Children's home run by Aspirations Specialist Residential Children’s Services Limited in Tewkesbury

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 judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be led by a qualified and experienced registered manager. She has a good understanding of the strengths and development needs of the home. She monitors and reviews the quality of care young people receive which has led to improvements in staff practice and in the operation of the home. The consistency of staffing within the home has improved since the last inspection. There is now less dependence upon the use of agency staff. Any agency staff who work in the home work on a regular basis and are known to young people. As a result, continuity of care has been achieved. Staff undertake appropriate continuing professional development. All have obtained or are now enrolled on the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare and receive training in specialised areas that meet the needs of children and young people they care for. Young people continue to make good progress in all areas of their development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Their attendance in school is excellent and they are making significant progress in their education. Young people are healthy and are supported well by staff to attend all routine and specialist health appointments. Staff work effectively with young people to improve their confidence and self-esteem. This is because staff are nurturing and spend time developing respectful and trusting relationships with them. As a result, young people feel safe and well cared for. Staff have worked effectively with the young people to develop and improve their relationship and to help them resolve conflicts in a positive way. Staff work individually with them to address areas, such as, bullying, positive relationships and personal safety. All individual work is researched, planned and evaluated for its effectiveness. Evidence of work with young people, looking at the issues of e safety and bullying is evident throughout the home. As a result, there has been a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

significant reduction in incidents and tensions between the young people since last inspection. Staff support young people well in the transition to adulthood. They work with them to develop skills they will need when they get older, such as, cooking and cleaning. Young people nearing 18 work with staff on a planned independent programme. They develop a life skills pack they can then take with them when they leave the home. Young people do not go missing from the home or engage in risk taking behaviour. Risk assessments have been developed which are clear to staff, and support the protection of young people in the area of bullying and conflict management. Staff adopt behaviour management strategies whenever possible which reward young people’s positive behaviour. Although staff do physically restrain young people when it is needed, this is proportional. All episodes of physical restraint is audited by an independent positive behaviour team to ensure measures are appropriate

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and effective. The manager and staff continue to develop effective working relationships with young people’s families, placing social workers and other professionals. They challenge appropriately when required to ensure young people’s needs are met. For example, the manager raised concerns at a young person recent health assessment to ensure the appropriate referrals to health professionals were made. She also raised concerns at a young person’s school regarding bullying, and ensured these were appropriately addressed by the school. As a result, the young person has attended a bullying mediation programme in the school and is now a ‘bullying buddy’. The home environment continues to be pleasant, warm and child friendly. There are photographs of staff and young people engaged in various activities, and themed displays throughout the home. Young people’s bedrooms are comfortable and are furnished to reflect their personalities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All requirements made at the last inspection on 11 August 2015 have been met. There are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. The service is operated by a private provider and has a registered independent special school on-site which children and young people at the home may attend.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/08/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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