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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home had been without a Registered Manager since July 2015. An interim manager has been in post since November 2015 and was registered with Ofsted in January 2016. They are currently handing over to the permanent manager, who is in the process of being registered. The interim Registered Manager has made significant changes within the home during her short time in post. While many areas require further development, great strides have been made to improve the fabric of the building and the quality of care for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are beginning to make measurable progress as a result of living in the home. Young people recognise their progress and have noticed the improvement within the fabric and décor of the home and are pleased with the changes in how staff support them and respond to them. Staff have formed some strong relationships with individuals, resulting in young people feeling comfortable and confident in the home. All young people are engaged in education and close links with the organisation’s school have increased consistency in approach and goal planning. The home is able to link well with other education providers, for example, one young person attends a local college and is enjoying her course. Since the last inspection, no young people have moved into, or on from, the home. Planning prior to young people moving into the home is mostly sound. Many services are available within the organisation, such as education and therapy. This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

ensures young people are able to start school promptly when they are placed. There has been a delay in assessing an individual’s emotional well-being and potential change in diagnosis, to ensure she is cared for appropriately. Her current assessed needs are outside the home’s conditions of registration and the staff’s skill set. Staff are managing to support her, but have not had formal training in the mental health condition she is diagnosed with. This was raised as a concern at the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records are now clearer in evaluating young people’s progress and areas of continued need. In-house plans are implicitly clear and an area of particular note is the new approach to key working. This ensures all young people have at least one session per week which links to a recognised target within their plans, but also includes a fun activity. An area of concern, however, is a young person’s epilepsy management plan on the wall in the office which is not consistent with the medical practitioner’s advice of when to administer rescue medication. Staff spoken to did know the correct procedure though. The Registered Manager recognises when the home may not able to continue to meet a young person’s needs and works closely with the placing authority to address extra support or to share their views on a more appropriate placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s demeanour and actions demonstrates they feel safe in the home and are comfortable in staff’s company. Individuals comment they have staff they will go to and trust, and that they respond to their worries or concerns. They also say they feel listened more. Consistency in approach to behaviour management has enabled only occasional use of restraint. Young people, since the appointment of the interim manager, have started to have their views about these interventions recorded effectively, which leads to consideration of how staff can better respond in the future. Sanctions are fair and proportionate with an increased focus on young people’s views and evaluating the effectiveness of the measures. Individuals can no longer automatically earn part of their sanction back, which has improved behaviour and effectiveness of the measure for most young people. Complaints recording has much improved since the last inspection and any issues are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

responded to swiftly. Young people’s views and ideas are now central to the home and planning. A young person placed privately from overseas has a representative from within the organisations’ umbrella company, but does not currently have independent advocacy. The Registered Manager has made a referral to a local youth support agency. The organisation should ensure there is an independent advocate available at the point of placement as part the strategic planning for overseas or privately funded young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the recently appointed interim manager and the new home manager have made a concerted effort to improve the quality of care and service provided in the home. The interim manager has responded robustly to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection and has made significant changes in order to meet the requirements and recommendations set.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Individual placement plans and risk assessments are updated when new behaviours emerge or as a result of changes in legal status. Young people are now involved in their plans and share their views on how they feel they should be supported and how staff can support them best. There is a concerted effort to gain agreement of the in-house plans from the placing authority, or parents for private placements. Staff deployment within the home is also in line with individual plans. Since there has been increased consistency in approach and greater structure to evenings and weekends, no young people have been missing from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are positive about the physical environment and improvements to the fabric and décor of the building. They comment that some furniture is institutionalised and not individual to their tastes. While there have been many improvements, such as a new kitchen and mismatched wallpaper being removed, there is still some way to go to ensure the building is homely. This includes making good a window frame which was burned with a lighter several years ago. The new home manager has a sound plan in place and is purchasing soft furnishings to increase the homely feel.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim Registered Manager and newly appointed home manager are considering areas to be included on the development plan for the upcoming year. Until this inspection, the interim manager was focusing on improving practice within the home and meeting the requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection. They have made significant changes and progress, but this needs to be further embedded in practice to demonstrate the impact of the changes. Evidence of the level of improvement is available through the regular monitoring in line with Regulation 44, which has identified fewer areas for improvement since the interim manager has been in place.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and run by a national private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 7 young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/07/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

06/01/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

07/01/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate Progress

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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

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

The children's wishes and feelings standard.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children's wishes and feelings standard the registered person each child is:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(iii) given appropriate advocacy and support

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Requirement Due date

(d)(iii) ensure an explanation is given to each child as soon as is practicably possible after their arrival about what advocacy support services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision.

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific regard to young people who are placed privately; from overseas or without a social worker. 29/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and wellbeing standard the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) the health and wellbeing needs of children are met

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(I)(ii)(iii) achieve the health and wellbeing outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans and understand the child's health and wellbeing needs and the options that are available in relation to the child's health and wellbeing, in a way that is appropriate to the child's age and understanding; take part 29/02/2016 in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and wellbeing needs.

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific regards to staff receiving training in mental health conditions young people have been diagnosed with prior to placement and ensuring epilepsy protocols are accurate and consistent.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. This relates to continually improving the environment, such as replacing burnt window frames; repairing scuffed laminate on doors and further allowing young people to individualise their home and personal spaces, including furniture which is not institutional in appearance. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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