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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good 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 registered manager has made some progress against the recommendations made at the last inspection. Staff are proactive in communicating with social work colleagues to establish pathway plans for young people and understand the importance of planned transitions. Staff are currently working with a young man around independence skills, as part of his transition to another placement and plans are in place to support this move. Staff are also supporting another young person, currently encountering significant life changes, to make a difficult transition. A social work colleague is particularly complimentary about the quality of partnership working offered in relation to this and the positive difference this made to the young person’s experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress in the home. Two of the young people are in full time education and achieving well. Both are on track to sit GCSE examinations later this year and one has already received a good pass in English Literature. Neither were consistently accessing full time education prior to living in the home. One young person is not currently in education following a period of unsettled health. Staff are able to evidence that concerted efforts have been made to obtain an appropriate and accessible provision to meet his needs. Following good academic achievement last year, continued involvement with a voluntary service throughout the summer, he had a college place for this academic year. In partnership with the college arrangements were in place for him to continue to access this despite his difficulties. Unfortunately the young person was not able to take up the opportunity offered. Currently staff are liaising with young adult services in order

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to enable him to access work opportunities following his transition to semi- independent living.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans are individualised, updated regularly and subject to management oversight. Individual risk assessments focus on areas of concern particular to each young person and offer strategies designed to minimise specific risks identified. Staff read documentation regularly to ensure they remain updated, and sign to confirm they have done so. Boundary agreements around day-to-day routines are clear and explicit and young people understand what is expected of them. Young people have identified and agreed targets to work towards which are reviewed and monitored during key work sessions. Although individual work with young people takes place frequently staff do not always ensure that this is captured in key working session recordings. As such records kept do not always evidence the work that is taking place with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is spacious and well-appointed and has the feel of a family home. Rooms are large and personalised to the taste of the young people. The home is in a rural location, with extensive grounds and space for young people to enjoy and explore. A large barn in the grounds, equipped with a gym punch bag provides young people with a safe place to relax and de-stress. Young people are provided with the opportunity to spend time with animals in a therapeutic way, both within the grounds of the home and at a local animal farm. Young people enjoy and benefit from this and staff believe that it has a positive effect on mood and behaviour. Young people have accessed opportunities within the community through their involvement with the animals. One young person achieved success in a recent horse handling show, which had a significant positive impact on his confidence and self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are encouraged and enabled to take part in a variety of activities. One young person, who is very interested in performing arts, is supported to attend extra-curricular activities both in and out of school. Staff have also accompanied her to national talent show auditions in order to help her achieve her ambitions. Another young man has been supported to attend concerts and sporting events. Young people are encouraged to earn such rewards in recognition of sustained positive behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In an attempt to safeguard young people against risks associated with online media sites, a general policy limits social networks available. The manager has made some progress in that it is now agreed that young people can have their own security codes to enable individual access where appropriate. This is not yet implemented as the manager is in the process of obtaining the necessary permissions from parents and social workers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been nine incidents that have required physical intervention since the last inspection. Most are low level, proportionate and all are recorded in detail and subject to management oversight. However, records do not clearly evidence that young people are offered the opportunity to de-brief as a matter of routine. In addition, although notes indicate that managers have read the record, some are not signed off as complete. Further information is requested which remains outstanding. Consequently a full picture of each incident is not available which is necessary to ensure safeguarding and inform future planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people rarely go missing from this home. One incident has been recorded since the last inspection and staff responded robustly and proactively to ensure a safe and timely return. An experienced manager leads the team by example and is forward thinking in her drive to improve the experience of young people living in the home. She has designed and implemented monitoring tools to disseminate information gathered in relation to young people’s behaviour and what affects this to aid planning and focus development. She also has some long term plans in relation to developing the service to further enhance the therapeutic element currently offered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the manager’s efforts, some staff have still not accessed the appropriate level of qualification which was a recommendation at the last inspection. The manager is aware that this does not support their on-going professional development, nor equip them with knowledge and understanding for the role.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private organisation. There is an onsite school at another home owned by the organisation that young people can attend.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risk to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This is in regard organisational policies that restrict internet use. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 49 paragraph 9.60)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that records of restraint are kept and enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint, in a timely way, in order to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 49 paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, with particular regard to key working sessions (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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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