Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 29 September 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/09/2025 Full Inadequate 18/12/2024 Full Good 04/12/2023 Full Good 18/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 3

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improvement to be good

One child remains living in the home. The child said that they did not have any concerns about living in the home but did express a wish to move on.

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improvement to be good

Staff interact positively with the child. However, changes in the staffing in the home have impacted on the child’s ability to build trusted relationships with those caring for them. Plans have been implemented to support the child to develop relationships with agency staff, which includes using familiar staff and undertaking planned activities.

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improvement to be good

The child is registered with relevant health services. When the child requires additional professional support, this is prioritised. Meaningful conversations about the child’s risks and emotional wellbeing are taking place. The child is being supported by the home’s internal therapist. This support enables the child to begin to understand and make sense of their life experiences.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child’s education and are persistent in their advocacy for the child to receive more education than they currently receive. Staff support the child to engage in educational activities inside and outside of the home.

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improvement to be good

Partnership working with other professionals is a strength of the home. Professionals are complimentary of the care the child receives.

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improvement to be good

The home is safe, clean and tidy, and there is sufficient space for the child. Action is being taken to repair damage in the child’s bedroom.

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improvement to be good

There have been a number of serious incidents for the child during the inspection period. This has included the child going missing from home and the police and the ambulance service being called. Records of incidents include actions taken by staff and the support provided to the child. However, the manager has not undertaken a debrief with one member of staff after a serious incident to undertake a full evaluation. All incidents have been notified to Ofsted as required by regulation.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are reviewed on a regular basis with the child and professionals. However, not all known risks have been included in the child’s risk assessment, and records do not include clear and detailed guidance for staff to follow to keep the child safe. This does not ensure that all staff know how to respond should incidents occur to keep the child safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 4 Staff undertake bedroom searches when required. On one occasion, there were concerns relating to medication being found in the child’s bedroom. The manager took some action by disposing of the medication; however, this was not reflected in the child’s risk assessment. Staff lacked understanding regarding this incident and were not professionally curious with the child. Action was taken by the manager during the inspection to ensure that the concern was addressed.

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improvement to be good

Allegations have been managed appropriately. Action was undertaken to ensure the child’s voice was heard when they raised concerns. Concerns were shared appropriately with relevant safeguarding professionals, and a detailed investigation was undertaken.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment of new staff in the home is safe. This ensures that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified manager. However, the manager has submitted their resignation and is due to leave his post. A new manager has been appointed. Leaders are taking action to prioritise recruitment and retention of new staff to address the instability in the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are positive about the support they receive, but the staffing changes have impacted on their morale. They continue to enjoy working in the home and remain child focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have not always received regular reflective supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. This does not give staff the opportunity to improve their practice and discuss the child’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place on a regular basis. They provide opportunities for staff to reflect on the child’s needs and share their own thoughts and feelings. The home’s therapist offers additional support with the home’s therapeutic model of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have received training to support them to meet the needs of the child. The home’s workforce development plan is regularly updated to reflect the home’s aims and objectives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not have effective internal monitoring systems in place. This does not ensure that there is continuous improvement in the care provided by the team. Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risks are clearly assessed. They must ensure that staff are provided with guidance and strategies to support them to reduce risks. 6 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 6 Additionally, the registered person must ensure that systems are in place to identify shortfalls in practice and any lessons learned.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there is robust oversight of the care provided and ensure that action is taken to address any shortfalls.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that recording systems are effective and that they review and evaluate all incidents to identify any learning and support to develop practice in the home. 27 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 7 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 27 February 2026

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2648027 8

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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 & 5 Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2648027 9 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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