Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Bexley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 1 f SC387684 Registered provider: Esland South 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

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to 5 children with social and emotional difficulties. The home registered with Ofsted in March 2009. The manager has been registered since July 2024 and is appropriately experienced and qualified. There were 5 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 25 November 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/11/2025 Full Outstanding 06/06/2024 Full Good 28/09/2023 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 3

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Summary of findings

Children make progress and benefit from highly individualised care. Staff know children extremely well and are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes. Children develop confidence and independence and enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences. They feel secure in a nurturing home where positive relationships, high aspirations and effective leadership enable them to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience highly personalised, nurturing care that helps them make progress. Staff know children very well and build warm trusting relationships to ensure children feel safe, valued and understood. Communication is carefully adapted through personalised strategies to meet individual needs. Staff within the home celebrate diversity and promote an inclusive culture where children’s identities and interests are respected, and their views shape day-to-day care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide effective therapeutic support that promotes emotional wellbeing. Staff use detailed monitoring to identify patterns, triggers and emerging needs, ensuring timely interventions and informed care planning. One social worker commented, ‘We’re really happy with how well [name of child] has settled. [Staff] provide really attuned care; they’re able to name and recognise triggers, so the network around [name of child] all now know as well.’ Approaches are embedded throughout practice and strengthened through partnership working with internal and external clinical services and other professionals. As a result, children experience a nurturing home and consistent responses where they feel secure and develop positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is a strong focus within the home. Achievements and milestones are recognised and celebrated. The registered manager and staff work closely with education providers, the virtual school and placing authorities to remove barriers to learning and promote successful transitions. Where children face challenges or difficulties, adaptations are promptly made to support improved engagement and attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children maintain meaningful relationships with the people who are important to them. Staff recognise the significance of family time and work proactively with children’s family, friends and placing authorities to promote positive contact whenever this is in the children’s best interests. Children are well prepared for family time and are supported to reflect on their experiences. They receive sensitive and consistent care that helps strengthen important relationships and promote emotional security. A family member of one child said that staff are ‘doing a fantastic job; very polite and friendly and always make sure they put [name of child’s] needs first, and that’s what’s most important’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 4 Children enjoy several activities that broaden their horizons and create lasting memories. Staff encourage children to participate in community activities, including scouts, holidays,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

fundraising and tailored one-to-one experiences with staff. These opportunities help children to build confidence and develop social skills and a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are empowered to develop independence and take increasing responsibility for their lives. Staff provide consistent opportunities and support for children to learn practical skills, including cooking, laundry and contributing to daily routines. Children are actively involved in decisions about their care, including behaviour support plans and agreements around personal devices. Their views and suggestions are listened to, helping them develop confidence, responsibility and ownership in their progress.

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

Children are safeguarded. Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are highly individualised and regularly reviewed and updated in response to changing needs. Behaviour is managed with skill and consistency, and staff use approaches to de-escalate incidents at the earliest opportunity. Behaviour support is tailored to each child’s needs and promotes emotional regulation and sustained progress.

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

Leaders use robust oversight to continually strengthen practice. Incidents are well managed, thoroughly recorded and reviewed in good time. Detailed monitoring identifies patterns and informs reflective practice, ensuring that care planning remains responsive and effective. This enables staff to provide high-quality support that meets children’s changing needs.

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

Children benefit from effective partnership working that strengthens safeguarding. Professionals speak extremely positively about the quality of care and the stability provided by staff within the home. When asked how effective staff are at keeping a child safe, one professional said, ‘Extremely effective. In my experience, when concerns or safeguarding events have arisen, [the staff] will follow safety plans, document in detail, seek advice from other professionals and make adjustments to the child’s boundaries.’

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

Social workers and education professionals consistently highlight that staff understand children’s needs exceptionally well and work collaboratively to promote their safety and wellbeing. For one child, staff quickly established trusting relationships and provided the consistency needed to reduce significant incidents, including missing-from-home episodes and self-harm.

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

Children benefit from regular key-work sessions that support their development. Sessions cover a range of relevant topics that help children to explore their feelings and experiences, which is also supported by access to clinical input, such as drama therapy. However, opportunities to further personalise direct work around each child’s specific risks and vulnerabilities are not yet consistently maximised. Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are aspirational and create a culture of continuous improvement. The registered manager is highly visible and provides clear direction for the home. Team morale is high, and staff describe feeling well supported and valued. One member of staff said, ‘We are all one big family.’ Staff’s views are listened to and contribute to the ongoing development of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working improves outcomes for children. The registered manager works proactively with professionals to coordinate support and secure the right services for children. Professionals speak highly of staff’s collaborative approach and recognise the positive impact this has on children’s stability, progress and wellbeing. The registered manager advocates for children to ensure that plans reflect their individual needs, abilities and long-term aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders demonstrate unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children. Decisions are carefully considered and centred on each child’s needs. For example, the registered manager proposed a more tailored transition plan for one child, enabling them to remain in a stable home where they can continue to receive the support and preparation needed. This thoughtful advocacy reduces unnecessary moves and promotes lasting stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The stable staff team is skilled and delivers exceptional care. Staff are well equipped to meet children’s diverse and complex needs. Specialist training reflects the individual needs of children living in the home. Staff confidently apply their learning in practice, ensuring that care is informed, consistent and responsive. Ongoing supervision, reflective practice and clinical support strengthen staff’s skills, enabling them to provide informed, individualised care that promotes safety and emotional wellbeing. Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children receive regular, purposeful key- work sessions that support children to understand and manage their individual risks. Sessions should explore topics such as self-harm, emotional regulation, identity and any other vulnerabilities, enabling children to develop insight into their behaviours and understand strategies to keep themselves safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: SC387684 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Esland South Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suites 1 & 5, Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 0RN

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Inspector

Kay Barnett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC387684 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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