Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for three children who may have behavioural, emotional, social difficulties and learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, six children have moved into the home and five children have moved out of the home. There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke with the child during 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2023 Full Good 11/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff. Staff know children well. Staff and children spend time together, such as playing board games. This helps children to settle quickly and feel relaxed and happy in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to do well in education considering their starting points. One child who is unable to attend school is being creatively encouraged to engage in educational activities. The manager is proactive in applying for school places and is a strong advocate. Staff understand the barriers to learning and are helping the child develop confidence in preparation for formal education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that children see people who are important to them. Staff help children to develop positive relationships with friends and family. For example, one child was supported to visit their boyfriend independently and another child was supported to access therapy with their parent, helping to rebuild and strengthen their relationship.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities, such as swimming, laser tag, horse riding and piano lessons. This helps to improve children’s confidence and self-esteem and gives them a sense of achievement.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are well planned and considered. Two children have been successfully supported to move back with their family. Other children have been helped to move onto semi-independent living. These transitions are managed sensitively so that children experience positive endings. Where appropriate, staff visit children and stay in contact with them.

p.3

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

Staff know the risks children can be exposed to. The manager holds regular meetings with social workers to agree safety plans. Behaviour support plans and risk management plans are detailed and give staff appropriate guidance. Staff are competent and respond effectively to safeguarding incidents. This ensures that risks to children reduce.

p.3

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

Staff respond well to children who go missing from the home. Staff liaise effectively with relevant professionals such as social workers and the police. The manager has positive relationships with the local police. Staff receive specialist training from the police to strengthen their practice. This is helping to reduce the risk of children going missing from the home.

p.3

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

Staff occasionally use physical intervention as a last resort to keep children and others safe. The least force and measure are used. The manager speaks with staff and children after each incident. The manager has good oversight and uses learning to improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 4 The manager is a behaviour support trainer. She trains the staff to understand a trauma- informed approach to behaviour management. Staff use positive reinforcements such as individualised incentives. These are effective and help children to make better choices.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is knowledgeable and competent. She is making progress towards the relevant qualification. She is supported by an experienced responsible individual. The manager has effective oversight of the home and knows what is happening daily.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained and feel competent in their role. Staff have access to training in relation to children’s individual needs. The manager and staff also receive tailored training from a psychotherapist. As a result, staff have a deep understanding of the child’s needs and feel well supported in their role.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision. Staff feel these are helpful and support their personal development. All staff are supported to achieve the relevant qualification within the required timescales.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes staff well-being. Staff have access to a clinician who provides one-to-one emotional support. Staff also have access to external counselling sessions and a well-being service. Most staff feel listened to and well supported.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent visitor’s monthly reports are comprehensive, and he regularly consults with children. However, he has not consulted with professionals or parents for long periods of time. The manager has not consistently supported the independent person to obtain this feedback. This means that external views have not received independent scrutiny. Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 5

p.4

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.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that the independent person regularly consults with parents and professionals. 1 September 2025

p.5

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: 2553861 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland North Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Chelsea Lightfoot

p.6

Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2553861 7 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.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7