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

Unique reference number SC391860 Inspection date 27/02/2013 Inspector Christy Wannop Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

p.1

Date of last inspection 28/11/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This home is part of a residential special school which is operated by a large private care organisation. The two adjacent houses are registered to accommodate 14 children and young people with learning disabilities between the ages of five and nineteen. The home offers planned long-term placements. The school is registered with the Department for Education.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

p.3

Progress

The overall judgement at the last full inspection in November 2012 was outstanding. The service met all, and exceeded most, of the regulations and national minimum standards for children’s homes. Progress since the last inspection is good.

p.3

Progress

The home continues to improve standards of care, led by an effective leadership team and committed, energetic and skilled staff. Children and young people have a positive experience. This is clear from their general well-being. There is an atmosphere of focus and calm; children have a safe, structured, but not institutionalised, life at the home. Children’s records and care planning reflect a highly individualised approach. The manager liaises with children's statutory services to manage safeguarding concerns, recognising particular vulnerabilities and protecting children. Development plans for the service are excellent: they are child focused, clear and realistic.

p.3

Progress

There have been many improvements in children's lives, in the environment, and in the strategies used by staff to assist young people to have more self-control and understanding of their needs. Young people are well connected to both the school’s local community and to their families while away from their home. Young people have an active presence locally and go to a community gym at the nearby leisure centre. There are plans for older young people to go to a local disco for people with special needs. Staff help young people to regularly write to their families and send Mother’s day cards and birthday cards. Thus children strengthen their social and emotional bonds with their families.

p.3

Progress

The Registered Manager is revising the care curriculum to enable better identification of progress since admission. Shifts are better organised enabling staff to always plan maximum opportunities for young people to do meaningful activities. Quality boards in the dining rooms now display essential children's rights information. Staff training is progressive and enables staff to develop specific areas of expertise. New staff are being recruited to increase staffing ratios.

p.4

Progress

Individual ‘Achievement’ books show that young people are doing more things independently with minimum prompts. Young people are developing a community garden with staff. They were involved in choosing the new carpet in the lounges. Staff have created a sensory room, a music room, an art and craft room, and a snug so young people now have a wider range of spaces for individual and shared activities. There are more opportunities for outdoor play and exercise. There is a large trampoline and a ‘gravity bowl’ that supports the ethos of ‘ebb and flow’ within the day: alternate periods of calm and activity to enhance young people’s focus and concentration.

p.4

Progress

Ofsted has been informed of issues and progress at the home through monthly monitoring reports. There is a continual focus on improvement. The Registered Manager is able to demonstrate, from a cycle of review and planning, that they are progressively working on a range of initiatives: in the environment, for children and staff, and in wider operational matters.

p.4

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.

p.5

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

p.5