Children's home run by Esland North Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2841372 1 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

This home is owned and run by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home, and they were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was newly registered on 12 August 2025. The suitably experienced manager registered with Ofsted at the same time.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first inspection since registering with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2841372 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child feels a sense of belonging in this home, which is warm and welcoming. There are abundant personal touches around the home that reflect the child’s interests. The child’s bedroom is decorated according to their taste. This helps them feel ownership of the space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The relationships between staff and the child are natural and relaxed. The staff are consistent in seeking the child’s views and give serious consideration to requests for changes to the home or activities. This forges a healthy partnership, where the child feels listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child moved in, this was well planned and executed. The manager is thorough in their review and assessment in determining that staff can meet a child’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. Specialist training consolidates staff skills, and there are more sessions scheduled for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff collaborate with professionals effectively to understand and manage the child’s needs. This has a positive impact on the child. Despite disruptions to schooling for the child, learning still takes place in an informal way through daily discussions and conversations between the child and staff. Progress is being made to identify the right formal education for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to access the community and activities safely, in line with court- ordered restrictions. Trips to stage shows and attendance at community clubs are positive experiences for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s clinician works closely with the child and staff. Any support offered is at the child’s pace. The clinician’s advice is reflected in plans, and staff follow her guidance. This aligns with the therapeutic model of care that staff are trained to deliver.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Effective networks are built with professionals, which results in an appropriate exchange and flow of information. However, some statutory documentation is missing from the child’s records, which means staff do not have all the information that they need. The child also does not have an advocate, despite this being an entitlement and something that the child requested some time ago. These gaps have been repeatedly challenged by the manager to the child’s local authority, but with limited effect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some staff work in the home infrequently just to provide cover for the permanent staff. There is currently no system to collate the key documents for these casual staff to read. There is also a lack of a system for updating the whole staff team when changes are made to plans, including at handover meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841372 3

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

The child’s risks are reviewed and understood, including any community risks. Staff regularly seek information and guidance from local criminal justice partners and social care agencies. This is reflected in the child’s plans. Staff are proactive in reducing the risk of harm for the child.

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

The child has not been missing from home, which is progress from previous behaviours. In line with a court order, staff regularly review risks so that the least restrictive measures necessary are in place to promote the child’s safety. This contributes to the feeling of a ‘typical’ family home as far as possible. There has been carefully considered relaxation of the court order in some areas of the child’s care. This recognises the progress the child is making.

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

There have been no occurrences of the child needing to be physically held to keep them or others safe. This is reflective of staff responding sensitively to the child’s behaviour. Staff show empathy and insight into how the child is impacted by their past and how this affects their behaviour. They take every opportunity to have focused discussions with the child to help them understand, manage and change their thoughts and behaviours.

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

Allegations are appropriately managed and notified, including to external safeguarding agencies. Complaints are rare and are properly investigated. In respect of both allegations and complaints, the child is listened to and reassured.

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

There has been some highly effective work carried out by staff to understand where and who may pose a safeguarding risk to the child. This provides reassurance that this is being actively managed. Similarly, there is a sensitive but appropriately cautious approach being taken to understand what, if any, radicalisation risk exists for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers regularly liaise with local partners and agencies to stay up to date with risks in the local community. The manager has good oversight of staff practice through audit tools. Her close oversight is also evident in her review of incidents, documentation and the suitability and safety of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers lead a culture that is nurturing and therapeutic, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Professionals hold the manager in high regard, specifically praising her open and regular communication. There is also good support provided to the manager by the covering responsible individual and wider management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training, supervision sessions and team meetings provide staff with opportunities for consultation, reflection and practice discussions. This means staff are well prepared to provide appropriate care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841372 4 Following several staffing changes the manager has identified improving team stability as an area for development. The impact of staff changes has not yet been significant for the child. When staffing changes occur, safer recruitment practices are followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In summary, the manager and staff have set a good standard of practice since the home’s recent registration. This is beneficial to the child, and is promising for the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841372 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they challenge the child’s placing authority, or another relevant person, if they fail to provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs. This includes non-provision of statutory documentation. Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate 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).  The registered provider should ensure staff know that the child’s relevant plan may include a strategy for a particular type of care, treatment or intervention (for example strategies to mitigate a particular risk). New staff should have sufficient information to enable them to support the child effectively in line with their plans, and all staff should

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Recommendations

hand over information to colleagues consistently to ensure everyone is kept up to date with changes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)

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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: 2841372 6

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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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Inspectors

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Sarah Adotey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2841372 7 and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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