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Reviewed By: J. Chrysanthou
Ofsted Unique Reference Number: SC387684
Date Reviewed: 03.05.2018
Eat Sleep
Learn
Nurture Dream
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CARING FOR CHILDREN
1. A statement of the range of needs of the children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care.
2. Details of the children’s home are ethos, and the outcomes that the children’s home seeks to achieve and its approach to achieving them
3. The arrangements for enabling children to enjoy and achieve, including how the children’s home promotes their participation in cultural, recreational and sporting activities
4. The arrangements for supporting the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of children accommodated in the children’s home.
5. The arrangements for promoting contact between children and their family and friends.
6. A description of the children’s home’s approach to consulting children about the quality of their care.
7. A description of the children’s home’s policy and approach in relation to— (a) Anti-discriminatory practice in respect of children and their families; and (b) Children’s rights. 8. A description of the accommodation offered by the children’s home, including— (a) How accommodation has been adapted to the needs of children cared for by the children’s home; (b) The age range, number and sex of children for whom it is intended that accommodation is to be provided; (c) The type of accommodation, including sleeping accommodation 9. A description of the location of the children’s home.
10. Details of the children’s home’s policies for safeguarding children, preventing bullying and the missing child
policy.
11. Any criteria used for the admission of children to the children’s home, including any policies and procedures for
emergency admission.
12. The arrangements for dealing with complaints
CHILDRENS BEHAVIOUR
13. A description of the children’s home’s approach to the surveillance and monitoring of children accommodated
there.
14. Details of the children’s home’s approach to behavioural support, including information about— (a) The children’s home’s approach to the use of restraint with respect to children accommodated there; (b) How persons working in the children’s home are trained in the use of restraint and how their competence is assessed.
CONTACT DETAILS
15. The name and work address of— (a) The registered provider (including details of the company owning the children’s home); (b) If nominated, the responsible individual; (c) If applicable, the registered manager.
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EDUCATION
16. Details of provision to support children with special educational needs.
17. Where the children’s home is dually registered as a school, details of the curriculum provided by the children’s
home and the management and structure of the arrangements for education. N/A
18. Where the children’s home is not dually registered as a school, the arrangements for children to attend local
schools and the provision made by the children’s home to promote the educational attainment of children.
HEALTH
19. Details of any health care or therapy provided, including— (a) Details of the qualifications and clinical supervision of the staff involved; (b) Information about— (i) How the children’s home measures the effectiveness of its approach; and (ii) The evidence referred to by the children’s home to demonstrate the effectiveness of its approach, and how this information can be accessed.
STAFFING MATTERS
20. Details of the experience and qualifications of staff working at the children’s home, including any staff
commissioned to provide education and health care.
21. Details of the management and staffing structure of the children’s home, including arrangements for the professional supervision of staff employed at the children’s home, including staff that provide education or health care. 22. If the staff working at the children’s home are all of one sex, or mainly of one sex, a description of how the children’s home promotes appropriate role models of both sexes.
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Welcome to Hadlow House. This statement of purpose is written in accordance within the
regulatory requirements of the Quality Standards for Children’s Homes 2015 and the Children’s
Home Regulations 2015.
The Children’s Home Regulations were given a complete overhaul in 2015 and the Quality
Standards were introduced, meaning that they are both now included in the Statement of
Purpose. There are also a number of references made to the home’s policies and procedures
within this statement of purpose, and these can be read in conjunction with the document. The
policies and procedures are available in full at Hadlow House or upon request.
A copy of this statement is provided to Ofsted, and is also available to:
Each person who works at Hadlow House
Each young person provided with accommodation at Hadlow House
All Parents, or person(s) with parental responsibility, of any young person provided with
accommodation at Hadlow House
The Local Authority or placing Authority of the young person who is provided with
accommodation at Hadlow House
Regulation 4.2A - where a children’s home has a website, the registered person shall ensure that a
copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website unless the registered person
considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children cared for in the children’s
home.
A copy of the home’s Statement of Purpose can be found online at www.eslandcare.co.uk/our-
homes. However, this can be reviewed at the discretion of the home’s manager, and where this
may conflict with the placement of a young person within the home, this document may be
removed from the website. Any web version of the document may have restricted content and
alternative contact details, to ensure that confidentiality is maintained in respects to any young
person placed in the home.
CARING FOR CHILDREN
1. A statement of the range of needs of the children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care.
Hadlow House provides long-term care and accommodation for a maximum of 5 young people
with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, and associated complex needs. However due to the
complex needs of the young people currently in placement it has been capped at 5 to enable us
to focus on their needs. This is including, but not exclusively limited to; mild learning disabilities,
Child Sexual Exploitation risk factors, sexualised behaviours, non-compliance with education, self-
harm, aggression and young people engaging in pro-criminal behaviours. Hadlow House will aim
to look after young people aged between 0 and 17 years on arrival however young people under
10 years old will be considered subject to a robust impact risk assessment being completed on
them and in the interest of teenage pregnancy we are in a position to be able to accommodate
new-born’s as part of the mothers care plan. Any young person turning 18 and requiring a short-
term extension will also be considered in partnership with Ofsted. If an extension on the ages is
deemed possible, the Statement of Purpose will be updated to reflect this, and an impact
assessment would be completed.
At Hadlow House, we focus on the young person’s experience in the home. We offer a happy,
safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for all the young people, creating a homely
environment for them to have the capability of achieving their full potential. We encourage and
support the young people to develop and maximise their social skills, as well as their
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independence and life skills, as well as providing the opportunity to reflect on their past, develop
self-coping and regulation strategies, and learn to keep themselves safe.
We provide highly personalised care to help young people feel safe and positive. We have a staff
team who are motivated, passionate and committed to working with young people and pursuing
the best outcome for each child.
We want young people to have a place which offers them a unique experience, where issues
and concerns which have affected them can be addressed positively, and where they can
progress to new heights. The young people placed at Hadlow House are assessed on their
individual needs, and the support given is tailored to their needs, as no two-young people are
alike. This may be in their educational learning, socialising, or emotional needs. We also support
young mums and new babies following a robust impact assessment. Staff have undergone
training in baby basics and paediatric first aid, they will support young mums with gaining
independence and skills they will require for motherhood. Such as promoting ante natal classes,
engaging with a network of professionals such as CAMHS, health visitors and midwifes to make the
experience as easy as possible for the young person. Staff have gone out of their way to attend
ante natal classes themselves and read mother and baby books to gain as much knowledge as
possible.
Working together with each young person, those significant to them and other professionals, we
endeavour to enhance each young person’s level of self-esteem by creating and maximising safe
opportunities, in which they learn, develop and achieve.
We believe that, to make life long changes, we have to give young people the tools and support
which enable them to move forward into adulthood. Our principle of working from a child
centred perspective is focused around placement plans informing future planning for the young
person. Where it is possible, we aim to achieve the best and desired outcome for any young
person, such as family reunification, or working towards independence.
Hadlow House also uses Esland Adventure; a programme that the company offers to provide
respite for the young people in the service. The maximum length for the programme is four weeks,
which will include camping in various locations of the High Peak, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and
Nottinghamshire, dependent on the opportunities available, and how these can be best
matched to the skillset of the young person.
Esland Adventure can be used as an introduction and planned admission to the home; however,
whilst on Esland Adventure, the young people are supported by 2:1 staffing, and go out to give
them the opportunity to prepare for their placement. Esland Adventure is used to break the cycle
of behaviour that they are displaying, and environmental therapy that can help to break down
and stabilise negative cycles of behaviour, including challenging behaviour and aggression, drug
abuse, gang culture and Child Sexual Exploitation.
As a minimum, they would provide an assessment as to what the young person needs to assist
with placement searches. The young person would have a full timetable of different activities
each day throughout the program. An example of the activities which form the activity based
program include rock climbing, mountain biking, caving, mountaineering, bush-craft canoeing
and Kayaking amongst many others. The young people will also be taught survival and self-care
skills such as finding shelter, cooking and building a fire (where appropriate), helping them to
achieve personal development and improve their self-esteem.
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2. Details of the children’s home’s ethos, and the outcomes that the children’s home seeks to achieve
and its approach to achieving them.
Our ethos at Hadlow House is one which promotes the development of meaningful relationships
between staff and young people, based on the core values of mutual respect and good
parenting. We pride ourselves on respecting the values of privacy, dignity, independence,
choice, rights and fulfilment for all young people. All staff at Hadlow House will seek to improve
the life opportunities of young people. We are committed to providing young people with a
positive and nurturing environment, where they are able to achieve outcomes in all aspects of
their lives.
At Hadlow House, we provide a positive and unique group living experience, allowing young
people to develop relationships, build and develop social skills, enable young people to feel
empowered and feel included within the wider community. The home has a very homely
atmosphere, the size of the home allows the young people to have space away from others
without having to go to their room. There are a number of separate communal areas that the
young people can use each one has a very calming and homely feel to it.
Our ethos rests on an overall purpose of the Esland Group, which is to ensure that all looked after
children have a continuing and enduring sense of permanence through which their social,
emotional, health, and educational needs are being met. In other words; they benefit and
achieve in the underpinning values of ESLAND. These are:
Eat, Sleep and feel healthy;
Learn and benefit from support in their education, and to achieve educationally. We
support all young people to attend the best possible educational provision for them;
Achieve success in their lives; that they make a positive contribution within their group or
the community; and they achieve the financial resources to sustain this throughout their
adult lives;
Nurtured and supported to develop an understanding of their risks, their behaviours, where
they are in their care pathway, and how they will progress through the Road to Resilience
(Esland’s Care Pathway for all young people placed with us);
Dream and aspire to achieve their dreams, goals and wishes. To give them a sense of
identity and self-worth in all that they do.
At Hadlow House, the young people are actively encouraged and supported to influence their
care, and the way the home is run. Regular consultations with young people take place, and
every view point is considered. Staff endeavours to meet the requests and suggestions of young
people in a positive manner, and where this is not possible we ensure that the young people are
clear about the reasons why, and how compromise can be reached.
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All staff will be encouraged to have an active awareness of each young person’s identity, having
great consideration for their racial, cultural, religious and dietary needs. Young people placed at
Hadlow House have the same rights as all in society, and we will endeavour to create an
environment where the young people feel they are valued, respected and have a place in
society. Staff will act as advocates for young people where they feel they may have been
discriminated against or treated unfairly outside the home. Young people are also encouraged to
seek the support of an advocate that is external to the home, and this would usually be sourced
from the young person’s Placing Authority. We endeavour to show sensitivity in practice;
especially when dealing with personal issues that the young people may have. We aim to provide
young people with a platform where they are able to talk through their problems, and where we
are able to support them in gaining viable options to deal with their concerns. We are strong
believers in care planning, and will ensure that young people have up to date placement plans
and reviews which will track the young person’s progress throughout their time with us. We will
ensure that the care the young people receive is the most appropriate, and meets their health,
education and social needs retrospectively. Staff at Hadlow House will use a range of techniques
for managing young people’s behaviour, based on the avoidance of punitive measures in
reaction to negative behaviour(s), so that young people have opportunities to understand and
learn from their actions. Positive feedback, reward and praise are considered the cornerstone of
all the work we do with young people and staff ensure that any positive achievement is noted
and celebrated with the young person and any other key people in their life.
All Young People at Hadlow House will be actively encouraged to share and influence the day-
to-day routines and practices within the home through a variety of means, including their own
young person’s meetings and individual keyworker sessions. The home strives to look at both the
individual and collective needs of young people. Young People will also be given the opportunity
to actively engage in, and influence the planning and delivery of a wide variety of leisure
activities, which may include holidays both abroad and in the UK.
The home really encourages independence and has developed plans that suit each individual
with targets that they can reach, we also have plans in place to support young mums and their
babies. The staff at Hadlow are incredibly nurturing and this allows positive relationships to build
successfully giving us the opportunity to engage the young people and work with them. Staff
have supported a young person through her pregnancy and put all measures in place to help her
develop the necessary skills and knowledge she will need to be a good parent. They have
developed their own knowledge by attending ante natal classes and engaging in baby basics
training delivered by a midwife. There is ongoing support for young mum sand their babies and
staff continue to encourage and support young people through the process by working with
social workers, health professionals and others to allow the young person every opportunity to be
a successful parent and move on from the home positively. Future minds also do group work
within the home to support the young people through the process and impact a new born baby
will have on the home and the young people as a whole.
Overall aims of the home, and objectives to be attained, are:
To offer care of the highest quality to young people based on their individual care needs
To provide security and stability for young people in the care system
To provide good role models based on robust surrogate parenting
To provide age-appropriate routines and activities to encourage young people to develop
their social skills, and to maintain existing practical skills, whilst learning new ones
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To devise a comprehensive and individualised placement plan to meet the young person’s
physical, personal, social, psychological/emotional, behavioural, cultural, spiritual,
communication and health care needs
To promote the active and positive presence of young people within their local community
To empower young people to exercise choice
In order to achieve these aims, the home will provide:
A safe and ‘homely’ environment
A child-centred approach with their wishes, views and feelings taken into account
regarding all aspects of their care
The development of a multi-skilled and highly trained staff team, following rigorous and
stringent recruitment procedures
The effective management and supervision of the staff team
The provision of an effective “key worker” system
The use of effective placement planning and risk assessment
Consistent approach to rules and boundaries, through appropriate and reflective rewards
and consequences
The encouragement of positive relationships and investment in the placement, from all
people involved in the welfare of the young person
3. The arrangements for enabling children to enjoy and achieve, including how the children’s home
promotes their participation in cultural, recreational and sporting activities.
At Hadlow House, we encourage the young people to participate in recreational and sporting
activities, developing their own interests and hobbies. There are many community groups within
the area, such as football, netball, drama club, guides, karate, scouts, horse riding, dance groups,
swimming clubs, and much more. Participation in activities are seen as a way to channel
negative energies, learn new skills, develop a level of fitness, develop social skills, teamwork and
confidence and achieve positively.
We would like young people to be able to participate in activities which are beneficial to their
development, but also enhance life opportunities and develop their abilities and talents. In the
early stages of the young person’s stay, activities will be based around what they like to do and in
what they have been successful. For all new admissions, we complete an I See You Keyworker
booklet; part of this asks the young people for interests and activities that they have. Any special
interests will be catered for, especially if these have been a feature in their lives prior to admission.
We want young people to continue to flourish in their strengths, and build on their areas of
improvement.
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Young people will always be encouraged to try new, different and challenging experiences, as
we believe this will not only support them in the present but also the future.
We will support young people to not only take part in local based activities, but also support the
young people to partake in their own cultural activities, as well as supporting those they live with
to also share in the experience. We believe that our young people can help other young people
to develop understanding about diversity, and the home will actively promote a variety of special
occasions.
We also want young people to have experience in different cultures, and will plan trips and
holidays which will enrich the young people’s understanding of the world we live in. On a weekly
basis, the young people will be encouraged to participate in both individual and group activities.
Young people are encouraged to pursue their own interests such as swimming, cooking, going to
the gym or whatever their interests may be. We want young people to build on their talents but
learn that they may have hidden skills. We will encourage young people to partake in groups such
as youth clubs, and will actively work alongside a number of organisations who promote young
people’s rights.
As the young person begins to move towards leaving Hadlow House, activities start to become
tailored to their future placement or future income. It is considered important for the young person
to begin to enjoy activities that are realistic for them to develop and continue into their future.
The home will also work its own in house programmes with young people, to offer them better
options to move forward in life. The young people are encouraged to learn and develop
independence skills, which involve house chores, food preparation and cooking, and learning
budgeting skills, along with in-house activities of art and crafts, board games and quizzes.
Religious and cultural activities will be identified normally through the care planning process. All
religious and cultural activities important to the young person and their family will be vigorously
researched, and thoroughly supported by the staff team. All young people will have their own
Equality and Diversity plan. Young people are provided with a leaving care workbook which is a
keyworker pack they can complete with the support of staff. This enables them to work through
their independent skills and develop where required. They are also provided with helplines,
support groups and a guide of FAQs that they will encounter as an adult to help them to manage
best.
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4. The arrangements for supporting the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of children
accommodated in the children’s home.
We believe in promoting identity, and we will always take into account the racial, religious and
cultural and linguistic needs of young people when determining how we will meet their needs
throughout their time with us. We don’t only do this because it is a requirement of law; we do it
because it is our own personal belief that all young people are cared for in a child focused
manner. We are committed in establishing a group living community within the home, which is
free of prejudice and which has an understanding and tolerance for difference. We believe in
sharing experiences, because we have all learnt from others at some point in life.
A young person’s cultural background is fundamental to their identity, and as such, needs to be
maintained and encouraged. Staff at Hadlow House will support all young people with learning
about diversity, and the importance of understanding others who have different backgrounds
and speak different languages.
Some of the ways staff will support young people to appreciate difference is by:
To promoting young people’s cultural and linguistic identity, and giving them a
platform to share their experiences with others
To give young people positive images of their identity
To prepare young people for the society in which they are growing up in
To learn about and share ideas of not only the young people’s cultures, but staff
and other wider cultures.
When any young person is placed in the home, the staff team will identify ways in which it can
actively maintain and develop a young person’s cultural preferences. We will do this by:
Finding out about foods that the young person may like to eat (special dietary
requirements)
Finding out about essential cultural customs, like hair and skin care
Finding out about the rules of specific religious observance
Staff will research and Involve themselves and the young people in areas which reflect the
young person’s heritage
Encourage young people to keep contact with members of their original community and
to introduce us to them – where this is appropriate
Learn about the historical foundations of the young person’s culture and share these with
the young people
Run numerous special occasions and events involving the young people in the planning
Staff will support the young person in their linguistic needs
Staff will assist the young person to obtain language support where and when required
Staff are trained in equality and diversity. Staff will act in a professional and courteous manner,
being aware of their own mannerisms, whilst also examining their attitudes, to ensure that they role
model positive behaviours to young people on acceptance of diversity and promoting equality
within the home.
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5. The arrangements for promoting contact between children and their family and friends.
All children will have individualised contact agreements as per their care plan, legal status and
risk assessments, and these will be facilitated by the home. All young people are provided with
practical support and encouragement to have contact with family members, friends or other
significant people in their lives, provided that these arrangements have been discussed with the
placing authority, detailed in the care plan and will not put the young person in unnecessary
danger. The home promotes and facilitates all contacts, whether this be on the telephone,
physical visits, sending letters or electronically. Staff will ensure that contact is arranged and
facilitated in the manner most appropriate and responsive to the needs of the young person.
Regular communication with placing authorities regarding restrictions (old or new) will be
evidenced and recorded. Staff at Hadlow House will work towards and encourage building
good relationships with the parents and carers of young people in the home. We believe that this
allows for a greater level of support for young people where relationships with their family can
be, or have been, problematic. Staff will always support agreed contact by ensuring it is well
planned and works for all concerned parties. In order to build on positive relationships, the home
encourages young people to invite family and friends for meals.
All young people will have a contact risk assessment, which covers the contact arrangements for
each young person; including whether or not the contact is open, supervised or restricted. This
risk management plan is kept in children’s individual files and all staff are familiar with these
plans. The content of these plans are developed from the LAC Care plan and are reviewed
following any strategy reviews, LAC reviews and planning meetings. Where appropriate the
home have weekly contact with family members/ parents and give updates on the young
people and arrange the next contact to enable there to be a structure in place.
The home supports new mum’s and gives them the opportunity to parent and work with the local
authorities, to ensure that young mums bond well and gain a positive attachment with the baby
we make referrals to CAMHS neo natal service where they work with the young person on
attachment and bonds between mother and baby. We also encourage, post-natal classes such
as baby massage and water aerobics. Future minds also come to the home and do group work
with the young people on attachment and the dynamics that a new born will have in the home
and the impact it will have on them as a whole.
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6. A description of the children’s home’s approach to consulting children about the quality of their
care.
At Hadlow House, children and young people are encouraged to take an active part in running
the home, and are asked for their views and opinions regularly. Young people have access to
keyworkers, advocates and independent visitors. Hadlow House provides a homely, family
environment and offer our young people the chance for their voice to be heard.
Consultation will be taken on the following issues:
Decisions affecting a child’s or young person’s future
Any decision affecting a child’s or young person’s rights
Choices about daily living that the child or young person can participate in, such as
their choice of diet, fashion, entertainment etc.
Their choice of key worker
Changes in the way the home is run and managed
The decoration and furnishing of their personal space
Leisure activities they would wish to participate in
The young people are also asked to participate in the recruitment process of staff, and this can
be in the means of them developing questions for the interview, meeting potential candidates
and setting them practical tasks. The home values the opinions of young people when selecting
staff. The young people also enjoy this as it means that they have a say over who will be providing
care for them.
Consultation with the young people can be formal and informal. Some of the ways consultation
will be carried out are:
Children’s and young person’s meetings, which will be held regularly and the minutes
given to the Home Manager/Deputy for their attention
The children and young people will be made aware that they can discuss any issues
with any staff member throughout the week, if the need arises
They will have access to complaints forms at all times, and a complaints box feature’s
in the dining room, so that they can share their views in private
LAC reviews - young people will be consulted for thoughts and ideas, and asked to
attend
Placement plans - young people will be consulted in creating placement plans
Placing authorities - children and young people, along with their families, will be
consulted by the home when any changes to the operation of the home are made.
Regular contact will be maintained with placing authorities
Young people’s questionnaires gain their views on the day to day living at the home
Esland will employ an advocate or translator should the need arise
The home encourages young people to make use of the advocacy service provided
to them through their placing authority
All young people will be made aware of the contact details for and the role of the
Children’s Rights officer
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At Esland, we recognise the importance of effective consultation in sourcing the views and wishes
of children and young people in relation to their care, and the offer of such to them. The
manager and deputy manager are at the home on a daily basis and promote that they have an
open-door policy for young people to engage with them. The young people engage in the
following consultation with regard to the Quality of Care:
Opportunities within the monthly manager’s audit
The Regulation 44 report that is completed monthly by an independent person
The Regulation 45 completed at least twice a year. There are some direct questions in
these around the quality of care offered in order to enable the author of the report to gain
a realistic perception of the care offered at the home
House meetings
Young People’s consultations
Feedback forms
Key working packs
Risk Management
Appraisals and Probation Reviews of staff
Observation Shift reports for new staff
Young people and Local Authorities were all consulted with regarding the arrival of one of our
young people’s new born baby. The young people engaged in key work sessions and house
meetings and had the opportunity to raise any concerns. The young people were also offered to
attend the ante natal classes and baby basics training should they wish. Local Authorities were
made aware that we had a young person who was expecting and the plan for her to remain in
the home until such time we was able to manage independently.
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7. A description of the children’s home’s policy and approach in relation to— (a) Anti-discriminatory practice in respect of children and their families; and (b) Children’s rights.
Staff at the home recognise and acknowledge that all young people have both general needs,
as a developing young person, and specific needs, as an individual with a unique personal history
and culture. The home is opposed to discrimination in any form. To this end, the staff team work
proactively to prevent discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or social
origin, language, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, political or other
opinion, birth or status.
There is a varied and diverse team employed at the home, which is reflective of the local area
and which is representative of the local demographics. We strive to have a balance between
both males and females.
Staff are committed to maximising the young person’s potential. Any discrimination by young
people or adults, no matter how subtle, will be challenged. Should staff witness any discrimination
towards any young person by another member of staff, they will be expected and encouraged to
challenge this and raise this with the Manager. Should this involve the Manager, the employee
should raise this with the regional manager, the responsible individual or the quality assurance
officer.
Staff are also made aware of the whistle-blowing policy and of Ofsted as a route for complaints.
Staff are encouraged to promote the rights of young people who may wish to make complaints,
by assisting them in whichever way the young person wishes, including assisting the young person
to frame the complaint and pass on that complaint to the appropriate body. Young people do
not have to write a complaint on a complaints form for it to be taken seriously. There needs to be
a culture of recognising grumbles/complaints/concerns, and staff advocating on young person’s
behalf to have these addressed.
All young people have the right to:
be heard and to exercise choice
be treated with dignity and respect
have appropriate education and leisure time
be protected from harm
receive individual and appropriate care that is suitably risk-assessed
Staff at Hadlow House will actively promote and advocate for care plans to be drawn up and
carried through to meet each young person’s educational, religious, cultural, linguistic and dietary
needs.
In all cases, decisions will be made that promote the best interests of each individual young
person over and above any interests of the company. In the interest of teen pregnancy, upon
arrival of their new born. It is the child’s right to parent and the new born right to be parented, the
best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children.
Hadlow House respect the rights and responsibilities of young parents to provide guidance and
direction to their child as they grow up, so that they fully enjoy their rights. This must be done in a
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way that recognises the child’s increasing capacity to make their own choices. Children must not
be separated from their parents against their will unless it is in their best interests (for example, if a
parent is hurting or neglecting a child).
Hadlow House operates a strict policy on anti-discrimination and endorses a range of external
organisations which are against forms of bullying, harassment and inequality. All staff are required
to adhere to this policy, whilst promoting the values of the home in ensuring young people are
free from prejudice, and are able to exercise their ability and be themselves. A copy of this policy
can be obtained from the Home’s manager.
Our staff team will not judge or treat young people unfairly or discriminate against them.
All young people accommodated at Hadlow House will be made aware of their rights, and how
to access independent advocacy services, their Independent Reviewing Officer, Children’s Rights
services and Ofsted.
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8. A description of the accommodation offered by the children’s home, including— (a) How accommodation has been adapted to the needs of children cared for by the children’s home; (b) The age range, number and sex of children for whom it is intended that accommodation is to be provided; (c) The type of accommodation, including sleeping accommodation.
The home is registered to accommodate five young people, with emotional and behavioural
difficulties, aged between 0 years old to 17 years old on admission. The home can accommodate
both males and females, and regularly has mixed sex occupancy after a robust risk assessment
has been completed.
Hadlow House will consider placements for young people experiencing issues with self-harm,
aggressive behaviour, CSE, attachment difficulties, school refusal and non-attendance, offending
behaviour, gang related behaviours, and those with a history of missing from care. However; this is
not an exhaustive list, and the home will consider referrals for any young person with an emotional
and behavioural difficulty and in the interest of teenage pregnancy we are in a position to be
able to accommodate new-born’s as part of the mothers care plan.
Careful matching takes place for all referrals, and the needs of any young person already in
placement will be considered as the priority when considering a new placement for the home.
The manager will complete an impact risk assessment in order to ensure the home is right for the
young person, and the young person is right for the home.
Hadlow House has been consciously developed as a five bedroom children’s home. This is to
ensure that we can offer the young people who come to live here the opportunity to live within a
“family environment”; as close to family life as is feasible. There are a further bedrooms that
accommodate staff sleeping on the premises, plus one acting as a staff office plus an additional
office downstairs.
Facilities
A spacious house with enclosed garden and patio area
A large bathroom with shower
A downstairs wet room
Separate cloakrooms for staff and young people
Four Large, Individualised bedrooms.
Spacious living and dining areas which are nicely furnished and decorated
Laundry room
Snug
Fully fitted kitchen
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9. A description of the location of the children’s home.
Hadlow House is located in Sidcup, which is in the south east London borough of Bexley, and is
close to all local amenities in the Sidcup area. Sidcup is situated 11 miles from London which is
able to offer a range of leisure, health, cultural, shopping facilities and transport links to the rest of
the country via Charing Cross station. The home provides a safe environment in terms of criminal
activity and crime rate in the area to which is minimal in comparison to other London boroughs
and is evidenced by the location review in consultation with the local police and local authorities.
10. Details of the children’s home’s policies for safeguarding children, preventing bullying and the missing child
policy.
The Road to Resilience
At Esland, we believe that there are two pathways that looked after children may find themselves
on: The Road to Ruin (where they struggle to manage themselves or their risks) and the Road to
Resilience (where young people are supported by staff to improve their life chances and
choices). We recognise that the way young people deal with difficult situations is often
underpinned by their life experiences, which ultimately affect their level of resilience.
Providing Stability
Many young people come to reside at Esland during very challenging points in their lives, and due
to these experiences, they are often unable to cope. This can mean that they react to situations
like placement moves or changes to their care package with strong, unpredictable emotions,
and a sense of uncertainty. Often these emotions can cause them to lash out and present with
complex and challenging behaviors. We believe that by providing an unconditional care
package that promises to ‘never give up’ on a young person, the individuals will learn to trust in
their primary carers, in the wider organization, and society as a whole. Through offering this
unconditional support, we believe that this will naturally enable the young person to feel more
stable and safe in their placements. This is the first stage in our Road to Resilience - Providing
Stability. When young people feel safe, they are generally more able to adapt to life-changing
situations and stressful conditions in a safe way.
Developing Resilience
This phase is an on-going process of time and effort to engage young people in taking a number
of steps to improve their outcomes, life chances and achievements. We believe that a
combination of factors contributes to Developing Resilience. The first step is encouraging the
young people to have caring and supportive relationships within and outside their allocated
placement. All Esland homes are designed and furnished to be warm, family homes; from country
farmhouses with log burners (risk assessed!) to modern homes - our young people take pride in
their environment and enjoy having their families and friends over to visit. Alongside this, we
recognise that the carer/young person relationship should be built on love, trust, encouragement,
and reassurance; enabling the young person to improve their resilience and capacity to make
plans for the future. We believe that this, in turn, encourages the young people to have a positive
view of themselves, have confidence in their strengths and abilities whilst also increasing their
capacity to manage their behaviors and needs.
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Facilitating Transition
At Esland, we aim to provide a one-stop solution for the sector’s most complex and challenging
children and young people. We recognise that we may facilitate transition for one young person
multiple times whilst they are on the road to resilience, ultimately moving towards being a resilient
member of society. This may entail transitioning them from Esland Adventures into a Solo, then a
Dual before a final transition into a Group Home; or it may be facilitating transition from a Dual
Home into Independence. Regardless of where on our Road to Resilience young people begin
their journey, we adopt a three-staged process that underpins every placement that we
accommodate within the Esland Group. This is to provide stability, develop resilience and
facilitate transition. With our range of services, we are able to provide local authorities with a long-
term plan which may include step ups or step downs in relation to our services, and which always
have the individualized placement needs at the centre of every placement.
Regardless of the destination, we believe that any transition must be worthwhile and always in the
best interests of the young person. Throughout our Road to Resilience we offer a high warmth,
high control behavior management model, which is underpinned by an Authoritative Parenting
model to ensure the young people have the best support and best outcomes possible to them.
We do not work alone; we have excellent links with our community partners, our clinical partners,
the Local Police and Safeguarding Boards and other agencies to always promote a team around
the child ethos.
Staff at Hadlow House are proactive in assisting young people to find other solutions to difficulties
they are experiencing, and young people are offered planned keyworker sessions in which they
can discuss difficulties and alternative strategies in an attempt to channel their anxieties into
behaviours that are potentially less dangerous than going absent without authority or missing from
care. The young people are also given support to complete keyworker packs, which can assist
young people with individual behaviours such as self-harm, healthy sleeping patterns, managing
aggression and sexual health.
Not with standing this approach, for some young people, going missing from care is one way that
they are able to manage their problems. For these young people, staff will attempt to minimise the
risks associated with this behaviour by ensuring the young person knows the risks and the potential
consequences associated with going missing from home. Staff are also very aware of the need to
closely supervise vulnerable young people. Young people will only be permitted to go out
unsupervised following agreement with the social worker and following a risk assessment
In terms of staff managing Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) the following
procedure is in place:
A recent photograph of the young person will be on file
A placement plan will have identified the risk and management strategy for known
behaviour, such as going absent without permission. Within this plan the time scale
with which the young person must be reported missing will be identified. Known
addresses where the young person runs to will also be identified along with contact
numbers for all parties with a legitimate interest in the welfare of the young person
The attitude and mood of the young person along with their dress for the day will
have been recorded on the young person’s daily record sheet
When it is known, the young person is absent without permission, an immediate
search of the premises and surrounding area will be undertaken. Other young people
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in the home will be questioned as to the missing young person’s whereabouts and
possible ‘contacts’ will be telephoned
Staff will consult the prepared documents and follow the RMFHC protocol as to who
to contact and when. This will include the police and those with parental
responsibility (social services and parent(s)) and the Manager on call
On the young person’s return, they will not be sanctioned for going absent without
permission. Staff will ensure the young person is safe and comfortable and they will
be offered hot food and drinks, a bath and will be encouraged to discuss any
concerns that may be responsible for them going absent
A debrief with staff will be offered and a planned keyworker session will be set up
All parties identified will be contacted regarding the young person’s return
All information will be recorded on an incident form and faxed to the local authority
with responsibility for the young person. Within 24 hours a regulation 40 notifications
will be completed where there is police involvement or a concern for the young
person’s welfare
All young people have a Missing from Care Risk Management Plan regardless of
whether this is an issue for them or not. This is completed at the point the placement
is agreed and then is reviewed following each incident or a minimum of once a
month
The home believes that the welfare and protection of young people from abuse is of paramount
importance. The management and staff at Hadlow House, and across Esland, work very closely
with the (LADO) in terms of prevention and resolution of safeguarding issues, and the investigation
of allegations against persons employed in the home. All staff are recruited in line with safer
recruitment protocols and are subject to a rigorous vetting process as per the DBS requirements.
Staff are trained in Safeguarding Children; including identification of possible or
suspected abuse or the risk of harm and action to be taken in all cases of safeguarding
Staff operate in a contained environment and are able to monitor the actions of others
at all times, whilst being aware of what constitutes as both good and bad practice
All staff are aware of the growing dangers involved with young people accessing the
internet and the continual improvements in commutative technologies. Consideration
is always given to the individual circumstances of particular young people in watching
or accessing social networking sites and using the internet, and age restriction software
will placed on the home’s computers. Staff shall also ensure that any visual content on
TV or other media materials are of the suitable age to the young person viewing them.
There is an on-call system for the home which provides staff with the opportunity to
contact a Registered Manager, Regional Manager or the Director of Care and
Operations at any point throughout the evening or night.
Only the highest possible standards are acceptable from members of staff in working in line with
the organisations policies and procedures. Any allegation of sexual, physical or emotional abuse
will lead to a full investigation and, if substantiated, would lead to instant dismissal. Such dismissal
will be reported to social services, Ofsted and, if a criminal offence has been committed, to the
police.
The Registered Provider / Manager will refer all allegations to the Local Safeguarding Children
Board or LADO and to the Local Authority placing the child. The LADO will take the lead of any
Safeguarding Investigation.
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Bullying
The home has a zero tolerance of bullying in all its aspects, whether physical or mental. All young
people are made aware of this, and will be regularly reminded of the need to treat others as they
wish to be treated. It is the duty of all staff to protect children from bullying.
All staff are trained to identify bullying and use techniques to counter bullying and its
effects
We will not allow initiation ceremonies of any kind
We will actively encourage an environment in which bullying is seen to be totally
unacceptable
We will encourage young people to report any incident of bullying to a member of staff,
and will make young people aware that prompt action will be taken where appropriate
Staff supervision will always be at a level where young people can be monitored and
any instances of bullying will be quickly detected
Measures to be taken to support the victim of bullying:
Meeting to be arranged
Specific key work will be undertaken to support the young person and to explore why
they are bullied
Confidence building measures will be developed with the young person, e.g.
strategies to reduce contact with the perpetrator; practising eye contact and other
assertiveness techniques
Encourage the young person to keep a note of what is happening, when and by
whom
A named member of staff on shift will oversee and support the young person
Initiate support from trusted adults e.g. teacher, independent visitor, or from specialist
agencies e.g. Childline (0800 1111) Kidscape 08451205204Keyworker sessions will be
undertaken with young people using the Self Esteem Keyworker Pack
Measures to be taken to support the perpetrator:
Meeting to be arranged with the alleged perpetrator
Undertake educative key work to explore the nature of their aggression and the
feelings they generate in others, as well as exploring any underlying reasons for the
bullying
Shadow the perpetrator to offer support, prevent re-occurrence and encourage
change
Encourage an apology that is meant
Restorative justice work to be used, and mediation where appropriate, to ensure that
young people have the best possible support to change their behaviour and to
encourage them not to bully in the future
Where appropriate, a strategy meeting will be called with the social workers of both
the perpetrator and the victim to ensure that an effective strategy is implemented
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11. Any criteria used for the admission of children to the children’s home, including any policies and
procedures for emergency admission.
Hadlow House is able to offer placements to young people with Behavioural and Emotional
Difficulties and associated complex needs. This may include such behaviours as; self-harm,
aggressive behaviour, drug or alcohol misuse, criminal behaviour, CSE history or sexualised
behaviours. This list is not exhaustive, and consideration will be given for the placement of any
young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties, teen pregnancy, whom the home
consider could be supported, whilst not placing other young people, staff or the general
community at unacceptable level of risk.
The home can offer planned, emergency and respite placements, which will be considered
dependent upon the needs of the young person being referred, and the compatibility and needs
of the resident group currently in placement.
All placements will, wherever possible, be fully assessed and involve a visit by the home manager
or senior member of staff to meet the child or young person before being placed. During this visit,
the home manager will assess the child’s or young person’s suitability for the placement, and
whether they would be a good match for the residents within the home already.
Through meeting the manager or senior member of staff, the child or young person has an
opportunity to get to know a face within the placement, and ask any questions - aiming to
reduce worries. The child will be given a young person’s guide to the home, which will give them
information they will require whilst living at the home and in a format to their level of
understanding.
The young person then will be invited to the home to meet the resident group; join in the homes
meal and an activity. A further visit will be offered for an overnight stay.
Where agreed between the home and placing authority, on placing a young person in an
emergency, a review is initiated no more than 72 hours after admission to consider whether the
child should remain at the home, or it is in that child’s interests to move to a different placement.
Emergency Placement:
We understand that it is not always possible for a young person to move in a planned manner,
and whilst this is our preferred option for any new placement, we feel that the need for an
emergency move should not exclude any young person from placement at Hadlow House.
In the event that a same day or next day referral is received, the Manager will assess the available
information to determine if the placement is suitable for the home, and could be placed safely
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with existing young people. Where the information provided has not been adequate enough for
this assessment to be carried out, the Home Manager or senior staff member will contact the
placing social worker for further information and with any questions which may have arisen.
A placement will not be offered unless the manager has been able to access enough information
about the young person to carry out a full assessment of suitability for the home.
Pre-admission risk assessment:
From the information given, and through consultation with the child/young person’s social worker
(preferably at a planning meeting prior to their admission), an impact risk assessment shall be
completed. This will identify any potential risks and the impact of these risks on the home and on
the other young people. The risk assessment will also identify the actions needed to manage this
risk. All young people work with staff to complete the I See You Workbook for their first 28 days in
placement; this helps to ascertain their views, wishes and feelings, and also helps to develop a
meaningful placement plan. This is supported by the Initial Baseline Assessment, which staff
complete for the child’s first month in placement.
In the event of teen pregnancy, before the birth a pre-birth risk assessment is completed along
with an impact assessment, and training for the young person and staff team such as baby basics
and paediatric first aid. All young people are consulted on any admission and a lot of work has
taken place around a new born entering the home.
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12. The arrangements for dealing with complaints
At Hadlow House, we endeavour to ensure good practice in dealing with concerns and
complaints to improve our service to young people, their families, and local authority’s that have
commissioned our service.
Young people will know how, and feel able to complain without fear, if they are unhappy with
any aspect of the home. Any complaint is addressed seriously and without delay - a complaint
will be fully responded to within a maximum of 28 days, and children and young people are kept
informed of the progress. In the unlikely event that the complaint cannot be fully answered within
the 28 day period staff will ensure that the complainant is kept up to date and fully informed and
the complaint is answered fully at the earliest opportunity.
Young people are made fully aware of the complaints procedure on entry to the home.
Complaints procedures and forms are displayed on the young person’s notice board, and each
child will be given a young person’s guide explaining how they can complain. All complaints,
whether made verbally of in writing, are recorded on Complaints Forms and kept on the young
person’s case file as a formal record, available to the young person, their social worker and
Ofsted.
The home will support young people to have access to an independent advocate, to enable
them to have someone autonomous to engage with and inform them of their rights. Within the
home, there are posters and leaflets with information of services available to support young
people (e.g. Children’s rights, NSPCC etc.), should they need or want to seek advice away from
the team within the home.
If a child or young person wishes to raise a concern with an outside professional, the following
contact details are made available to them: -
Linzi Sim the Responsible Individual and COO for the Esland Group can be contacted on
01773823989 or at [email protected]
OFSTED contact details- OFSTED, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD 03001231231
Children’s rights commissioner-Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, Sanctuary
Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT 020 7783 8330
Their social worker or IRO – details of which are kept on file and accessible to them
First Response – 08001313126
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CHILDRENS BEHAVIOUR
13. A description of the children’s home’s approach to the surveillance and monitoring of children
accommodated there.
Young people placed at Hadlow House are vulnerable and require a high level of support and
supervision. The home will ensure that the young people are safe and secure at all times.
All bedrooms have sensors fitted to the doors to detect opening and closing. This is an additional
method of supervision, and is not used as a replacement for staff supervision.
Hadlow House has door alarms on each young person’s bedroom door and all ground floor exit
doors. All placing authorities and young people are made aware of this on admission to the
home.
Hadlow House will ensure an appropriate staff / young person ratio and adequate assessment of
risk. All young people risks are considered and risk assessments are completed before a young
person that has had a baby returns to the home. All risks are considered in how a baby will impact
the young people currently in placement and how they could impact a baby. This is all detailed in
the impact risk assessment.
The home is staffed with sleep in staff; there is generally 3 sleeps in staff in the house overnight with
other staff finishing shifts at 2300 hours. During the first 4 weeks of a young person coming back to
the home with a new born, waking nights are put in place so the young person has continued
support through the night.
There is also a Cyber Nanny facility on the homes computers including those which are accessed
by young people. This ensures that the if young people attempt to search on any information
which may compromise their safety or increase their risk of exploitation or radicalisation, then the
provider is alerted and can take appropriate steps to make sure safety is paramount.
14. Details of the children’s home’s approach to behavioural support, including information about— (a) The children’s home’s approach to the use of restraint with respect to children accommodated there;
25
(b) How persons working in the children’s home are trained in the use of restraint and how their competence is assessed.
Staff at Hadlow House believes that control is best exercised through the development and
maintenance of strong inter-personal relationships with the young people living in the Home.
These relationships are built upon sensitivity towards the young person, based on knowledge of
them, the developing of trust and sharing experiences together.
Rules are much easier for young people to manage when they have had the opportunity to
contribute to them, and are able to review them on a regular basis. The home also believes that
boundaries are much easier for them to maintain if they are applied in a fair, understandable and
consistent manner across the team, and there is opportunity to discuss the implementation of
rules. These practices form the basis of mutual respect. The home encourages positive behaviours
and there are reward systems in place.
Our High Warmth High Control behaviour management model works on the basis that young
people are respected regarded and cared for unconditionally. We believe that when staff are
warm in their approach to young people, care for them with a positive approach, and when they
are rational and consistent, young people feel safe and respond well to the carers. This model
derives from an authoritative parenting model which is noted to support the development of
healthy and meaningful attachments as the children feel secure, and this teaches empathy and
respect. We expect that our staff implement this model which promotes the use of firm but flexible
role models, promotes the use of clear expectations, negotiation and verbal give and take where
staff respond to this. This model also uses more suggestions, positive incentives and rewards, with
fewer commands, physical intervention and prohibitions. We note that this model has worked well
across our homes, and has developed situations where children and young people cope better.
Our homes are achievement oriented and this contributes to the feelings of warmth that young
people need to excel.
It is widely recognised that when young people have attachments, they are more able to
negotiate and regulate their own behaviour. We believe that behaviour is best managed when
staff use strong inter-personal relationships with the young people living at Hadlow House. These
relationships are built through time, knowledge of the young person, developing trust, sharing
experiences, consistency and understanding of boundaries.
Our admission and key work programme are developed to enhance this process and, in
particular, contribute to the development of meaningful and long-term relationships.
The home believe that rules and boundaries are much easier for young people to manage when
they have had the opportunity to contribute to them, and are able to see them and refer to them
at all times. We therefore use the young people’s meetings as a forum for consulting on
consequences and their effectiveness, and also provide young people with the opportunity to
contribute to consequences. The home also believes that boundaries are much easier for young
people to maintain if they are applied in a fair, understandable and consistent manner across the
team, and there is opportunity to discuss this in a weekly forum.
If an incident was to occur within the home, the staff are trained in behaviour management
techniques. These are PCC techniques, which is Esland Care’s accredited physical intervention
holds, and work on the premise of 95% de-escalation and 5% physical intervention. The staff team
will use any or all of the following to de-escalate an incident; humor, distraction, limited choice,
26
clear firm direction, swap of carer, support, reminder of consequences and reassurance. Positive
and Negative consequences and rewards are in place to manage behaviour, in line with the
authoritative parenting model of high warmth and high control. When they do need to be
implemented, consequences will be thought through by the staff and be creative, realistic and
fitting to the actions of the young person. These will be outlined in either the house rules, the
behaviour management plan for each young person or their risk assessment.
Staff are aware of non-permissible sanctions outlined in The Children’s Homes Regulations 2015,
Section 17(5) and have signed statements to pledge compliance with this instruction. Staff at the
home are trained in PCC restrain techniques, which complies with children’s home regulations
with regards to the reasons for restraint. This strategy will only be used as a last resort, once all
diversionary and diffusion techniques have failed. In the face of maintaining agitation, moving
towards anger and aggression, it is important that the carer remains calm, allows the child/young
person more personal space, and alerts other staff members/carers that there is a potential risk
arising and that assistance may be needed in order to return the young person to safety. All staff
are trained in PCC holds and the staff are trained to use the following holds see Appendix 1;
We work with our staff to ensure that they know although to use de-escalation techniques, they
should not:
Lose self-control or lash out
Shout
Attempt to enforce compliance over trivial or unnecessary matters like young people
being in the staff office
Take positions or issue warnings that cannot be maintained or will not be followed through
Attempt to continue to use reasoning in the face of mounting anger and aggression
(when children and young people may have lost the ability to rationalise and negotiate)
Threaten or intimidate children/young people
Make fun of, ridicule or humiliate children/young people
Confront challenging behaviour in front of an audience
Corner or closely confront a child/young person
Inflict any form of corporal punishment; i.e. any intentional application of force as
punishment, including slapping, punching, rough handling and throwing missiles
Make any restrictions relating to the consumption or deprivation of food or drink
Make any restriction on a child’s contact with his or her Parents, relatives or friends; visits to
the child by his or her Parents, relatives or friends or limit their access to counselling or
advocacy services like Children’s Rights or placing social workers.
Once a restraint has taken place, a review of the incident is always suitably timed for when the
young person has had a chance to recover, whilst ensuring the incident is still fresh in their minds.
This is designed to support the young person in exploring their behaviour and considering other
ways of dealing feelings in the future.
CONTACT DETAILS
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15. The name and work address of— (a) The registered provider (including details of the company owning the children’s home); (b) If nominated, the responsible individual; (c) If applicable, the registered manager.
Esland was formed following a successful merger between Turnaround Care and The Boulters. The
Esland Group has a range of services in Buxton, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire,
Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Kent and London.
The Registered Provider is: Esland North (part of the Esland Group)
The Founder of the company is:
Mr John Stamp
Esland Group
Riverside Business Centre
Suite 1 & 5 Foundry Lane Milford, Belper, DE56 0RN
T: 01773 823 989/ 07915 157 618
Email: [email protected]
The Responsible Individual and Chief Operating Officer (COO) is:
Mrs Linzi Sim
Esland Head Office
T: 01773 823 989
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 07713284591
Strategic Director
Mr Josh Stamp
Esland Head Office
T: 01773 823 989
Email: [email protected]
Managing Director
Mr Pete Buller
Esland Head Office
T: 01773 823 989
Regional Manager
Ms Kim Walder
Email: [email protected]
T: 07889365642
Registered Manager
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Mrs Jennifer Chrysanthou
Hadlow House
8 Hadlow Road
Sidcup
DA14 4AF
T: 0208 3096750/ 07557346857
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
16. Details of provision to support children with special educational needs.
It is expected that some of the referrals to Hadlow House will be excluded pupils, or pupils who
have difficulty being integrated into mainstream schooling.
Where possible, however, we do aim to re-integrate young people into mainstream schooling. The
home falls within the Catchment area of Cleeve Park School, Black Fen School for Girls and
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. These schools are currently rated good. The home has
formed links with the schools and endeavour to support gradual re-integration through part time
timetables, home tuition led by the school and staff from the home supporting the young people,
as appropriate. It is our belief that the sooner we can get young people back into mainstream
school, the more opportunity they will have to access a full curriculum and achieve
academically.
The staff team work closely with young people to ensure that they are able to access a full
timetable; whether this is within a school, or whether this is supported at home with tuition and
alternative timetables supported by staff. We place great emphasis on the importance of an
education for a young person’s future, and will help young people to identify their skills and
talents, and wishes for the future. This will then be used to help the young people find an
education programme which suits their interests, ability and helps them to achieve their full
potential.
Staff at Hadlow House will work closely with educational service departments to ensure that
statements are maintained, updated and reviewed as required. Young people with special
educational needs will be given the same schooling opportunities as any other young person, and
the staff will support them to find the best viable option where they can gain educational
attainment.
Non-engagement in education is not an option at Hadlow House, and where there are issues with
poor levels of engagement, staff will be pro-active with the young person and school provision to
identify and address the reasons behind this.
The methods to promote education are varied depending on the needs of the child, as opposed
to using a single focused technique. We believe that various approaches are required to re-
engage the children and young people into learning. Building a relationship with the young
person, and assessing their needs is the first challenge to then assess what sort of education
package would be suitable. Aside from education, the young people will be learning constantly
from the staff within the home as to how to manage behaviour, socialise and learn
independence skills.
29
Staff will acknowledge and reward all successes achieved at school, and support the young
person and the school by attending all meetings and briefings.
18. Where the children’s home is not dually registered as a school, the arrangements for children to
attend local schools and the provision made by the children’s home to promote the educational
attainment of children.
Hadlow House positively promotes the inclusion of “looked after” young people in the wider
community and the need for the young person to develop appropriate social learning and
attachments.
Wherever possible, the young person will be maintained within their current school. In order to
provide informal support, staff will support young people in the completion of projects and home
work.
Staff, and specifically keyworkers, will endeavour to source further education, colleges and work
experience.
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HEALTH
19. Details of any health care or therapy provided, including—
(a) Details of the qualifications and clinical supervision of the staff involved;
(b) Information about—
(i) How the children’s home measures the effectiveness of its approach; and
(ii) The evidence referred to by the children’s home to demonstrate the effectiveness of its approach,
and how this information can be accessed.
Staff at Hadlow House are committed in providing high quality primary health care in the areas of:
Emotional health - The implementation of detailed risk assessments and placement plans.
Ensuring all young people have access to relevant medical services. Supporting young
people with any issues they might have by offering support and guidance. Engaging
specialist support from CAMHs and similar services and ensuring that staff are equipped
with the right skills to support young people emotionally. With the arrival of a new born the
home have had Future Minds complete work with the young people around the impact
the baby will have on them and the home and attachment.
Physical wellbeing - On arrival the young person will be registered with the local General
Practitioner as well as at one of the local Dentistry practices and a local Optician. Current
health needs will be identified and maintained, for example diets and medication. Health
care plans will be in place to support, record and monitor all current and ongoing health
issues with a young person. LAC medicals will be arranged and supported and the home
has good communication with the local LAC nurse as well as working closely with the LAC
nurse from the young person’s home area.
Identifying/maintaining specialist health needs - (e.g. mental health/physical needs)
Ensuring prescribed medication is maintained, liaising with relevant professionals and
attending specialist health and other significant outside agency services. Training will be
sourced for staff to enable them to support the young people with any health needs they
may have, the home have completed training on multiple pituitary hormone deficiency as
this enabled us to have a better understanding of a young person’s needs and how his
medication worked. We have also had baby basics training to support a young person
during her pregnancy and give staff the knowledge to continue that support once baby
arrived.
Staff take an active role in promoting all aspects of healthy living. Staff are proactive in ensuring
the young people are offered a healthy and a well-balanced diet, develop and maintain a good
level of personal hygiene, develop appropriate sleep routines and take regular exercise.
Staff routinely address the issues of smoking, substance/alcohol abuse, self-harm and other issues
which may affect the health of a young person through key work sessions, posters and leaflets
around the home. An outreach sexual health nurse also regularly visits the home, should a young
person require advice or services in this area.
The young people have an in depth individualised health plan detailing all health needs and
relevant information.
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The home will actively support the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and this is one of our main
focuses when caring for young people within the home. All staff share a common responsibility to
promote the health and welfare of all accommodated young people at Hadlow House.
The home will work alongside a range of services that may provide alternative therapies such as
drug and alcohol services, CAHMS or other counselling services for young people.
The home will actively discourage young people from smoking, and will ensure that smoking is not
permitted on the premises. Positive support will be offered to young people who wish to stop
smoking.
At the home, all medications (including non-prescribed) are stored in a locked cabinet, in
accordance with regulation, and are recorded on individual medical records held at the home.
All staff are medication trained.
Future Minds, Our Clinical Partners
Future Minds takes a clinical lead for psychological assessment and intervention for young people
placed at all Esland Group Children’s Homes. As part of the matching process, the registered
manager and referral team assess whether the placement is a sound option for the referred child
and liaise with the local authority to outline the resources required to manage and progress the
young person.
All Esland Group Homes have access to Wendy Jealous, a renowned consultant child
psychologist specializing in developmental trauma. Wendy has worked within CAMHs services,
young offender projects and a learning difficulties team.
Future Minds offers a wraparound therapeutic intervention that is versatile in how it is delivered.
This model is designed in a way that staff can deliver the bespoke interventions to young people
through meaningful keyworker sessions. The staff meet with the allocated psychologist, or
therapist, and they are supported through regular review of risk assessments to ensure that control
measures are effective in managing behaviour. Future Minds also work with the senior
management team at Esland to develop meaningful keyworker packs, and to provide staff
training or clinical supervision where needed. At the point that young people are ready to
engage in psychological therapy, this is offered by counselors/psychologists who will work to the
Future Minds model remaining in the present, slowly moving into the future, and only looking at the
past when the young person is emotionally ready. If the young person is not ready for this type of
work but still requires some practical support, e.g. learning skills for emotional regulation (essential
before any counselling is started), evidence based psychological therapy such as trauma
focused CBT will be arranged. It is expected that each child placed within Esland Group will have
the same model of service wherever they are placed. However, every young person will have
different needs, and, wherever possible, psychological therapy will be tailored to meet these
needs. All the work will be time limited and reviewed regularly. All placements and young people,
who have been identified as being appropriate for an Esland Children’s Home, will have a full
psychological assessment completed, if they have not had one within the last 12 months. This will
identify the issues and be used to develop a treatment plan.
Our relationship with Future Minds has ensured that our staff teams are attuned to our young
people’s subjective experiences. This means that staff try to make sense of those experiences, and
then communicate them back to the young person. With the arrival of a new born the home
have had Future Minds complete work with the young people around the impact the baby will
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have on them and the home and attachments they may gain in respect of the baby. Staff have
consultation with Future Minds which enables them to offer the best support to the young people.
STAFFING MATTERS
20. Details of the experience and qualifications of staff working at the children’s home, including any
staff commissioned to provide education and health care.
Eslanders, Our Most Prized Asset
Without our incredible team of ‘Eslanders’, the young people we care for wouldn’t receive the
support and guidance they so desperately need. All staff are recruited in line with Safer
Recruitment guidelines, and following successful completion of our 3-stage interview process,
which includes both a telephone and face-to-face interviews plus a voluntary shift in one of our
homes, our Eslander’s undergo a rigorous training programme to enable them to fulfill their duties
within the home. Esland has a comprehensive training plan of both core and advanced training
with all residential care staff being enrolled on their Level 3 Children and Young Peoples’
Workforce diploma following their induction unless they have a Social Work degree or equivalent.
We have recently developed ‘PCC’, our own bespoke positive handling training, which focuses
on preventative, proactive methods of de-escalation. All staff are enrolled on the course upon
starting their employment with Esland.
Esland’s aim is to meet and exceed the targets outlined within Ofsted legislation, and consistently
provide a high standard of care. It is our belief that improving the outcomes for looked after
children is reliant on a more professional workforce. We welcome the government’s commitment
to continuous staff development and increased professional recognition for all those who work
within the sector of health and social care.
Registered Manager – Jennifer Chrysanthou
See Staffing Appendix for full team.
The Hadlow House staff team consists of up to 16 staff: that is up to13 residential care staff, 3 team
leaders and homes manager. They are currently attending a range of training courses to give
them the best skills and knowledge needed to have the best outcomes for the young people.
All staff will undertake all mandatory training within their first 12 months and will have regular
refresher courses to include
Safeguarding Children and Safer Caring
Medication Administration, Data Protection and Health
First Aid, Food safety, Health and Safety & Fire Awareness
Behaviour management & PCC (Physical Intervention and De-escalation
Attachment disorders
Therapeutic Practices
ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Self-Harm & Eating Disorders
Missing from Care and Child Sexual Exploitation
Equality and Diversity & Bullying behaviors
There are also opportunities for the staff to benefit from specific training which will enhance their
personal development and will contribute to the overall effectiveness of the team. All staff will also
be enrolled on the Level 3 Diploma for the Children & Young People once they have completed
their probation period. Staff also have the opportunity to work up the ladder, and gain more
qualifications through working at Hadlow House, and within Esland.
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21. Details of the management and staffing structure of the children’s home, including arrangements for the professional supervision of staff employed at the children’s home, including staff that provide education or health care.
The home is managed by the Registered Manager, and two seniors who are responsible for the
daily running of the Home. The Registered Manager works 40 hours a week and works a flexible
rota to meet the needs of the home.
The home is staffed according to the needs of the young people in placement; there are never
less than three staff on shift at any one time.
In order to work with Esland, there is a vigorous recruitment process ensuring good quality teams
within the homes. When a new team member begins working, they undergo an extensive
induction programme, which has been developed to ensure when the worker is ready to fulfil all
aspects of the job safely, and with good knowledge of working practices.
New starters who have not attained their level 3 diplomas in Health and Social Care- Children and
Young People, will then commence the skills for care workbook. To support with their induction
workbooks and their development, new team members will be supervised every two weeks. In
order to pass their probationary period, new staff will be given an interview and a task to
complete to demonstrate learning. After a probationary period of six months, the member of staff
will be supervised on a monthly basis. Further support for the team will be provided through team
meetings taking place on a monthly basis, where good practice can be shared and plans put
into place for the young people.
JOHN STAMP
FOUNDER
LINZI SIM- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL
Jennifer Chrysanthou
Registered Manager
Danielle Bove, Victoria Chaplin, Sara Holliday
-Seniors
PCP- Ellie Doughty, Fiona Maberry
RCP x5
Kim Walder –
Regional Manager
PETE BULLER-
MANAGING DIRECTOR
[Cite your source here.]
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The home’s staff are trained in line with children’s home’s standards and the children’s homes
regulations, along with any advanced training needs that may emerge from the assessment of
the young people, monthly supervision and yearly appraisal. Training is monitored frequently to
ensure all certificates are current and valid.
Esland aim to provide high quality care for young people, and this will be supported by a training
plan for staff that ensures they have the highest level of skills and knowledge to fulfil their role in
the company.
All staff at Hadlow House have undertaken an induction prior to them working with young people.
The induction is broken into two parts, one part is an induction to the home and the organisation,
and the other is a number of training courses and workshops to prepare them with the skills and
knowledge in order to uphold our high expectations.
All staff attend seven actual courses during their first 6 months, which are; Safeguarding Children,
Missing from Care, Child Sexual Exploitation, PCC, First Aid, Self-Harm and How we Work. This will
provide them with the training that they need in order to look after the young people that we
have identified as being suitable for the home. Staff are also provided with a license for 12 online
training courses provided through Educare, an online social care provider. Staff undertake courses
in; Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Food Safety, Medication, Confidentiality, Data Protection, Anti
Bullying, Appropriate Adult and Equality and Diversity. This compliments the Skills for Care
workbook for staff who require it, and this is undertaken after the staff have completed the home
induction.
When staff have completed the induction and the relevant courses, they will then be able to sign
up for additional courses. These are internal courses, and staff attend them within 6 and 18 months
after joining Esland. These courses include; Drugs Awareness, Understanding Attachment, Autism
Awareness, Preparation for Leaving Care, Safer Caring, Complaints Management and Sexualised
behavior, to name a few. If there was a young person admitted to the home with one of these
behaviors, the course can be delivered at short notice by staff who have completed their CIEH
course in training.
We also identify any specialist training that the staff may need to further support our young
people in placement, i.e. the home have completed training on multiple pituitary hormone
deficiency as this enabled us to have a better understanding of a young person’s needs and how
his medication worked. We have also had baby basics training, and attended ante natal classes
to support a young person during her pregnancy and give staff the knowledge to continue that
support once baby arrived. We now have good connections with local midwives and health
visitors who also consult with the staff team and offer any support we may need.
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22. If the staff working at the children’s home are all of one sex, or mainly of one sex, a description of how the children’s home promotes appropriate role models of both sexes.
Where possible, the staff team at Hadlow House will be mixed in terms of sex. We do place priority
on recruiting the right staff, however, and on occasion this may lead to the home having a larger
balance of one sex over the other. On these occasions, the young people have appropriate role
models of the opposite sex outside of the home. This is through their education in the form of
teaching staff, social clubs where they have youth workers, as well as professionals that visit the
home. Where it is deemed necessary, the home will provide staff members of specific sex through
other homes within the organisation, and will recruit staff members of a specific gender, if
required. The home has access to bank staff of both genders which allows some flexibility in terms
of gender matching.
In the event that the home has a favourable slant towards one gender of staff, consideration will
always be given to the impact this may have on any new resident being considered.