Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 1 Registered provider: Esland North Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home; however, two children had lived together during this inspection period. The child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023 when this home opened. She has the required qualification and skills to manage a children’s home. The registered manager was not present at the inspection. The inspection was facilitated by the responsible individual, two other managers and the home’s deputy manager.

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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: 2721016 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2024 Full Good 11/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a comfortable and welcoming environment for children. Children’s presence is evident throughout, with games, photos, books and toys freely available. The children’s bedrooms are highly personalised, which provides a sense of belonging and helps them to feel settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff frequently have focused conversations with children, which provide opportunities to gather children’s views. Plans for the children’s care, including moving on plans from the home, directly reflect their views. Staff also provide help and guidance to the children and teach them about keeping safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

As relationships between children and staff grow, children develop trust and are more comfortable in sharing information and seeking support. Children make progress in identifying and expressing their feelings. Although children’s behaviours may initially escalate, over time, there is a reduction in frequency and duration.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children attend school for the full day or engage in educational activities. Staff keep children busy and provide lots of opportunities for them to learn through experiences. This includes visits to other towns, going to the coast and doing sports. However, not all children attend school as they do not have a sufficient provision. The manager is persistent in challenging professionals, but this is not always effective. One child had a significant period out of school. This reduced their opportunities to make friends and to learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move out from the home, this is managed safely, in line with their wishes and at their pace. This supports a smoother and more successful move. When children move out, the staff stay in touch with them. This reflects the good relationships that have been formed.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do, staff respond quickly, following plans to secure a swift return. For those children who have online access, staff are proactive in monitoring risks and checking that any internet use is safe. Their diligence means that new relationships and friendships are identified and checked.

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

Some children need to be held frequently to keep them or others safe. Staff are suitably trained for this and adapt the use of physical intervention techniques to take account of a child’s age or stature. The use of physical holds on children is evaluated by leaders and managers to ensure that they are proportionate, necessary and effective.

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

Staff respond appropriately to potential risk. If staff suspect that there may be harmful items in the home, they will carry out a thorough search. Staff monitor the premises to Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 4 be assured that anything that is potentially concerning is found and removed. When possible, this is done with children’s cooperation. Staff help the children to understand why this action is necessary and important.

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

Safer recruitment practice is carried out. The manager has improved the staff recruitment files, ensuring that they have insight into their employee’s history. The manager’s action addresses a recommendation raised at the last inspection.

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

There are a high number of allegations made by children about staff. Despite the volume, these are all treated individually, taken seriously and investigated. This reassures that any practice concerns are identified. It also helps children to feel that their views matter.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood, and care plans are generally clear. However, information about the approaches to manage behaviours is sometimes unclear or inconsistent. Staff receive multiple strategies from clinicians, which can lead to confusion when staff are supporting children who are upset.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have high expectations of staff and lead them in delivering care effectively. They understand the positive impact that aspirational care can have on the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a clear understanding of the children’s individual circumstances and use multiple mechanisms to share their own expertise with the staff team. If there are any shortfalls in safeguarding, managers quickly pick this up through their close oversight. They address practice issues with staff and implement lessons learned. Staff say that they benefit from the guidance that the managers offer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers arrange additional training for staff that is specific to the children’s needs and plans. This helps staff to provide appropriate and considered care. This is complemented by a comprehensive induction, which newly appointed staff say is very useful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The relationships with social care and clinical professionals are positive. There is praise for staff’s enthusiasm and their commitment to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers challenge when other agencies fail to deliver the services that children are entitled to. However, this has not always been effective, and managers have not then escalated sufficiently or challenged back to get results and an effective resolution.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are child focused in their approach. Decisions around care planning promote permanence and stability for children. There have been problems, at times, with the mix of children in the home, but this is not due to the manager’s initial decisions about children moving in. The assessments done at this point are thorough and identify and mitigate any known risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 5 Managers share information regularly with Ofsted. They retain good oversight of staff and consistently review and evaluate practice. This promotes continual improvements for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless the child’s relevant plan indicates that this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where children’s plans include guidance from other specialist professionals, these are clear and relate directly to the child’s plans and vulnerabilities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the children’s plans for the benefit of the children’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs, this is challenged. The registered person should ensure that they have a strategy to include further escalation 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)

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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: 2721016 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: Suite 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2721016 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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