Children's Home run by Aspire Child Care Ltd in Rochdale

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home provides a secure, safe and stable environment for children and young people which enables them to feel safe, grow and flourish.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people maintain exceptionally good school attendance and make significant progress from their starting points.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff value education for all children and young people. They have high aspirations for them and support, encourage and celebrate their achievements to ensure they reach their own individual goals.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Contact with significant family members and friendships for children and young people are encouraged, supported and maintained well.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are consistently encouraged and supported to increase their semi-independent skills in line with their age, ability and level of understanding.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Family members report staff are skilled at building positive relationship with children and young people and they understand and respond to their needs sensitively.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Professionals are complimentary about the staff team. They state they provide consistent care, understand children and young peoples’ needs well and keep them safe.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Internal and external monitoring is undertaken which serves to highlight the strengths and areas for development within the home. Young people, families and partner agencies are fully consulted.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Although the managers, leaders and staff do not have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year, this system is now under review.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The Statement of Purpose does not accurately reflect how children and young people have been involved in recruitment practice. In addition it does not highlight who to contact if a person has a complaint about the home; or how the complaints procedure, safeguarding procedures and behaviour management policy can be accessed by outside agencies and family members. These shortfalls have been recognised by the manager and are being addressed.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

16: Statement of purpose, ensure the registered person complies in relation to the children's home a statement which covers matters listed in Schedule 1, particularly in regards to how to access the complaints, safeguarding procedures and behaviour management policy; and ensuring that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose (Regulation 16 (1)(5)) 24/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

33: Employment of staff, ensure the registered provider ensures all staff, including themselves, have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(c)) 24/07/2015

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Information about this children's home

 This is a privately run children’s home which may provide care and accommodation for two children with emotional and, or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/01/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

22/01/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Children and young people make good progress in relation to their starting points across many aspects of their welfare and development. They say they feel safe, well cared for, listened to and like living in the home. As a consequence they are developing positive relationships with staff and peers, increasing in confidence and achieving good outcomes in their learning and preparation for independence.

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good

Children and young people are making good progress in their health, educational, social and psychological wellbeing. They are supported to attend their fortnightly therapy sessions and access routine health appointments. When additional health services are required, such as child and adolescent mental health services, children and young people are supported to access these. This increases their self-esteem and confidence and ensures they maintain good physical and emotional health.

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good

Children and young people maintain exceptionally good school attendance and make significant academic progress. Staff value education for all children and young people. They have high aspirations for them and support, encourage and celebrate their achievements ensuring they reach their own individual goals.

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good

Staff have a good understanding of children and young people’s needs, strengths and vulnerabilities. Staff are aware of trigger points and respond appropriately and in line with individual risk management plans and care plans. These are reviewed and updated regularly with children and young people.

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good

Family members report staff are skilled at building positive relationships with children and young people and they understand their needs well. Children and young people have trusting and supportive relationships with the consistent, stable and trained staff team. They report they feel confident in sharing their likes and dislikes and feel supported and encouraged to engage in their care planning. For example, children and young people have requested specific activities, meals, and changes to their free time within their care plans. These requests have been given careful consideration by the staff team and the placing authority, with subsequent implementation by the manager and her team.

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good

Contact with significant family members and friendships for children and young people are encouraged and supported thoughtfully. Staff value the meaning of friendships and contact for children and young people, which in turn assists them to understand their identity and history. Individual contact plans are in place to ensure children and young people's contact is planned, pleasurable, safe and as positive an experience possible for all involved. This supportive approach has helped children and young people to sustain regular, quality contact with family members and build and develop appropriate peer relationships with children and young people within their local area.

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good

Staff seek out and enable children and young people to participate in a number of purposeful and fun community activities. Children and young people report they enjoy going to Scouts, football, Sky Light Circus and art classes and have been out walking, shopping and they also enjoy going to the cinema. These regular and sustained opportunities help children and young people develop new skills and build friendships which increases their confidence and self-esteem.

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good

Children and young people increase their independent living skills in line with their age, ability and level of understanding. Young people who are ‘eligible’ have pathway plans in place. They have contributed to preparing these plans in a meaningful way, ensuring they are working documents. Young people develop their knowledge and life skills associated with running a home through their regular participation within the home. Young people confirm they are able to plan and prepare meals; budget their weekly allowances and activity monies; complete household chores and use household appliances. Consequently young people are prepared for semi-independent living and adulthood.

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good

The home is situated in a residential area which has easy access to a range of services and amenities, such as gyms, libraries, cinemas, shopping centres as well as the doctor and dentist. This enables young people to access a range of services and engage in a variety of chosen activities within close proximity of their home.

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good

Children and young people live in a safe environment and feel increasingly safe because of the care afforded to them by the staff team. They report staff are always available for them should they wish to raise any worries or concerns and these are taken seriously and acted upon. Partner agencies, such as independent reviewing officers and social workers are consistently positive about the care and provision that is provided to children and young people. They attribute young peoples’ increased sense of well-being and safety to this support. One social worker reported, ‘The staff have worked consistently over a number of years with (Name). They have a good understanding of their needs and therefore ensure they are kept safe by knowing their risks and vulnerabilities.’

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good

Behaviour is managed effectively and achievements are celebrated and rewarded. Children and young people are consulted about their plans and report that consequences are fair and appropriate. Staff routinely implement care plans which increase children and young peoples’ positive behaviour, and the young people are increasingly using appropriate language and behaviour towards others. Managers routinely monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of behaviour management strategies to ensure these continue to be effective.

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good

Managers and staff are proactive in addressing any safeguarding issues and access information and support from the necessary agencies. For example, the Registered Manager has responded quickly and effectively to information that has been disclosed by one child. This ensured prompt action was taken by the placing local authority, police and third sector organisation. These responses and actions have ensured that young people can continue to partake in their chosen activities while remaining protected from harm in their local community.

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good

Complaints have been satisfactorily managed by the manager. There have been two complaints made against a child from neighbours within the local community since the last inspection. These complaints have been addressed appropriately with the young person using partner agencies, such as the local community policing team, and by building positive relationships with the young person’s family members. This cohesive response increased the young peoples’ knowledge and awareness of how their behaviour can impact on others and how this can impact on their own life chances. There have been no further concerns since then.

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good

The recruitment procedures for recruiting staff are robust. Prospective staff are subject to a challenging application and interview process prior to being offered employment. Relevant checks are consistently undertaken prior to staff starting work to ensure they are suitable to work with vulnerable children and young people. This also ensures children and young people are kept safe from unsuitable persons.

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good

Children and young people live in a comfortable, safe and well-maintained home. All rooms are well equipped and pleasantly furnished and young people’s bedrooms have recently been redecorated, have had new flooring fitted and have new bedroom furniture which they report they chose. They live in a physically safe environment. This is because a range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks protect them. Evacuation plans are understood and regularly practiced by children, young people and staff.

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good

The manager, who has been registered with Ofsted since October 2009 continues to manage the home successfully. She maintains her responsibilities as the Responsible Individual and Registered Manager for this and another two bedded children’s home. She has the necessary skills and qualifications to lead and manage the small team of care staff comprising of one deputy manager and five care staff. She has previously achieved the required National Vocational Qualification Level 5 and maintains her knowledge and skills by regular attendance at training and consultation events.

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good

The manager has some understanding of the recent legislative changes. She has shared these changes and information with the staff team to increase their knowledge and understanding in team meetings. The staff report they feel supported and equipped to deliver their services well as specified within the Statement of Purpose effectively as a result.

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good

The home is sufficiently staffed and resourced to meet the individual needs of the children and young people living there. The Registered Manager and Deputy Manager provide additional cover to ensure consistency is maintained during periods of staff sickness, annual leave or when staff move to pursue other career choices. Recruitment is ongoing to ensure the home can comply with the staffing numbers which are presently identified within its Statement of Purpose.

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good

The Statement of Purpose and Children’s Guide provide information about the home’s aims and objectives for children, young people, their families and placing authorities. The Children’s Guide provides a wealth of written information for children and young people so they know what to expect when they arrive, however the Statement of Purpose does not fully reflect current practice. For example, the involvement of children and young people within recruitment practice has not been implemented therefore they are not involved in recruitment practice as specified within the document. The Statement of Purpose also fails to comply with the regulations and does not fully inform the reader of how they can access the complaints and safeguarding procedures nor the behaviour management policy.

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good

The one requirement raised at the last inspection has been sufficiently met. The independent visitor who undertakes the monthly Regulation 44 visits now routinely gathers the views of parents and relatives in order to form an opinion of the standard of care and the conduct of the home which informs service improvements.

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good

One of the two recommendations made at the last inspection has been adequately addressed. New bedroom furniture and bedroom flooring and re decoration of the home ensure children and young people reside in a well maintained and comfortable environment. The second recommendation has yet to be achieved. One member of staff has not started a required National Vocational Level 3 Qualification and there is no specified date as to when this will commence. Due to the legislative changes the member of staff now has two years from the date of commencing his employment to complete this; therefore this recommendation will not be re-issued.

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good

Children and young people are cared for by a well-supported and knowledgeable staff team. A structured training plan for staff ensures they have the knowledge, skills and support to deliver a high standard of care. Regular monthly team meetings and monthly supervision ensure staff are supported to consider children and young peoples’ needs and reflect and develop their practice. Supervision records reflect that staff are supported and enabled to provide a good standard of care. Action plans identify training needs and these are monitored throughout the supervision process. However annual appraisals are not routinely undertaken for managers, leaders and staff to ensure they have their performance and fitness to perform their roles evaluated.

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good

Internal and external monitoring is undertaken as required and highlights the strengths and areas for development within the home. Young people, families and partner agencies are consulted within this to ensure continued development of the service.

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good

Children and young people's information is securely stored and shared confidentially to protect their safety and privacy. Recordings are good and provide a picture of children and young people's past, present and future plans.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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