Esther House

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC474150 1 SC474150

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Inspected under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children aged 12 to 18 who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 23 May 2018 and is suitably qualified.

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC474150 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The management team has ensured that all previous regulatory shortfalls have been addressed. Since the full inspection, there have been numerous changes demonstrating increased oversight of children’s experiences and progress. The registered manager is focused on embedding these changes and improving outcomes for children.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a coordinated response to support children in developing healthy relationships with each other. For example, all staff have undertaken additional training about bullying. In addition, the registered manager carefully used quality assurance processes to help a child understand how they were treating another child in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

When concerns about bullying have arisen, leaders and managers have maintained a strong focus on children’s well-being and made important changes to how these concerns are managed, ensuring that placing authorities are appropriately involved. There is a clear focus on embedding a zero-tolerance culture for bullying and helping all children to have positive relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

The experience of moving into the home for one child was very difficult and led to an unplanned ending. The registered manager has carried out reflective work with the staff team and has used this feedback, alongside additional self-evaluations, to review how children’s needs and backgrounds are assessed before deciding if they can move to the home.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from the home, there is a comprehensive response from staff. This includes looking for children, anticipating their actions, and working well with other safeguarding agencies to determine children’s whereabouts.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff follow clear procedures and make well-informed judgements most of the time. On the rare occasions when staff do not follow the directions in a child’s plan or communication is not effective, the registered manager ensures that there is a prompt response that is focused on children’s welfare and lessons learned.

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Findings from the inspection

Most notifications have been made without delay, and structural changes to how all safeguarding concerns are reviewed mean that leaders and managers maintain good oversight of children’s well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

The management team demonstrates a good understanding of children’s behavioural needs and is in the process of initiating a self-assessment tool that will further develop the team’s insight into children’s presenting needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC474150 3 The registered manager has been part of a service-wide improvement plan that aims to ensure consistency for all children across the organisation. This is important work and has been influenced by internal learning and feedback from children about their experiences either of living in the home or across other homes that are registered by the provider. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC474150 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/09/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good 06/07/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC474150 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coach House, White House Court, Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1FD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Rudman

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Inspector

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC474150 6 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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