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 managed by an experienced and qualified manager. Young people are experiencing consistency and continuity of care despite the home having a shortage of staff over the last two months. The manager has addressed this mainly through staff working overtime. Staffing has now improved with two new permanent members of staff recently becoming employed. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Her monitoring into the effectiveness of the home is evaluative and helps to develop the quality of care staff give to young people. Monthly independent monitoring also supports the development and improvement in quality of care. Although staff handovers regularly take place, these have not been wholly effective. Important communication regarding young people has not always been communicated. For example, an incident regarding a young people’s education

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

placement was not communicated to staff on duty the following day. Young people continue to make progress in many areas of their development. They feel safe and the vast majority are settled in the home. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people have developed good relationships with staff who promote positive behaviour within the home. This results in improvements to young people’s social and emotional well-being and reduce risk-taking behaviour. For example, there have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection and the level of physical interventions is low. Risk assessments are completed. However, one young person’s risk assessment had not been updated to reflect changes in his behaviour. This has the potential to place young people and staff at risk of harm if changes in behaviour are not fully understood. Young people are healthy and are engaging well in education. Even those who

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

historically have found attending school difficult are meeting their education plans. The majority of young people attend the organisation’s own school and do a combination of classroom, vocational and activity based education. Staff continue to promote young people’s learning, for instance, by regularly reading to them. Staff, in partnership with school and placing authorities, support young people and work with them to develop their independence skills. As a result, young people are developing in confidence. They are travelling independently and gaining in skills, such as, budgeting and cooking. The home environment is spacious and appropriate to young people’s needs. It is clean and has been redecorated. The manager has improved the communal areas within the home to make them more comfortable and to reflect young people’s personalities. For example, there are large photographs of the young people

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

engaging in different activities hanging in the living room. Two requirements and two recommendations were made at the full inspection on 08 July 2015. These have largely been met. One recommendation remains outstanding and will be remade. The young people’s guide is not current and has not been updated to make young people aware of how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance.

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates up to seven young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private company. The home’s statement of purpose indicates that the age range will be between 11 and 18 years of age.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

20/02/2015 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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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that –

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 31/03/2016

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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 that young people are informed of how to contact the Office of the Children's Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 23, paragraph 4.19)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand and can meet each child's needs. This relates to ensuring staff communicate effectively to work together as a team. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52, paragraph 10.5)

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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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