Children's home run by Aspris Homes Limited in North Northamptonshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding 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 has responded to the recommendations made at the last inspection. The manager has introduced an impact risk assessment and used this to assess the suitability of the newest resident. This identifies risks and considers the impact of the potential placement on the young people as well as the potential training needs of staff. This enables a more structured consideration of these critical decisions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people continue to make progress as a result of the care and support they receive from a skilled and dedicated staff team. External professionals are clear that young people benefit from living in the home. An independent reviewing officer said: ‘Basically he has made fantastic progress.’ A therapist said: ‘I definitely see the young people make progress. They thrive on the structure, the boundaries and the nurturing of staff.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are continuing to consistently access education. Professionals spoke positively about the work staff do to ensure there is ongoing educational engagement. One young person has sustained his placement in a mainstream school. This sustained achievement is impressive. Two young people are now attending school having not previously done so prior to placement. This has the potential to significantly impact on their life chances as they move into adulthood. It is telling that the young people consulted as part of the inspection articulated their educational aspirations. One young person said: ‘I am here to get my life back on track and get my exams.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are being equipped for independence. A social worker stated: ‘The placement is able to provide a structure and a routine. They provide him with new learning he will eventually be able to use in the community to keep safe.’ Consequently the young person will be better prepared to cope with his transition into adulthood and life after the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff support the young people to manage their behaviour well. As a result the young people get on and there have been no reported incidents of bullying. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. There has been only one sanction. However, there is no record of any subsequent discussion with the young person regarding the sanction. This means the staff have not captured the young person’s views. Therefore the young people’s views have not informed the evaluation of the incident. There have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home. Despite this the home is not complacent and has developed a new protocol with the local police.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has left the home since the last inspection. He moved on having turned 18. The home worked with his local authority to facilitate the move. One young person has moved into the home since the last inspection. He arrived in a planned manner from a long term foster placement. His foster family were pleased with the way in which the staff managed the move. The young person’s social worker was also very positive about the work the home did to support the move. She was very positive about the quality of the service overall saying: ‘It was a lovely set up. It is different to other homes. I was impressed that it felt like a home.’ The staff provided the young person with information in an accessible format in advance of the move. This enabled the social worker and foster family to prepare the young person for the move. The young person felt that the move had gone very well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are regular visits by independent people to monitor the quality of the care. These are thorough. The most recent report offers appropriate challenge to the service. The home seeks the views of families and external professionals about the quality of care. As a result there remains a culture of continued improvement within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are aware of how to raise concerns about the practice of colleagues. A member of staff who had been in post only two weeks was able to give a comprehensive outline of the options available to her to report any concerns. The young people spoken to say they feel safe in the home. They know how to comment and complain, with the newest resident having a very clear awareness of the resources available to enable him to do this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External professionals are positive about the quality of the service provided. They consistently refer to good communication and the impact that the service has had on the young people. Professionals report that staff are active participants in discussions about the care the young people receive. The staff provide timely written reports for reviews and contribute to meetings. Family carers are also positive. A former foster carer said: ‘They are very empathetic to our involvement.’ This encourages a partnership approach to young people’s care and enables young people to maintain in some cases improve relationships with key people in their lives.

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Information about this children's home

This home is part of a large private children's care organisation and is registered to accommodate five boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties or a learning disability. The home offers a therapeutic service to boys with assessed needs linked to sexually inappropriate behaviour. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

20/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 seek feedback from young people following the implementation of a consequence. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 22 paragraph 4.11)

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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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