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

Unique reference number SC391860 Inspection date 08/11/2011 Inspector Elaine Cray / Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Date of last inspection 16/02/2011 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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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This home is part of a residential special school which is part of a large private care organisation. The service is registered to accommodate 14 children and young people with learning disabilities. The home offers planned long-term placements. The school is registered with the Department for Education.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This service provides high quality care for young people with autism and associated moderate to severe learning difficulties. Young people benefit and make exceptional progress from personalised and well planned care based on comprehensive assessment of their individual needs. The young people receive excellent care in a friendly and welcoming home.

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Overall effectiveness

The provision of care contributes to significant improvements in the development of social behaviours, independence and personal skills. Young people benefit from improved outcomes in education, health and skills development. They benefit from outstanding relationships with staff and each other. There is a clear and effective focus on the importance of young people’s rights, choice, privacy and fulfilment. Young people's views and opinions on their care are actively sought, valued and acted upon.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people develop and thrive as they are protected from harm by excellent safeguarding procedures. They are cared for by competent and well trained staff. Managers are energetic and committed. They implement effective monitoring processes to provide continuous quality assurance. The maintenance of excellent standards and constant exploration for further improvement are an outstanding strength of this service.

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Overall effectiveness

There are no new recommendations or requirements as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a service provision which recognises and values them as young people with diverse individual needs. Placement planning is fully inclusive of their health, social care and education needs. The planning of placements fully includes parents and endeavours to ensure that young people’s wishes, feelings and needs are sought and acted upon.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people grow in confidence because they and their parents are fully consulted in all aspects of care provision and service delivery. This leads to a transparency of provision which enables young people and their parents to express their views and if necessary seek support to make a complaint. Young people participate in reviewing their care through a variety of forums and methods. This gives young people experience in participation and reflects inclusivity in contributing to their own care plans.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people develop socially and emotionally as they are encouraged to develop relationships with each other and learn to behave within clear boundaries. Young people have and enjoy excellent relationships with their key workers, other care staff and educational professionals.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a wide range of educational opportunities. They thrive and develop because there is a clear dovetailing of health and education provision. Young people learn and grow because social care and education professionals are consistent in daily liaison to communicate and update the needs of the young people. Moreover, social care staff participate in education to support the young people within school. Both social and education staff contribute to planning for the young people. Young people choose, participate in and enjoy varied educational opportunities. They also enjoy and try new experiences with the provision of a wide range of out of school activities. Young people are offered opportunities to learn about the wider community and current issues through play, trips out and activities. Young people benefit from a committed multi-disciplinary team who work in partnership to meet their individual needs. They grow in confidence as they are

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Outcomes for children and young people

consistently congratulated on their achievements. All young people keep an achievement book to include photographs and social stories about the experiences they have enjoyed.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from significant improvements in their health as they receive a service where their health promotion is of paramount importance. The quality of care and outcomes achieved are maximised with the inclusion of a doctor, school nurse and social care team who understand the specific medical and physical needs of the young people. Formal processes and procedures are in place to ensure a rigorous approach to the meeting of medical needs. The health needs of each young person are detailed within individualised placement planning, with the full inclusion of family, significant others and medical practitioners. Young people benefit from a proactive approach to including them as far as possible in having their health care needs met. Young people’s physical and emotional health is excellently promoted and monitored under the supervision of medically trained practitioners and with an appropriately

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from an environment which provides space and a diverse range of activities. The building designs are bespoke and provide ideal spaces to meet the needs of the young people within two separate houses. The young people are able to engage in a range of indoor and outdoor activities. This includes active play and more passive play. The resources are diverse and meet the needs of young people who have learning disabilities and challenging behaviours. As a result young people are able to experience and develop from a wide range of leisure and learning activities.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people are cared for by a highly motivated and committed team of staff. As a result young people are actively engaged in meaningful daily educational provision within the dedicated on-site school. Young people undertake a wide range of leisure activities which are structured and meet the needs of young people who have autism. Opportunities are available within the provision, including a wide variety of active pursuits and more passive activities. The young people are provided with regular opportunities to experience activities within the wider communities, including trips within the local community, trips in the wider community and holidays. This means that the home is actively developing young people’s social skills.

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Quality of care

Young people are recognised as individuals with unique needs. This is reflected in the care planning framework which is regularly reviewed and updated. The professional staff team has the skills, knowledge and training to fulfil their roles to a high degree. Each young person is diligently cared for in line with their individual placement plans by their key worker and the wider staff team. Communication between staff and other key agencies is very strong and effective. Staff are proactive in ensuring that pertinent information is sought and used to inform care plans, thereby ensuring the best outcomes for the young people.

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Quality of care

Young people thrive and achieve their potential. This can be seen to be due to the professional staff team's comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the young people’s individual needs. The care, education and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed and monitored by both management and the staff team. Young people benefit from the support provided by a dedicated and highly trained staff team.

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Quality of care

Young people live within an environment where they can express themselves because of the multi-disciplinary commitment to provide and facilitate communication strategies for all young people.

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Quality of care

Young people live in exceptionally well maintained houses, with an on-site purpose built school. The provision is well resourced, secure and safe and maintained to a high standard. The facilities on-site include outside play areas, wooded area, swimming pool and well resourced sports hall. Each house provides a comfortable living environment which is safe and mirrors family living. The standard of décor and furnishings throughout the home is exceptionally high. The houses are spacious and offer space for communal and private time. There are excellent levels of privacy for young people; they have their own bedroom and en-suite bathrooms. Young people’s health is fully promoted and protected because there are safe and effective procedures for the storage and administration of medication. Staff are well trained and supervised. The provision has its own dedicated school nurse and consultant paediatrician who have a good oversight of the health needs of the young

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Quality of care

people. Healthy eating is actively encouraged and menus are balanced, taking into account individual preferences and promoting a multi-cultural perspective. The young people are encouraged to be healthy through the inclusion of sporting activities and opportunities to be energetic. This is integrated into a predictable schedule which meets the needs of young people with autism.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The provision has a superb track record with regards to safeguarding children and young people. The emphasis on safeguarding practices and strategies is embedded within the functioning of the service. Young people are protected and safe because the robust policies and procedures are effectively implemented by well trained and competent staff. Safeguarding strategies and practice are supported by incident report procedures, individual behaviour management, intimate care procedures, physical intervention and restraint, handling allegations, recruitment and young people's risk assessments. These safeguarding policies include strategies to ensure safeguarding is responsive to the needs of disabled children. The staff team are trained in safeguarding including training on recognised restraint training.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff team are clear on their role in the safeguarding process, including systems for ‘whistleblowing’. Robust recruitment processes and the recording and monitoring of visitors to the home further ensure young people are protected from significant harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour strategies are developed formally in a comprehensive behaviour support plan, which inform school, social care and allied professionals on the strategies used for individual young people. Positive regard and expressions of praise and encouragement are used universally, both verbally and in non-verbal communication. Positive behaviour is also encouraged according to the individual needs of the young person.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff group are trained in managing challenging behaviour specific to young people with complex needs and autism. The philosophical approach to the care of the young people has its roots in a specific approach to working with autism. This includes the use of specific language; body gestures and signals; positive reinforcement and a predictability and structure to daily routines. Young people’s behaviour improves significantly through the observation of individual young people, the identification of triggers to behaviours and then solutions to modify and minimise unwanted and challenging behaviour. The use of physical restraint is variable and dependent on behaviours and risk. It is used as a last resort when a young person is placing themselves or others at risk. As a result of the behaviour management practices young people are observed to learn to improve in their interaction with staff and each other.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a clear no tolerance approach to bullying irrespective of who the victim or perpetrator may be and any bullying is dealt with immediately. Bullying is not evident within this provision. It is more likely that behavioural incidents with young people may cause unintentional harm. For these occurrences there are policies and practices which ensure that the communication of relevant information is exchanged; preventative practices reviewed and pertinent records updated. Every young person would be supported to exercise the right to raise concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a good missing from care procedure and protocol developed with the police and local authority. The home has been proactive in securing the protocol and meeting with the police. Excellent levels of supervision ensure young people are kept safe and do not go missing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that provides the appropriate level of security to ensure their safety and well-being. Regular fire, maintenance and equipment checks further promote the safety of young people. The home provides a range of activities, equipment and facilities for groups of young people and some specific to individual young people. As a result young people's individual needs and preferences are met.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The management of the home is robust, transparent and professional. The Registered Manager has a clear vision for the service provision and is highly motivated and committed. Young people’s needs are effectively met because the operation of the provision clearly reflects the aims of the Statement of Purpose. The manager demonstrates ambition for the development of the service and the care provided for the young people. Young people receive outstanding care from a dedicated and stable staff team. The staff team functions efficiently with clear roles and responsibilities. The staff report feeling very well supported in their role. Staff members receive regular and meaningful supervision which enables them to explore their learning needs and goals. Regular weekly team meetings provide a forum for the staff team to communicate information, review and revise young people’s placement plans and function as a well informed team. Managers have a weekly

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Leadership and management

meeting to oversee the practices and development of the operation of the provision.

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Leadership and management

Management routinely monitor practice and support staff. There are excellent levels of monitoring throughout service provision, this includes practice in physical interventions; strategies to manage behaviours and safeguarding issues. The policies, procedures and operational practices of the homes are clear, consistent and understood by the wider staff team. Effective Regulation 33 visits further monitor care practices. This means care remains consistently high for young people. This is further reinforced by Regulation 34 reports which identify areas for development and target dates. The staff and management team demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting diversity and equality in the home. The staff members demonstrate a thorough knowledge of each young person, including their ethnic, religious, social, cultural and economic backgrounds. The service provision recognises the young people as individuals and strives to ensure that the young people receive equality of

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Leadership and management

opportunity. The service provision is to meet the needs of young people who have a learning disability and it does this through promoting a positive view of diversity and disability.

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Leadership and management

The home demonstrates excellence in record keeping. Information is comprehensive, up to date, individualised and transparent. The providers have implemented systems which ensure that records are monitored and reviewed regularly. Records contribute to an understanding of young people's lives and are up to date and stored securely. All significant events relating to the protection of young people accommodated in the home are notified by the Registered Manager of the home to the appropriate authorities and appropriate action is taken following the incident.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive exceptional care as a result of well managed staff practice. There is a constant and consistent ethos for service improvement which centres on the positive outcomes and welfare of young people at all times.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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