Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC443959 Inspection date 12/06/2013 Inspector Gillian Walters Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is maintained by an independent company. The home is registered for eight young people with learning disabilities, five of whom can be accommodated on a short break basis.

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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.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last inspection in February 2012, the overall effectiveness judgement of the home was good. There were seven recommendations made as a result of this inspection. The large majority of these have been suitably addressed by the home. Young people are continuing to receive a good quality of care and as a result are making progress in their lives.

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Progress

The home has improved arrangements concerning the use of surveillance and security within the home. Young people’s risk assessments and care plans clearly identify their individual supervision needs and any additional measures required to keep them safe within the home and when out with staff in the community. Young people’s parents and their placing authorities have been appropriately consulted. Consents are obtained for additional measures that may be used to supervise young people and promote safety within the home. These arrangements are regularly monitored and reviewed as part of the care planning process. The Statement of Purpose has been updated to reflect surveillance and security mechanisms used within the home and the home’s policies have been revised to ensure that there is sufficient information and clarity about such arrangements. The home has strengthened its practice in care planning and behaviour

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Progress

management. The new arrangements ensure that young people’s behaviour management is fully discussed. The plans are formally agreed with parents and the relevant placing authority prior to their admission to the home. This means all concerned have a clear understanding of the specific strategies and techniques that will be used to promote positive behaviour. The home has also developed further guidance concerning the recording and reporting of behaviour incidents. This guidance provides clarity for staff concerning their responsibilities and has been positive in improving the quality of records maintained within the home.

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Progress

The provider has made changes in relation to the external monitoring of the home. A new compliance officer has been appointed and is actively seeking the views of young people, their parents and placing authorities as part of the monitoring activity. This provides good opportunity for their views to be heard and any issues or concerns to be addressed.

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Progress

The home has created an additional deputy manager post to support staff and the Registered Manager. This has been effective in relieving staff from some of the more routine administrative tasks, enabling them to increase time spent with young people. Staff are positive about this change and report feeling that the home is ‘more organised’. Young people continue to enjoy many activities with staff, such as swimming, visits to the cinema and outings to local attractions. This ensures that they enjoy fun and interesting experiences and are provided with good opportunities for socialising in their community.

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Progress

Since the last inspection the home has received one complaint, which is currently being investigated. Delays have been identified in the home notifying the local authority designated officer and Ofsted of the issues raised. This means local procedures were not followed and the opportunity to receive specific advice was not pursued at the earliest available time. Delay in providing Ofsted with such information reduces the regulator’s ability to successfully monitor the home’s activity between inspections. As a result of this inspection two actions for improvement have been identified.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the home’s safeguarding policy provides prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the children’s home is situated, of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any 29/07/2013 child accommodated in the children’s home. This relates specifically to contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer following each and every incident (Regulation 16(2)(b))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all significant events are notified to Ofsted without delay in accordance with the relevant schedule. (Regulation 30(1)) 29/07/2013

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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 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.

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