Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to six children who have social and emotional needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who registered in April 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection. All children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Outstanding 09/08/2022 Full Outstanding 16/06/2021 Full Good 25/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children experienced planned moves after living in the home for several years. One social worker commended staff for developing a child’s independence and supporting a positive transition.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education and work well with school professionals. All children attend school regularly. Children benefit from established relationships and familiarity in school without disruption. One child’s social worker credited the manager’s work with them to secure an Education and Health Care Plan after several attempts. Children benefiit from individualised educational support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to stay healthy. Managers are proactive to ensure that medication reviews take place.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to stay in touch with their family. One parent said how they appreciate the support from staff. Staff hosted christmas to support the family to be together. Children see staff and parents working together. This reduces divided loyalties and helps children to feel settled.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities. One parent said that staff were determined to help their child find an activity they enjoyed. After several activities, the child now enjoys climbing with staff and has joined a club. Another child goes swimming regularly. Children have first time experiences, such as climbing Mount Snowdon. Managers recognise when children find it difficult to make friendships. Staff helped one child develop a friendship group with children from the company’s other homes. This gives children special memories and helps their confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s documents are good quality and detailed. Staff make observations to develop an understanding of children’s likes and dislikes. One child, who has complex needs, does not have sufficient detail recorded in their plans about specific communication needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s rooms are personalised and reflect their interests. Children enjoy using their sensory spaces and toys. This supports children with their neurodiversity needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some areas of the home need maintenance. Although managers have requested replacements and improvements, one stained carpet remains unchanged.

p.3

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

Children’s plans contain detailed information about support strategies for staff to use. For example, staff encourage one child to walk in the garden before going to bed because it helps them feel calmer. Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 4 Managers respond to what children’s behaviour is showing them. For example, one child found sharing a living space with younger children difficult due to their sensory needs. The child was supported to move to another area of the home. This maintained the child’s relationships with staff whilst creating an improved environment for the child.

p.3

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

The manager acts decisively when allegations are made to ensure children’s safety. She follows clear processes for investigation and appropriate agencies are informed. Staff support children when speaking to the police. The manager shares learning with the team.

p.4

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

Some children have been held by staff for safety reasons. The manager completed an analysis when the frequency increased significantly over a time. The manager shared findings with wider professionals to best support the children.

p.4

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

Conversations with staff following behavioural incidents are not always completed within timescales. This delay limits learning from an incident and hinders the development of their practice.

p.4

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home, and there have been no complaints made.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have led staff through a difficult inspection period. Several staff left and were replaced by new staff. Core staff have shown resilience. The home’s clinician holds sessions with staff to support their well-being so that they can stay emotionally supportive to children. This helps children to live in a more settled home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff found their induction useful. Staff feel supported by managers and seniors to complete the required qualifications. The provider has clear safe recruitment processes in place for staff. However, on one occasion, managers did not seek satisfactory verification of an applicant’s work history.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff take pride in building positive relationships with children. One parent said, ‘[The child] really likes it there, it puts your mind at peace. [The child] has lovely relationships with staff.’ Staff have good working relationships with people who are important to children and professionals.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are tenacious advocates for children. Managers understand what is important to them. Children use children’s meetings to air their views and wishes. Children gain confidence as they learn their views are valued.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers use regular team meetings to discuss practice and improve children’s care. Staff can express their views to managers. Managers use an online system to share notices and resources with staff. Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 5 Managers are aware of the strengths and areas for development in the home. Due to vacancies, the manager and deputy manager have been supporting staff during difficult incidents. This has taken them away from ensuring that staff receive regular supervision.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is limited coordination of staff or guidance on how to give personalised care to a child with specific communication needs. Staff do not provide this child with consistent care. The manager accepts the need to improve consistency to help the child make progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff document children’s progress and areas for support in monthly reports. Staff have some relevant conversations with children on current themes. However, there is limited management evaluation to identify the next steps to best help children. Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

oversight to ensure daily tasks are completed to maintain the upkeep and cleanliness of the home. This also includes replacement of furnishings in a timely way;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensuring that staff receive regular supervision to develop practice and promote consistency for children; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

oversight of direct work with children to ensure its effectiveness is evaluated and informs future planning. 21 March 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 7 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.7

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that safer recruitment checks of all staff working in the home are completed. Exercise professional curiosity and complete necessary checks to ensure that adults are suitable to care for children. 21 March 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record 21 March 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 8 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii))(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure there is management oversight of incidents and that completion of debriefs for children and staff are within required timescales.

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home works in partnership with relevant people so that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the skills and confidence to communicate easily and understand the importance of listening to, involving and responding to the children they care for. Staff should understand that they have a responsibility to observe, notice and respond to children who are expressing their views, acknowledging that it is not the sole responsibility of the child to ‘tell’. They should also understand how children might communicate their feelings through their behaviour or non-verbally, especially where the child has a

p.8

Recommendations

disability which does not allow them to communicate as others might. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10)

p.8

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: 1257013 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland North Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Esland Limited, Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

p.9

Inspector

Helen Gronhaug, Ofsted Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1257013 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10