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

Unique reference number SC476486 Inspector Mark Fitzgerald 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 Katrina Louise Mosinski Date of last inspection 14/10/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 20/02/2015

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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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

Three of the four statutory requirements arising from the previous inspection in October 2014 have been met in full. The fourth, involving recording practice, remains the subject of a requirement. Medication is now held in a locked safe in a locked cupboard in a locked office. Details of the receipt, disposal and administration of any medicines are maintained in young people’s files and also in a central record. Monthly visits and reports by an independent visitor to the home are now in place. The submissions of these to Ofsted are now timely and regular.

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This inspection

Physical interventions occur regularly in response to challenging and threatening behaviour shown by young people. Recording is not sufficiently detailed in line with the requirement identified at the previous inspection. One physical intervention resulted in the assault of one young person by another, but the manager did not deal with this in accordance with proper child protection procedures. Young people’s physical health needs require greater support. Five out of the six residents smoke. Previous attempts by staff and managers to help them to stop smoking have been ineffective. Refusal of medication is also an issue. A new statutory requirement relates to both of these issues. The home is generally well decorated, well maintained, and spacious. However, one bedroom requires urgent maintenance work to return it to a good standard.

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This inspection

Despite shortfalls, the progress made by young people is good. Management oversight is generally effective. Young people are protected by the care provided. Incidents of self-harm and missing from home have declined throughout the course of young people’s placements. The quality of partnership working is good. There is evidence of improving relationships with social workers, police, fire services, and the local parish council.

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This inspection

The home is not fully occupied. Six of the seven places are filled at the time of 3 of 6 inspection. The departures of two residents and the admission of another since the last inspection have all been planned. Most of the residents have lived at the home for more than a year. Young people have come to invest in the home as their long- term placement and this has given the home a feeling of stability. Most of the young people in placement are expected to remain for the foreseeable future. Some have already started independence training to equip them with the skills they will need to care for themselves in the community. All of the young people attend a variety of education provision suitable to their needs. This includes work experience opportunities, training in mechanics and construction, as well as formal classroom learning.

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This inspection

A complex range of arrangements for children and young people to safely have contact with their family members is efficiently organised. This often involves staff traveling long distances with young people. As a result, relationships are maintained and improved, and parents and carers are able to see the progress being made by their child at the home.

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This inspection

All of the young people are making progress in their individual ways. For some this is expressed in terms of increased self-esteem and confidence. For others, engagement in education is a new and positive development since arriving at the home. Routines and the assurance provided by safe care has reduced anxieties for some residents, leading to restful and regulated sleep patterns. Young people are gaining insight, as staff encourage and assist them to reflect on their behaviours. Young people are actively encouraged to pursue active hobbies and interests such as swimming, fishing, skateboarding, and football. Such activities contribute not only to their physical health but also engage them with others in the wider community.

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This inspection

All care staff have either attained or are working towards an appropriate minimum level 3 qualification in caring for children and young people. In response to a recommendation at the previous inspection, the staffing rota now clearly demonstrates the handover times of shifts and who is sleeping in the home at night. Staff work well with social workers and families to progress care plans. Assessment and treatment is provided because of good co-operation between the home and relevant professionals. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private, national provider that runs other children's homes and education services.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include all matters specified in this regulation (Regulation 17B (3)(a)-(i)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children’s home used by children are of sound construction and kept in good structural repair externally and internally (Regulation 31 (2)(d)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of the children accommodated in a children’s home. In particular the registered person shall ensure that each child has access to such medical, dental, nursing, psychological and psychiatric advice, treatment and other services, as he may require (Regulation 20 (2)(b)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) implement written a policy which sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any 30/04/2015 5 of 6 allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 16(1)(b)) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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.

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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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