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

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 home continues to be led by a well-qualified and experienced registered manager who has been managing the home for many years. As a result, she has a good understanding of the strengths and development needs of the home. The home also has strength in its staff team as many of the staff are experienced and long-standing. This ensures young people are experiencing consistency and continuity of care. Staff are nurturing and young people feel safe and well cared for. Although there have been no complaints since the last inspection young people are aware of how to make a complaint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have been living in the home for some time continue to progress steadily in all areas of their development. Staff work effectively with them to improve confidence and develop independence skills. Young people new to the home settle well and develop good relationships with staff. One young person rated the home ‘10 out of 10’. All young people are attending full time education and are having their health needs met. Staff engage well with them and find hobbies and interests which motivate them. As a result, young people regularly take part in various activities in the local community such as, trampolining, football and bike riding.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff develop good working relationships with parents and other professionals. They challenge them appropriately to ensure young people’s needs are met. For instance, they act swiftly when young people go missing. They actively chasing placing authorities to ensure return home interviews are conducted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff listen to young people’s wishes and feelings and work well in partnership with them to reduce risk taking behaviour. For example, one young person’s missing behaviour was greatly reduced when staff worked with him and developed a specific risk assessment to allow him to see his friends unsupervised. He is now safely going out socialising with friends and coming back to the home on time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff adopt behaviour management strategies which manage young people’s negative behaviour well. Although there has been an increase in the use of physical restraint since the last inspection, this primarily has been with regard to one young person who has since left the home. The young person was inappropriately placed during an occasion when the registered manager was on annual leave. He was admitted into the home without staff having a full understanding of his needs and before packages of education or therapy had been arranged. The young person lived in the home for a period of three weeks before notice was given on his placement. This was a challenging and difficult time for the staff and other young people living in the home. The registered manager is confident that this will not be repeated and that lessons have been learnt in respect of this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements and one recommendation were made at the full inspection on 29 September 2015. These have largely been met. The statement of purpose has been reviewed to include the age range of young people who are admitted into the home. The registered manager has also established a system for ascertaining the opinions of parents and other professionals on the home and the care young people receive. This is used to inform the home’s future development. Not all staff have yet received face-to-face fire training although the registered manager has booked them onto a course for April 2016. As a result, this recommendation will be remade.

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates up to five young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private company. The home looks after young people between the ages of 9 and 18 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff access facilities and resources to support training needs. This refers to staff accessing face-to-face fire marshal training. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure placements for children are only accepted where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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

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

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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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