Children's Home, Residential special school run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC391860 Inspection date 16/02/2011 Inspector Elaine Cray / Judith Longden Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 09/12/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

The service is a residential school and registered as a children’s home to provide care and education for 14 young people of either sex with learning disabilities, mainly autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis, between the ages of five and 17 years. The service is owned by a private company and is one of two residential facilities associated with the school.

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Brief description of the service

There are two houses and these are separate from, but nearby to, the main school site which is located in a rural setting just outside a small town. The service has a fleet of minibuses and young people are able to access resources in the local and wider community.

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Brief description of the service

The houses are purpose built and present as domestic dwellings. Each house has seven bedrooms and the same facilities. For example, each house has two lounges, a dining room, a kitchen and laundry facilities. All the bedrooms are single and have en-suite shower and toilet facilities. There is also a bathroom in each house. The houses have gardens, including a vegetable plot.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection focusing on the key standards in staying safe. The outcome judgement for staying safe is outstanding and the overall judgement continues to be judged as outstanding. The young people were present and participated in the inspection process.

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Summary

This service provides excellent care to young people, with one young person commenting ‘it doesn’t look like a house but it feels like a home’. There are excellent arrangements to promote the safety and welfare of the young people. Effective and thorough safeguarding systems ensure that young people are monitored closely and are kept safe. Young people receive a high degree of individualised support in a nurturing and structured environment. There are significant improvements in young people’s behaviour. They are encouraged to develop behaviour, skills and social relationships by a committed and proactive staff team who are well trained and have in-depth knowledge about the young people’s needs and presenting behaviours.

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Summary

No actions or recommendations were set as a result of this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The service's development plan has accurate information about the management arrangements in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected by excellently planned and effectively implemented behaviour management and safeguarding arrangements. They are cared for by staff who are subject to robust recruitment procedures and are well trained in safeguarding children procedures, first aid, behaviour management and health and safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical safety of young people is held in the highest priority and young people live in a well-maintained and appropriately-adapted environment. Health and safety monitoring checks and servicing of equipment are undertaken regularly. Young people are encouraged to have a practical understanding of fire safety and they know what to do if the fire alarm sounds. They are kept safe with sound security and close staff supervision. Young people are supported to be involved in active and independent daily living experiences as there are comprehensive risk assessments with clear risk management strategies. Staff have an excellent and practical understanding of the known and potential risks for individual young people and know how to safeguard and enable them successfully. These risk management strategies also take into consideration the group needs of the young people using the service.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s behaviour is significantly improved while staying at service. Both individual and group behaviour is proactively and consistently assessed and managed. Young people’s behaviour is assessed in individual behaviour plans with information about challenges, triggers and management strategies. They are cared for by, and positively respond to, staff who have an in-depth understanding of behaviour. There is a clear staff commitment to enabling young people to express their individuality, feelings and wishes in ways that help young people enjoy their daily routines, try new opportunities and develop their social interaction. Young people are supported by staff who are immensely positive and proud about the progress and skills developed by the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s and parents’ views are valued and listened to. There is an accessible and responsive concerns or complaints process. Young people’s complex communication needs are well supported and facilitated. There is excellent staff awareness about how the young people may display expressions of dissatisfaction and a variety of ways to facilitate young people’s communication, including symbols, sign language and photographs. Records show that concerns and more formal complaints are dealt with effectively and are used to develop and improve the service and outcomes for young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s privacy is respected by staff having an excellent understanding of each young person's personal care requirements and need for privacy. Young people are able to enjoy their own personal and private space with discreet supervision to make sure they are also safe. Personal information is handled and stored securely and appropriately, ensuring young people’s confidentiality is maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding procedures, including what to do should a child going missing and who to notify about serious incidents in the home. There is a proactive approach to preventing bullying using various communication methods and behaviour management strategies to enable young people to explore and understand their behaviour and its impact on others. Relationships with the Local Safeguarding Children Board are very proactive. Young people benefit physically and emotionally due to the outstanding procedures and exceptionally well maintained records which give clear accountability to staff practice. The service continuously seeks ways to further improve the outstanding staying safe outcomes for young people.

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