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

Unique reference number SC391860 Inspection date 20/03/2014 Inspector Christy Wannop Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

p.1

Date of last inspection 16/01/2014 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. The school is registered with the Department for Education and has a specialism in autism. Half the young people are currently over the age of 18 and will leave the home as they finish their education at the school.

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

This children’s home, set in a residential special school, was judged adequate at the full inspection in January 2014. Prior to that, the service had a history of outstanding judgments.

p.3

Progress

The registered manager has demonstrated her capacity to improve the service by meeting all of the three previous regulatory shortfalls. There is now clear agreement between the local authority, parents and the home about the content of in-house, or placing authority care plans. This includes information about key health needs and health planning. All parties now ‘sign up’ to the plan. The home has secured funding to support one-to-one staffing arrangements for children and young people with particularly high needs. The use of door sensors and monitors for young people’s safety has been agreed by parents and placing authorities and is clear in placement plans, individual risk assessments and the Statement of Purpose. This means that care for children and young people is planned within a framework of cooperation and partnership and young people have the level of supervision they require. A parent commented they had, ‘read the care plan and was very impressed with how detailed

p.3

Progress

The manager has taken action to meet other minimum standard shortfalls. Records are better maintained: legible and accurate. Safeguarding arrangements are stronger: a summary of any allegation about staff is now shared with them at the conclusion. The manager maintains better records of safeguarding incidents and complaints, including a clear conclusion and undertakes a review of action to ensure lessons are learnt. She is developing an electronic monitoring system as part of a new review of the quality of care that will show patterns and trends in incidents, complaints and significant events for each young person and member of staff. She plans to link this to staff supervision and performance review and hopes it will enable critical evaluation of practice against procedures and outcomes for children.

p.4

Progress

Young people have a good experience. The service is organised to allow for frequent opportunities for letting off steam and being active in positive ways. Play is valued and the grounds and buildings provide good space for this. Young people now visit a climbing wall, they go swimming regularly. Some older young people now go to a local disco and this has been a great success. The manager is continually investigating ways to get the young people out in the community and extending social learning through everyday adventures. Planning for the annual holiday is underway. All young people will go to Cumbria in groups of two or three so it can be an individual, rather than a whole group experience. Staff are currently preparing for four young people moving on to adult services. They have supported young people through choice of placement and transition planning and create Life Books, a photographic memoire of their time at the home as a farewell gift at a formal leaving

p.4

Progress

The manager and senior residential staff have a proactive approach to sorting out parental concerns before they become problems. Parents are very positive about the service. One parent told staff they know they: ‘can turn up any time and everything is transparent.’ Another parent said she saw one staff as her child’s ‘second mum’. Staff support young people to communicate every week to their families. They work with parents and health professionals to resolve health issues and residential staff are alert to any changes in children’s behaviour or wellbeing that could indicate they are not well. The quality of food has improved recently with a new cook who is much more engaged with staff about young people’s likes and dislikes. Staff have an in- depth knowledge, sensitivity and an openness to change routines and engage with other professionals to improve the quality of young people’s experience. They now

p.4

Progress

identify specific time for key working sessions and use this a positive time for fun and feedback to young people about their achievements in school and at home. The manager is developing better tools for young people to contribute to their care plans and is consulting with speech and language therapists about this.

p.4

Progress

These developments lead to a service that delivers good care for young people with learning disabilities and autism, challenging needs and communication difficulties.

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