Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC433430 1 SC433430 Registered provider: Esland North Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This 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 manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 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: SC433430 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good 12/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/09/2021 Full Good 13/08/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC433430 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector met and spoke with all three children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a spacious and well-furnished home and annex which provide an appropriate standard of accommodation. While there has been some recent damage to the property, due to a bathroom leak, repairs are being carried out promptly, and the living room is being redecorated. This demonstrates the staff’s commitment to maintaining a comfortable and welcoming environment. The home would benefit from additional personal touches, such as displays of the children’s achievements and artwork, to create a more homely atmosphere. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, and they enjoy the freedom to decorate these spaces according to their preferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in the home. For example, a child who had previously disengaged from education is now attending school regularly and aspires to go to university. Staff are actively supporting this ambition, reflecting their commitment to helping children achieve their goals. However, another child has not yet had an education placement secured since moving to the home. While staff have worked with the local authority to address this, greater urgency and escalation are required to ensure that this child can re-engage with education as soon as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the children in their care and speak positively about them. They prioritise building strong, trusting relationships with the children, and their child-focused approach results in positive interactions. Observations and discussions with the children show that they feel happy, safe and well cared for. All children have good relationships with staff, which demonstrates they have a sense of comfort and belonging in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. Staff are proactive in facilitating family time, ensuring that children can spend meaningful time with loved ones. This includes arranging transport and providing supervision where necessary. This reflects the team’s dedication to meeting children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience positive transitions when moving on from the home. Staff ensure that children feel valued and cared for during this process, which contributes to children leaving with a sense of love and stability. The enduring positive relationships between staff and children are evidenced by former residents maintaining regular contact with the home. For example, a child who has moved on from the home since the last inspection has recently visited, highlighting the strong bonds and sense of belonging fostered by the staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC433430 4

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

Children are kept safe from harm and are supported to reduce risks in their lives. For example, a child who arrived at the home subject to court-ordered restrictions is now progressing towards greater independence as their risks have significantly reduced. This demonstrates the positive impact of staff intervention and support in promoting safer outcomes for children.

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of children’s individual risks. Risk assessments are detailed and regularly reviewed, and they contain relevant and up-to-date information. These assessments are written in a child-friendly manner, ensuring that they are accessible to children. However, they are not routinely shared with children, and there is limited evidence of children’s input into their own assessments, which could further promote their understanding of, and engagement with, their safety plans.

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

Allegations are managed appropriately and with sensitivity. The necessary people and agencies are informed, and correct procedures are followed. Children making allegations are offered support, as are any individuals who are subject to allegations. This reflects a fair and balanced approach to safeguarding practice.

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

Serious incidents in the home are rare. When they occur, they are managed effectively by staff. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection, which highlights the team’s proactive and skilled approach to de-escalating challenging situations. All incidents are thoroughly reviewed with management oversight, ensuring clear evaluation, feedback and shared learning for continuous improvement. Relevant professionals are kept informed in a timely manner, which promotes effective multi- agency working.

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

There has been one missing-from-care episode since the last inspection. Staff responded appropriately and followed clear procedures to ensure the child’s safe return. Plans for responding to missing-from-care episodes are robust, with clear systems in place to address such incidents. Responses to missing-from-care episodes are well documented in the child’s individual plan, which reflects the team’s commitment to safeguarding children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate and committed to ensuring positive outcomes for the children and staff in the home. Although new to the leadership role, she brings significant experience to her position. Her approachable and hands-on leadership style ensures that she is available to staff and children, which contributes to the smooth and effective running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear understanding of the staff team’s strengths and areas for development. She has implemented plans to support staff development and upskilling, Inspection report for children’s home: SC433430 5 ensuring that they are equipped to meet the needs of the children in their care. Staff feedback about the management team is positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are knowledgeable about the children’s care and educational needs and have a clear understanding of how to manage risks effectively. They say that they feel well supported in their roles and express appreciation for the guidance and encouragement they receive from managers. Staff demonstrate genuine care for the children and a strong passion for their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals involved with the home provide positive feedback about the manager and the staff team. They highlight effective communication and have no concerns about the quality of care provided to the children. This reflects the strong relationships the home has built with external agencies and the commitment to collaborative working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and support, which ensures that they are challenged and motivated to develop their skills. Team meetings are used effectively to promote professional growth, providing opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and share learning. Many staff members are experienced and hold relevant qualifications, which contributes to a strong and capable team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While supervision sessions are carried out regularly, they are not always reflective. This limits opportunities for staff to explore their practice in greater depth and identify areas for further development. Strengthening this aspect of supervision would enhance learning and further support the professional growth of the team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC433430 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that if the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home, the home challenges them to meet the child’s needs. Staff should act as champions for children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe inside and outside the home. Staff should support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe and ensure that the home is an environment which supports this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC433430 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Melanie Fletcher

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Inspector

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC433430 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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