Children's Home run by Esland North Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2648027 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

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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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

06/01/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/09/2025 Full Inadequate 18/12/2024 Full Good 04/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2648027 3

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Summary of findings

Staff do not consistently support the child in establishing and maintaining routines on days when they do not attend school. Additionally, shortfalls in recording and reporting limit management oversight in the home, leading to inaccuracies in the child’s risk assessment and other records. As a result, the steps for staff to follow during incidents are not always clear. However, leaders and managers are taking steps to strengthen monitoring and reviewing systems to ensure effective oversight.

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improvement to be good

The child does not attend school regularly and, when at home, spends most of their time in their bedroom. Staff interaction is inconsistent, and encouragement to participate in activities is ineffective. As a a result, the child remains socially isolated in the home and has limited opportunities to engage in informal learning or activities that promote their overall wellbeing and development.

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improvement to be good

Relationships between the child and staff are beginning to develop, and staff speak with the child about their family and interests. However, the language used in records to document these discussions is not always child focused or therapeutic. This does not support the child to develop a positive sense of self should they read their records.

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improvement to be good

Staff speak with the child about their wishes and feelings, especially in relation to their care plan. Their views are always sought before planned meetings with professionals. The child is also supported to attend important meetings so they can share their thoughts and feelings directly. This helps to ensure that the child understands what is happening and is involved in decisions about their care.

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improvement to be good

Professionals report that they are happy with the care provided by staff. They say that staff encourage the child to maintain links with their local area, despite now living further away. Professionals and a family member say that staff communicate effectively to ensure that relevant individuals are kept up to date with the child’s progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the child’s risks, and risk assessments are reviewed regularly. However, the current assessment does not provide clear or accurate guidance for staff to follow to keep the child safe. As a result, not all staff know how to respond appropriately when incidents occur.

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improvement to be good

The quality of recording and reporting is inconsistent. Important information is often missing from records, making it difficult to understand what happens during incidents, Inspection report for children’s home: 2648027 4 how they are managed and what learning can be taken from them. This limits management oversight and may lead to missed opportunities for staff learning and development.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from the home. They are proactive and spend time searching for them. They ensure that relevant parties are kept informed and that the child receives support when they return.

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improvement to be good

When children make allegations, leaders and managers take these seriously and ensure that they are fully investigated. The child’s wishes and feelings are considered, and they are kept informed of outcomes. This helps children to feel listened to and respected.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment practices ensure that only suitable and safe individuals are employed to care for children.

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

The home is managed by a newly appointed and enthusiastic manager. Together with senior managers, they are taking steps to improve oversight and are developing monitoring and reviewing systems to support this. However, some shortfalls are not always recognised or addressed, which limits continuous improvement in practice.

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

Staff report feeling well supported by leaders and managers. They value the ‘open-door’ ethos in the home and the guidance they receive. Although there have been some staffing changes since the last inspection, steps are being taken to recruit a full and stable staff team.

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

Staff receive regular supervision, which helps them to reflect on their practice and identify areas for development. Team meetings take place consistently to ensure that staff remain informed and up to date.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that staff training is relevant and well attended. This helps staff to develop the knowledge and skills required to meet the child’s individual needs. 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

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;

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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)(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 accurate guidance and strategies to support them to reduce risks.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2648027 6 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that monitoring and reviewing systems are robust.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, leaders and managers must ensure that records are completed fully, containing all necessary information, in order to maintain effective oversight and identify areas for learning and development to address any shortfalls.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 7 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2648027 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children are consistently supported to develop healthy daily routines and are encouraged to engage in activities and enrichment opportunities that promote their wellbeing.

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

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Inspector

Danielle Allen, Social Care Regulatory 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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