Children's Home run by Aspris Homes Limited in Kent

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people live in a friendly and harmonious environment with staff and one another. Respectful and supportive relationships are enjoyed by all.  Young people make good progress across many aspects of their lives with regards to their behaviour, health and learning. They express themselves openly and effectively because staff actively listen and strongly promote their collective voice, views and opinions. They have a very real impact upon the running of the home and decisions which affect their lives.  Staff understand and meet the more diverse and individual aspects of young people through their delivery of comprehensive care planning that results young people to develop the skills they need to support them into independent living.    A stable, enthusiastic and motivated staff team delivers good quality care resulting from effective and consistent leadership from the Registered Manager.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 High standards of care are further assured through effective quality assurance practices which drive improvements and positively influence young peoples’ development. The Registered Manager and staff have high expectations of the young people and demonstrate commitment to improving their outcomes.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 3 children with emotional and /or behavioural difficulties The home provides an on-site school registered with the Department for Education.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

12/03/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

p.4

good

Young people enjoy warm and friendly relationships with staff and their peers, whereby they learn to live together and sustain beneficial relationships. Staff members understand the importance of gaining their trust and finding innovative and positive ways to work with them. One young person commented, ‘sometimes I treat the staff badly, but they always forgive me and give me another chance’.

p.5

good

Individualised placement plans focus on young peoples’ greatest areas of need. Care planning arrangements encourage young people, with the assistance of staff, to plan their own care collaboratively. One social worker commented, ’Staff in this home have worked tirelessly to engage successfully with this young person; they certainly go the extra mile and achieve positive results’.

p.5

good

Young people develop their independence skills which results in them taking increasing responsibility for themselves. One young person commented that they are now confident to use public transport to have contact with their peers and family members in the community. This has enabled them to have greater control over establishing and sustaining relationships which are important to them. They enjoy the trust that has been placed in them by staff to make their own arrangements.

p.5

good

Individual education packages are delivered with vigour and enthusiasm by the staff. This approach enhances young peoples’ achievements and gives them confidence in their learning abilities. Staff use techniques in planning and budgeting for meals, shopping and finding educational venues, which re-enforce classroom learning strategies. When young people refuse schooling, effective staff liaison with schools and placing authorities, results in their successful return. As a result, all young people benefit from individual and diverse learning support which ensures that their specific needs are met.

p.5

good

Young peoples’ views are valued. They engage in regular meetings and discussions with staff on a range of topics such as child sexual exploitation, drugs and substance abuse and keeping safe. One young person stated ‘You can say anything you like in children’s meetings and staff will always listen to you’.

p.5

good

Each young person benefits from having an individual health care plan which ensures they are supported in their more general and specific healthcare. Staff work closely with young people so that they understand how their lifestyle choices impact on their day-to-day health. Young people receive medication and first aid when necessary through well-managed medical procedures and practices.

p.5

good

Young people learn how to take greater responsibility for their behaviour and managing risk; they learn and develop skills in sustaining relationships and understanding how their behaviour affects themselves and others. They gain an understanding of key health risks and the consequence of risk taking behaviours such as smoking, drug and/or alcohol use.

p.6

good

Young people are kept safe by experienced and knowledgeable staff. They know they have the right to be kept safe and they trust staff members to help them make safe decisions. They say, ‘if anything worries me I can always talk to staff, they always put my safety first’. Young people have a strong voice and they know how to complain and make formal representations. They have confidence that staff will respond positively to their worries.

p.6

good

A comprehensive health and safety and fire safety review has resulted in risk assessments, fire plans and fire safety practices being improved. All staff have received updated training in fire safety enabling them to feel confident in keeping young people safe. Young people are also engaged in learning and understanding about these topics. Key working and house meetings are used effectively to support this. Their positive engagement in anti-smoking programmes has resulted in helping young people to give up smoking.

p.6

good

Detailed and comprehensive individual risk assessments make clear the exact nature of the risk and the type of behaviour that would both increase and reduce the risks of harm. Risk assessments are interwoven in many aspects of young people's day-to-day care. This practice ensures that keeping young people safe is always prioritised in the care and support delivered by staff.

p.6

good

Good staff recruitment arrangements protect the young people. Their meaningful engagement in the interview process enhances this process.

p.6

good

Young people are well supported to improve their behavioural responses to situations they find difficult to cope with. They work together with staff to reflect on their behaviour and devise behaviour management plans which help them to take greater responsibility for their own actions.

p.6

good

Sanctions are uncommon because the home strives for less punitive responses such as discussions, cooperation and reparation. Young people say that the rules are fair and reasonable; they also say that the staff talk through with them why sanctions have been given and what the purpose of these are.

p.6

good

The Registered Manager evaluates all episodes of physical intervention which provides robust safeguards and oversight to safeguard young people.

p.7

good

Episodes of going missing or young people being absent are rare. Those who previously went missing behaviour has significantly reduced or ceased. One social worker commented, ‘before the young person was placed in the home they were regularly missing for long periods of time; this home has substantially reduced these episodes, which are now rare and uncommon’. Individual key working sessions and group meetings are effectively used to discourage young people from going missing. Close relationships enable young people to talk through their issues without the need to run away.

p.7

good

Effective protocols have been agreed with the police to ensure prompt and effective action is taken should a young person go missing. The local missing person’s police officer is in regular contact with the Registered Manager and visits the home on occasions. This close liaison with the police helps to ensure that when young people do go missing they are safely returned.

p.7

good

Prompt notifications to Ofsted and external agencies demonstrates the home’s transparency should there be any concerns for safeguarding or young people's welfare.

p.7

good

A strong and effective Registered Manager who has been in post since 2009 provides good management and leadership. She complements her NVQ Level 4 management qualifications by remaining up-to-date with residential care research and legislative changes. Staff members are well informed and kept abreast of current practice. This results in young people receiving good quality care.

p.7

good

Effective supervision leads to staff being motivated and enthusiastic in their roles which they describe as both supportive and challenging. Regular and focussed supervision enables staff to look at their own practice and discuss their performance in an open and trusting forum. Supervision enables staff to honestly appraise their practice, consider training and their professional development. Staff members use this opportunity to discuss young peoples’ progress and to consider their own approaches and techniques. Good performance evaluation and training programmes ensure staff develop their individual professional practice. Unique training profiles planned during supervision meetings result in training that is targeted and focused. This provides staff with the greatest opportunities to understand and improve their practice. One staff member explained how their training had focused on one young person’s diagnosed

p.7

good

condition. This enabled them to support the young person more effectively through a greater understanding of their behaviour and needs.

p.8

good

Regular formal meetings are held between young people and the Registered Manager on a one-to-one basis. Such practice further demonstrates the value she places upon young peoples’ views and opinions. One young person used this time to negotiate increase trust time, and more frequent visits to friends.

p.8

good

A comprehensive and detailed Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the services provided and the manner in which young people are to be looked after. Regular and frequent discussion through staff and young people’s meetings ensures this document is reviewed and updated to accurately reflect the service offered.

p.8

good

Detailed development planning includes all aspects of the home, such as refurbishment and maintenance, practice issues, including staff training, and safe recruitment. Young people have influence improvements such as to the use of rooms and the home’s decoration programme.

p.8

good

Staff are fully engaged in changes and developments. They influence and shape the care practices delivered to the young people. All staff members have an equal voice within staff meetings, enabling them to increase their self-confidence and develop their skills and competence.

p.8

good

Strong and effective partnerships have been developed and sustained with external agencies.. Health professionals have regular contact with the home supporting young people's general or specific health needs. Community health services have provided guidance and support in sexual health and giving up smoking. The police liaise with the home providing updates to young people and staff on keeping safe from going missing and exploitation.

p.8

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.

p.9

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

p.9

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.9

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

p.10

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 .

p.10

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,

p.11

Information about this inspection

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

p.11

Information about this inspection

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

p.11

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

p.11