Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recent inspection history shows the home has experienced some regulatory shortfalls, although the actual care and nurturing given to young people has not been a specific area of concern. Since the last inspection a number of significant changes have been introduced by a management and staff team that has remained intact and set themselves the goal of turning things around.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, the manager who was also registered to manage another home for the company has resigned her registration with the second home. This has allowed her to concentrate solely on this home. As a result, the manager and her staff team have planned effectively and worked together to address the issues that were of concern at previous inspections.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Throughout this period, the care provided to young people has been of a consistently good standard. The whole staffing team has remained mostly consistent which has allowed for care practice to continue to improve. Evidence is available to show that young people, particularly those residing their permanently, continue to make progress in all areas of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people spoken with, confirm they are settled into their long-term placements. They feel safe and secure due to the strong relationships and high levels of trust they form with staff. The observed interaction between staff and young people was seen to be positive, creating a warm, happy and relaxed atmosphere.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each young person has a personalised, detailed care plan which is underpinned with coping strategies and assessments of risk. Significant improvements have been made to these documents whose formats have been completely revised and updated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result, plans and risk assessments are more individualised than those in place previously. When read collectively with other reports and documents produced by the home, they provide solid evidence of the progress young people are making. The home is one of a number that feed directly into a community based special school that provides full time education. All young people living in the home attend the school regularly, reaching high attendance levels.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A tour of the premises shows the levels of cleanliness, state of repair, fixtures, fittings, décor, furnishings and equipment are all of a good standard. The home is designed and functions to cater for both young people with a high dependency level and those with less. The different areas of the home reflect this. Young people like the home and were observed as being comfortable and relaxed in their environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is experienced, well organised and child-focussed. She has introduced a number of improvements and developments since the previous inspection. For example, with the creation and implementation of an electric calendar system that is designed to improve the internal management and monitoring of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A total of six requirements were made following the previous inspection. All have been fully addressed leading to improvements in the allocation and monitoring of short break placements to ensure they do not exceed their allocated length of stay. This has led to the home in successfully challenging placing authorities to ensure agreed plans are fulfilled and young people’s needs are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, the every-day use of body maps has been discontinued, new risk assessments have been introduced covering the outside play area and weekly physical checks of this area are now made by staff to ensure it is safe. New systems have been introduced to check if all relevant documents have been supplied by a young person’s placing authority, who are chased if they have failed to do so. Internal monitoring has improved allowing managers and staff to evaluate better, the progress young people make in the home. Systems to ensure Ofsted receives reports from monitoring visits in a timely manner have also improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This proved to be a successful inspection with positive feedback received from both young people and staff. As a result this report does not contain any new requirements or recommendations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall the period since the last inspection has been a time of consolidation leading to improvement. The home continues to be well managed and organised as it strives for continued improvement. As a result the outcomes for young people remain positive.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by an independent company. The home is registered for eight young people with learning disabilities, three of whom can be accommodated on a short break basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/06/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

27/08/2014 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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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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