Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 1 Registered provider: TJY Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It provides care for up to 4 children who have experienced childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager is in post.

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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 outstanding

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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: 19 December 2024

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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: SC480161 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/012024 Full Good 19/12/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children have continued to live at the home since the last inspection. Children enjoy positive relationships with staff, who support them to maintain positive relationships with each other. This helps children to feel settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a comfortable, warm and welcoming family home. The registered manager and staff make a significant effort to ensure that children’s artwork and photographs are displayed in the home. Children engage in decisions about décor and furnishings. As a result, children experience a strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional, health and education needs are consistently met, and all children are making progress. The registered manager places a strong emphasis on prioritising children’s educational needs and is proactive in advocating for them, including when there is a need to challenge other agencies. Two children have successfully completed their GCSEs and taken up a course at college. As a result, their long ‑ term opportunities have significantly improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff prioritise strengthening and nurturing the relationships between children and their family members. This includes facilitating additional family time when needed and supporting children to safely reconnect with family members when contact has been lost. For one child, this has enabled them to develop a better understanding of their identity and cultural heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of social and community-based activities which reflect their interests. They are supported to experience and take part in new activities, which means they are kept active and have fun. All children enjoyed their first holiday abroad and created lasting memories. One child talked to the inspector about travelling on an aeroplane for the first time and trying new foods. They described the holiday as, ‘The best experience they had ever had.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Difference is celebrated, and children are supported to take part in cultural events and celebrations that promote their individual cultures and heritage. Children share these experiences with the home’s diverse staff team, which helps them develop a greater appreciation of difference and strengthens their self ‑ identity.

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

Children feel safe because the staff from whom they receive care identify changes in their behaviour and provide individualised support. Children benefit from consistent routines and enjoy the stability that this gives them.

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

When there are incidents, staff respond with care and understanding. This helps children to have confidence in staff to keep them safe. As a result, for one child this Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 4 has contributed to a reduction in the severity of incidents, and for another child, there has been a significant reduction in the number of incidents.

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

When staff become aware that a child was visiting the home family member who had not been authorised or assessed, staff took prompt action and followed the necessary protocols. This ensured that the child was safe. The registered manager identified lessons learned. This contributed to work being undertaken with the child, social worker and family members to reduce the risk of similar incidents.

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

Children receive the right support as a result of staff effectively communicating with relevant professionals. An independent reviewing officer said that managers and staff are good at communicating and provide comprehensive updates about the child. This helps to ensure that timely and safe decisions are made regarding children’s care.

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

The registered manager responds appropriately to when allegations are made about the conduct of staff. Appropriate action is taken to promote children’s safety, including timely investigations and information-sharing with other professionals.

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

Children say they like living at the home and that they feel safe and well cared for. They know how to make a complaint should they need to. The registered manager has responded to one complaint, in keeping with protocols. Children are supported to understand the outcome of their complaint, and as a result, they know they are listened to, and their concerns are taken seriously.

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

Overall, staff recruitment is safe. A gap in one member’s employment history was resolved by the registered manager during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An experienced and committed registered manager leads the team with the support of an equally experienced responsible individual. As a role model, the registered manager leads by example and motivates the team to have high expectations for the children and for their own practice. She is an exceptional advocate for children and will professionally challenge practice or decisions that may compromise children’s continued progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager supports staff to keep children at the centre of the care provided. As a result, the team is forward-thinking in making sure children have the support they need. Consequently, children have positive experiences of living at this home and make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Strong and effective professional relationships between the registered manager and staff help to ensure that children receive consistent care and develop as individuals. Staff feel valued and well supported. They speak highly of the registered manager and say her drive and enthusiasm inspires them. One member of staff told the inspector that the manager encouraged them to progress and had confidence in Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 5 them, even when they were unsure of their own ability to make the progress needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an excellent understanding of staff’s individual strengths and skills. All staff receive regular supervision, are well trained and are progressing to obtain the relevant qualifications within the required timescales. The training provided is focused on both the needs of the children and enhancing the skills and abilities of staff to maintain good quality care, tailored to meet children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager makes effective use of internal and external monitoring systems to support the provision of quality care and continual improvement. She is clear that there is always something new to learn. She is open to the considered use of research and sharing this with staff to support understanding and improve the outcomes for children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External professionals felt that children are genuinely cared for, that the care is high quality, that children feel part of a family and that they have the stability needed to make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements were raised as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 6

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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: SC480161 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Friendship Hall, Sutton New Road, Birmingham B23 6QR

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Benjamin Whillock

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Inspector

Sharon Douglas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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