Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Worcestershire

Unique reference number SC441514 Inspector Suzanne Young Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Priory Education Services Ltd Registered person address 5th Floor 80 Hammersmith Road London W14 8UD Responsible individual Clive Coombs Registered manager Andrew John Dawe Date of last inspection 20/11/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 12/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has responded promptly to the requirement and recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. A copy of the local authority care plan for each young person is obtained on admission into the home. The Registered Manager has developed the children's guide to make it relevant to the home and has included photographs of staff and the independent visitor. This ensures young people are aware of who works at the home prior to admission. A system has been created to ensure young people are encouraged to read and sign all relevant documentation. As a result, young people are now encouraged to become fully involved in all aspects of their care.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager continues to improve and develop staff practice. He has developed policies and practice in regard to young people who go missing to ensure they run in conjunction with the West Midland police joint protocol. He has also created a medication profile for each young person and introduced medication forms for parents to sign when young people go home on contact. This ensures staff and parents are clear and fully aware of young people's medication requirements.

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This inspection

Staff feel well supported. Although all staff undertake and update mandatory training related to their role much of staff training and guidance is through online learning. This is not specific enough to fully support and enable staff to meet the needs of the young people.

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This inspection

Partnership working is good. The home’s manager and staff work closely with police, placing authorities and safeguarding teams to ensure young people's safety. For instance, the manager has since the last inspection developed and strengthened links with the police missing co-ordinator, the police local neighbourhood police and the local authority designated officer (LADO). Placing social workers and parents are kept informed of young people's progress through regular weekly and monthly 3 of 5 reports.

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This inspection

Young people have positive experiences as a result of living in the home. They do not run away or engage in risk-taking behaviours, such as, drinking alcohol and misusing drugs. Young people are making significant progress at the home. Those young people who have been out of school for several months are beginning to regularly engage in education. Young people are also making progress in regard to their health and development. Eating patterns are improving and young people are engaging in activities in the local area. Transition planning is effective. The manager and staff, wherever possible, enable young people to move to alternative placements in a positive way.

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This inspection

Young people are ambivalent about living at the home and miss being away from their families. They feel staff are friendly and would listen to them if they felt upset or had any concerns. Placing social workers and independent reviewing officers comment positively about the care and progress of young people make in the home. One placing social worker commented, 'I am quite impressed with the home and happy about the level of support.' 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to three young people with difficult and challenging behaviour. The home is owned by a private limited company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2014 Full good 10/02/2014 Full good 08/10/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 21/11/2012 Full good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the specific needs of the young people and purpose of the setting. (NMS 18.1) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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