can see it’s not just a job to them; they really care.’

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

Due to the work completed with children by staff, children have developed an understanding of risk and how to stay safe. There are still incidents that occur in the community, but these are reducing with the help of staff. Children respond to the help they receive, and following incidents, they talk with staff about what they would do differently. Children have completed online training courses to help them understand the risks all children face from the online world and the misuse of alcohol and substances.

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

Risk assessments are reviewed regularly, and risks are evaluated in response to incidents. These assessments show progress over time and are used as a visual aid for children in direct-work sessions. This helps children to gain a balanced view of their experiences and where they need further support.

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

Children are supported to manage their behaviour, and when appropriate, staff use consequences. However, staff do not always make clear the timescale for the consequence and occasionally give two consequences for one incident. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 4

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good

The manager is aware of the areas of strength and those in need of development. His monitoring of records and activity in the home has progressed, but there are still improvements to be made. The daily log, which shows the day-to-day activity in the home, often ends early in the evening without providing a full picture of the day.

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good

The manager does not sign in when he is at the home and therefore does not evidence his level of commitment to being available for staff and children. He is visible and makes himself available to both staff and children if needed. He is supported by staff who are equally committed to ensuring that the children make progress and achieve their goals in life.

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good

The manager has taken action to improve his monitoring and evaluation of records. However, incidents have taken place that have not been notified to Ofsted as required. This prevents Ofsted from ensuring that all relevant actions have been taken to safeguard children.

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good

The manager has not submitted the review of the quality of care report in a timely way to Ofsted. However, there is evidence of feedback being gathered in preparation for completing the report.

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good

Supervision takes place regularly and shows praise and encouragement to staff. Reflective practice is not included in the notes. This is an important tool to help develop the practice of staff and improve the experiences of children living here. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

(any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed;

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 6 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is re- stated

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

or (concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)) 6 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff, including the manager and registered individual, sign into the daily log when they are in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62 paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that all consequences are proportionate and have timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that supervision sessions include the opportunity for reflective practice and that this is recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: SC480161 8

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Unique reference number: 2506856

Registered provider address: Unit E, Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle CA6 4SJ

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Inspector

Sue Atkinson Millmoor Ofsted Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 9 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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