Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Amber Valley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489516 1 SC489516 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

The home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a qualified and experienced registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home, and their views were sought.

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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: SC489516 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good 22/06/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC489516 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend valuable time with staff and take part in a wide range of activities in the home and community. Activities include trips to theme parks and activity centres, horse riding and attending local sports clubs. The children get to try new things and have experiences that they will remember, which are captured in photos proudly displayed around the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive and meaningful relationships with staff, who show emotional warmth to the children, and there is lots of fun and laughter. Staff are creative in getting to know the children and building relationships, using their shared interests and the home’s preferred model of care. This helps children to build trusting relationships with staff, which supports them to settle in the home and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who find school difficult are supported to learn and achieve. Staff understand the barriers to education and help children to overcome these. Staff work closely with partner agencies to support children in education settings. The manager has strongly advocated for one child to move to a local provision that would better meet their needs. This move is in the transition period, and the child is very excited to be going to a new school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health outcomes. Staff encourage children to be active and live a healthy lifestyle. Specialist help is sourced to support children’s individual needs, such as for bereavement and mental health services. As a result, children are making good progress physically and emotionally by accessing the right support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand that children have complex needs and have experienced considerable trauma in their lives. Staff undertake training in safeguarding alongside specific training in relation to the children’s individual needs using a trauma-informed approach. Staff benefit from bespoke training from the organisation’s therapeutic team to understand the complexities of behaviours and their safe management. Staff also have monthly clinical team meetings, which encourage their consistent reflection and learning and embed the home’s preferred model of care.

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

Staff are aware of the risks children may encounter. Safety plans are made in collaboration with other professionals, such as health, education and the local authority. Assessments of risk are well balanced between keeping children safe and allowing them to take age-appropriate risks. Risk assessments and support plans are regularly updated. However, some documents lack clarity and contain conflicting information. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of current planning. However, there is a risk that staff, particularly those who are not familiar with the home, may not follow the correct Inspection report for children’s home: SC489516 4 protocol. The manager is aware of this development area and is taking steps to mitigate the risk.

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

Staff respond well to a child who goes missing from the home. Regular network meetings are held to share pertinent information to assess risk and agree on safety planning. The child receives support from agencies that specialise in this field to learn about the presenting dangers and how to keep themselves safe. The child regularly stays in touch with the home when they are absent, which is positive. As a result, children with complex needs enjoy more independence and grow in confidence.

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

Children know that staff will listen to them and take them seriously. Therefore, children can be open about their feelings and emotions. Children engage in regular key-work sessions, which are both planned and spontaneous. Staff respond to changes in risk or presentation and target key-work sessions to any emerging needs identified. One professional said, ‘They work at [name of child]’s pace and assess what will work best for them’.

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

Children know how to raise complaints. Staff listen to the children and take their concerns seriously. The manager carries out thorough investigations and liaises with the local authority designated officer when this is required. Complaints are resolved effectively within appropriate timescales. The home also uses a restorative approach with children following a complaint. As a result, children feel heard and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated and committed to providing a home where children can develop and flourish. She is supported by a leadership team that is equally committed to the children’s care and the progress of the home. This is an integral part of the home and its success. Leaders and managers are always visible and regularly work with the children directly. This allows managers to not only build relationships with children, but also to model their styles and strategies to support staff’s learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight of the care provided to children is good. She knows what is happening in the home daily. The manager reviews staff recordings and all incidents. Shortfalls in practice are quickly identified and appropriately addressed with staff to aid their development. Management audits are regularly carried out, and outstanding actions are promptly addressed. This ensures that standards of care improve without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training in relation to children’s specific needs, such as exploitation and internet use. Monthly team and therapeutic meetings provide further opportunities to upskill staff and promote team bonding. However, staff have not always received regular one-to-one supervision discussions in line with the home’s policy. The manager is aware of this and has taken steps to address this shortfall. The manager plans to carry out all future supervision sessions with the support of the management team. This is an area of practice for development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489516 5 The manager has developed a positive relationship with external agencies, which has resulted in a strong and coordinated multi-agency approach to ensure that children’s needs are met. The manager is a tenacious advocate for the children and challenges shortfalls with partner agencies when required. One professional said, ‘The way they

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

advocate and show up to meet their needs is brilliant.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC489516 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a consistent and effective approach to record-keeping. Important information about children should be readily accessible to staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice 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: SC489516 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: Suites 1 and 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Chelsea Lightfoot

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Inspector

Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489516 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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