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

Unique reference number SC401685 Inspection date 29/01/2014 Inspector Dawn Bennett Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Date of last inspection 21/03/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 22 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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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make excellent progress behaviourally, socially, emotionally and educationally. They enjoy a wide range of social opportunities and engage in many hobbies and activities. Their attendance and personal progress at school is outstanding. Any issues of challenging behaviour are well managed and incidents stop or significantly decrease. As a result, young people flourish, improving their opportunities and self-esteem and increasing in confidence.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy positive relationships with the staff team as well as with each other. They feel safe and know staff are concerned for their welfare. Young people enjoy clear boundaries that are consistent with good childcare. All complaints are investigated and resolved. However, not all outcomes are recorded and actions identified as a result of one complaint had not been addressed.

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Overall effectiveness

The management understand their current strengths and weaknesses and show a sound capacity to improve. Positive outcomes for young people are at the centre of their practice. The Statement of Purpose does not give a description, to parents and local authorities, of the electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of young people which may be used in the home.

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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 a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation (Reg 24 (5)) 28/02/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there is a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as 'the statement of purpose') which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. This specifically relates to a description of any electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of children which may be used in the children's home (Reg 4(1) Schedule 1 19) 28/02/2014

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people in this home benefit from a highly individual and well-structured package of care which results in some exceptional outcomes. The service recognises their personal needs, cultural background and individual identity. Young people develop personally and socially and their achievements are valued. Each young person, whatever their needs or abilities is treated with respect and dignity. They are integrated into the home because of the highly personalised care and excellent levels of consultation. The staff provide a fully inclusive environment, which truly inspires young people to understand and value their own needs and the differing needs of others.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive regular contact with family, friends and others who are significant to them. This helps them to maintain and develop appropriate relationships with people who will be important to them into adulthood and beyond. All young people have visuals prompts, such as photos, in their bedrooms and around their home that helps them relate to and understand their backgrounds. Young people are encouraged to be proud of their appearance and learn how to respond appropriately in social situations. Because staff understand young people’s likes and dislikes they are able to set realistic goals which young people consistently achieve.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make excellent progress to develop their confidence and social abilities and by doing so, improve their self-image. They access a variety of in-house and community based activities that enhance self-awareness and develop identity in an age-appropriate manner. There are weekly activities run by staff which include pamper nights, gardening, cooking, relaxation and art and craft. There are regular activities in the local community, such as the theatre, visiting a local farm, swimming and meals out in local eateries. In addition young people experience holidays, camping and regular themed parties which have included the mad hatter's tea party, Halloween and the leaver's party. These events include everyone on site and involve meticulous planning from the invites and costumes to the food and music. At the time of the inspection the staff and young people were planning a Chinese New Year celebration. As a result young people experience a wide range of similar life events

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Outcomes for children and young people

as other young people their age and thrive and grow in confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young peoples have a positive awareness of diversity within the home and the wider community. The staff team in the home is a diverse one and the awareness of staff of the need to be culturally sensitive is evidenced in the care given by them. Young people are supported in observing regular religious vigils and staff understand the need to be sensitive to other beliefs and views. As a result young people in this home enjoy a rich and culturally diverse lifestyle.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s attendance at school is excellent. The staff promote education, offering time and commitment that enables young people to make consistent progress and actively supports young people to recognise their own achievements. Staff ensure that the education of young people is part of their whole life experience and not just related to classrooms. As a result of good quality plans, young people develop new skills and make significant progress in relation to their starting point.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are learning skills that will assist them with the preparation for adulthood. Staff successfully support young people to enhance their life skills by providing opportunities in the home that allow for skills to develop and grow. Cooking, cleaning and shopping are all activities in which young people participate. These are helping to aid their successful transition into young adults and prepare them for future placements.

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Quality of care

The practice in the home is consistently child focussed. Dedicated staff work effectively to promote a high standard of care. Staff are enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced and have a confidence which promotes an atmosphere of stable, consistent and effective care. Young people clearly benefit from the security and structure that exists within this service. The staff team have created homely and nurturing environments that have well-defined boundaries. These boundaries are consistent and help to give young people a feeling of security without denying each young person's individuality. Staff ensure full attention is paid to a young person's family background.

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Quality of care

Young people’s care plans are reviewed regularly to ensure the care offered is consistently meeting their individual needs. The service has recently reviewed the process for ensuring parents and social workers sign young people's care plans. This process has been introduced and is on-going.

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Quality of care

The unique needs of the young people, including cultural, religious, language and racial needs are met fully. The manager and staff work hard to ensure that individualised support is offered to young people. Staff ensure young people are involved in their own care. Young people take part in meetings regularly to discuss their plans for the week and the home. Due to some young people having limited verbal communication, staff work with speech and language therapists to develop alternative methods of communication. Staff are inventive and committed in their efforts to ensure full participation by young people, for example the use of pictures or photos to choose and select activities.

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Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint and feel able to do so. Due to the complex needs of the young people, the service recognises the importance of parent involvement and their right to make complaints. Complaints are fully investigated and resolved to ensure the safety and welfare of young people. However this is not always recorded in the record of complaints. Actions identified after a complaint in November 2013 have not yet been addressed. This does not present a risk to the safety and welfare of young people. However, the service has not been timely in using the lessons learnt to improve the service.

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Quality of care

The service is based in a large house which is divided into four self-contained living areas. Each area is different and reflects the interests of the individuals that live there. The areas are all warm and welcoming and provide communal and private space. They are furnished and decorated to a high standard. Young people are proud of their homes and in particular their bedrooms. Young people also have access to some shared space which includes an activity hall, sensory room and large grounds.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a good focus on safeguarding and protection issues. Young people using the service require high levels of support and supervision from staff whilst carrying out personal care. Staff recognise that not all young people are the same and ensure they have privacy, choice and control over the support they need and how it is delivered.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has an anti-bullying policy which states that bullying is unacceptable. Any issues are discussed openly within the home ensuring young people are protected. There is a good staff awareness of the unintentional impact young people can have on each other due to their behaviours or communication methods. As a result good attention is paid to the compatibility of young people at the point of, and during, placement.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected by the home's child protection systems, policies and procedures. All safeguarding procedures are robust and are tailored to meet the specific complex needs of the young people placed. This provides a safe and very secure environment that young people enjoy. Staff receive child protection training which is specific to the protection of young people with learning disabilities. The service has established, proactive relationships with partner agencies, including the police. Community based police officers regularly visit the home and meet with the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are procedures for staff to follow if a young person goes missing. Procedures comply with requirements and ensure that young people are protected fully. However, staffing levels are high and no young person has left the home without permission.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff communicate clear expectations regarding boundaries which successfully helps young people to begin to understand the consequences of their behaviour. Staff often adjust practice to work through a specific behaviour or stressful situation for an individual young person. For example, activities might take place over a shorter period of time. Or instead of a young person going to an activity, an activity is taken to them. As a result of constructive and consistent behaviour management strategies, challenging incidents for young people stop or significantly decrease.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people enjoy a safe environment, where risks are regularly assessed and actions to limit these risks are promoted. A robust safety regime protects young people. This is because all portable electric appliances are tested annually, all hazardous substances are kept securely locked away and, an annual fire risk assessment is in place.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The service was judged to be outstanding overall at the last full inspection and making good progress at the interim inspection in March 2013. There were no previous recommendations or requirements made.

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Leadership and management

At this inspection the overall outcome judgement for the service is good, with good leadership and management. A recent Ofsted inspection of another service owned by this company identified a number of shortfalls. And the managers at this service have used the requirements and recommendations made as a result, to review and address any similar shortfalls at this home. This is good practice. The outcomes from these actions are on-going. For example, all young people's plans have been reviewed and sent to parents to sign. All placing authorities are also being required to sign these new documents.

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Leadership and management

The service's ethos and underpinning philosophy is strong, ensuring young people are in a supportive and caring home within which they are valued and safe but enabled to thrive and develop. There are clear records, policies and procedures and a Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose does not give a description to parents or local authorities of the electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of young people which may be used in the home. Although where these systems are employed for individual's this is clearly recorded in their personal risk assessment and care plan.

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Leadership and management

There is a strong leadership and management team who provide staff with clear and consistent guidance and support. Young people are central to all decisions and make clear progress within the service. Managers and staff provide strong and consistent role models for young people. As a result young people continue to benefit from a well-managed, stable service that is having an outstanding impact on their personal outcomes.

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Leadership and management

The home has good leadership that consistently promotes an environment where safety and young people’s welfare is paramount. The staff team are stable and enthusiastic and use their experiences, background and skills to support young people to develop and progress.

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Leadership and management

Appropriate authorities are notified of all significant events in a timely manner and are recorded in detail. Young people’s files give them a clear sense of their time in care. Important information is recorded in a manner which accommodates their sensory development and will provide young people and future carers a clear picture of their developments and achievements.

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Leadership and management

A detailed development plan shows the aspirations that staff have for the home and for young people. Targets are set with many achieved in 2013. There are lots of new ideas which staff have introduced which will further enhance the life experiences of young people, for example, camping and developing a kitchen garden in the home's grounds

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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 and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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