Children's home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Excellent child-centred care and support is embedded in staff practice, which helps children and young people to make very good progress given their individual starting points.  Children and young people are very happy and settled because they have trusting relationships with staff and know that staff care about them. A parent made the comment, ‘A fantastic place and fantastic staff.’  A key strength is that ‘standing still’ is not an option at this home. The whole staff team clearly demonstrates their commitment to improving children’s and young people’s lives and give them every possible opportunity to enjoy, realise and achieve their individual aspirations.  The registered manager and the senior leadership team provide clear direction and support. Staff feel very well supported and valued. They are included in the day-to-day running of the home and in informing future developments.  The voice of the child and young person is central to decision making and

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

the planning of care. Children and young people really do feel listened to, which helps them to feel valued and trust adults.  The range of activities provided to children and young people is exceptional. They engage in activities based on their individual interests and have ample opportunities to try new activities. As a result, they have a lot of fun while at the same time improving their social and independence skills.  Staff are very skilled at managing individuals’ behaviours. Consequently, children and young people make significant progress in changing their risk- taking behaviours, which improves their safety.  Partnership working and having a community presence are key strengths and are fundamental to ensuring that children’s and young people’s needs are met. Feedback from professionals confirms excellent partnership working.

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Information about this children's home

This privately operated home offers accommodation for up to seven young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15 October 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Outstanding

Children and young people receive an excellent standard of individualised care, which helps them to make very good progress given their starting points. They are very happy and settled and have excellent relationships with staff who they trust. As a result, children and young people thrive in a nurturing environment and they are able to raise any concerns that they may have and they know that they will be listened to. This helps them to feel safe. A parent made the following comment: ‘I’m so happy with my son’s progress. The staff have been brilliant and never gave up on my son even at his most challenging behaviour. A big thank you to all the staff that have worked with my son.’ Children and young people are central to planning for their futures, and in the review of their care records. They all have very detailed placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans, which include the measurement of

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Outstanding

their progress. Staff, with the involvement of children and young people, regularly review these records and update them when necessary. This helps to monitor progress and identify any areas of concern. It also helps to ensure that children and young people understand their care needs and can recognise their achievements. Social workers receive copies of updated placement plans and risk assessments, which helps them to monitor that children’s and young people’s needs are being met. Social workers confirmed that staff are very good at keeping them informed about children’s and young people’s well-being. Admission and discharge practices for children and young people are very good. Staff always produce transition plans, which include working closely with families and partner agencies. Older residents act as mentors to new children and young people. They benefit from having an induction and regular key work sessions

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Outstanding

during this settling in period. These practices help to ensure a smooth transition for children and young people at what can be a very difficult time for them. Preparing children and young people for their next stages of life is embedded in the day-to-day care that they receive. Staff encourage them to become as independent as possible and they acquire a range of skills while at the same time having fun. This is made possible by the provision of a range of practical opportunities. Examples include weekly cooking lessons with a chef, creating and being responsible for the on-site allotment, building a chicken coop and looking after the chickens and building a barbeque. A social worker commented: ‘I am impressed about the support that staff are offering the young person, especially with his independence skills.’ Staff work hard to ensure that young people moving on are well prepared, both practically and emotionally. Young people, who are due to leave care, complete an

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Outstanding

independence programme which covers all areas for independent living. Staff challenge barriers to ensure that young people can continue with their education, training and employment when they move. For example, the registered manager funded an assessment to ascertain if a young person has dyslexia; as the placing authority refused to fund this. The assessment identified that the young person is dyslexic and the findings are now being used to ensure that he can get appropriate support. Children and young people know that staff will keep in touch when they move on, which helps them to feel valued and more able to cope emotionally. They are often invited back to the home to join in activities, which also helps them to retain their friendships and relationships that are important to them. Staff are totally committed to ensuring that children and young people are able to maintain contact with their families and people important to them. Staff provide

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Outstanding

practical, as well as emotional, support to them and their families. They have taken children to see their families who live a long way from the home on a regular basis. As a result of staff support, children and young people make good progress in building positive relationships with their families. A parent made the following comment: ‘I could not wish for my son to be in a better place.’ Education, training and employment are top priorities and staff work tenaciously to ensure that children and young people are able to reach their full potential. Children’s and young people’s attendance improves significantly very soon after moving into the home. This increases their future life chances. The promotion of healthy living is a high priority and includes education, regular exercise and healthy eating. As a result, children and young people become healthier. Staff work very closely with a range of relevant agencies to ensure that

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Outstanding

individuals’ physical and psychological health needs are met. Children and young people are supported sensitively to self-manage their individual health needs, which improve their self-esteem and confidence. The provision of leisure activities based on individual and group interests is excellent. Staff make every effort to ensure that children and young people can pursue their individual interests and hobbies. Children and young people also benefit greatly from opportunities to access a wide range of new leisure activities and experiences, which some of them may not normally have access to. Staff and young people share many enjoyable experiences. Since the last inspection, children and young people have been on holiday to the seaside, been to see international football matches and been on day trips to places that interest them, for example, London and York. The home is decorated to a very high standard. Children, young people and staff

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Outstanding

take pride in their home and there is very little damage caused by inappropriate behaviours. Children’s and young people’s achievements and enjoyment are evident throughout the home with a lot of photographs and art work created by them. Judgement grade

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Outstanding

Safeguarding is at the forefront of practice and underpins the care and support provided to children and young people. The staff team fully understand their responsibilities and are skilled at effectively implementing a range of safeguarding policies and procedures. Collaborative working with partner agencies, and robust management monitoring of records and staff practice, helps to ensure that children and young people are protected from the risk of harm and abuse. Any complaints made against staff are referred promptly to the relevant agencies, including the local authority designated officer and appropriate actions taken. The effective management of allegations against staff helps children and young people feel confident that their concerns are taken seriously and helps them to feel safe. The management team notifies all relevant agencies, including Ofsted, of such incidents which helps placing authorities and the regulator to monitor practices in

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Outstanding

the home. Effective risk management is important in enabling children and young people to grow and develop. They are able to acquire skills and take controlled risks in preparation for adulthood in a nurturing environment. Children and young people can learn from mistakes while at the same time receive praise and recognition for their achievements and progress. As a result, children and young people make good progress in learning how to keep themselves safe, given their starting points, and their risk-taking behaviours reduce. They feel safe and their self-esteem and confidence also improves, enabling them to make informed decisions about, and take responsibility for, their actions. Staff are very skilled at managing individuals’ behaviours and all children’s and young people’s behaviours improve greatly. A social worker commented that staff have managed a young person’s behaviour very well and, ‘Have helped him

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Outstanding

develop a range of coping mechanisms to self-regulate his behaviour, which works well most of the time’. Staff make it clear what is expected of children and young people on admission, which helps them to understand the boundaries. Emphasis is on recognising and rewarding positive behaviours. Staff manage negative behaviours in a variety of ways based on the individual and include key work discussions, the use of incentives and sanctions and, in the last resort, the use of physical intervention. Clear and detailed records are kept of all incidents and these are robustly monitored by the registered manager. He takes prompt action where shortfalls in staff practice are identified, which helps to protect children and young people from the risk of harm and injury. Staff work closely with the police missing person coordinator and the local police community support officers. The missing person coordinator has attended staff

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Outstanding

meetings and he informed the inspector that staff will contact him for advice when necessary. The local beat officers visit children and young people fairly regularly. These visits help to build up positive relationships and for individuals to fully understand the different roles of the police. The number of incidents of children and young people going missing have reduced significantly given their starting points. The management of health and safety is good and helps to keep children, young people and staff safe. Visitors to the home are vetted and given two leaflets about safeguarding and health and safety rules. This is very good practice.

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Outstanding

This is an outstanding home because the registered manager has a clear vision for the home and striving for improvement is rooted in the ethos and staff practice. Children and young people receive excellent individualised care from a skilled, well- trained and dedicated staff team who only want the best for them. A social worker commented that staff know the young people ’inside out’ and can pre-empt behaviours as they know what the triggers are. The registered manager started working at the home in January 2015. He has many years’ experience of working with young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, and has a level 4 qualification in management. His experience, qualifications and commitment to his own professional development have equipped him to be an effective manager. The registered manager, ably supported by the management team, provides motivational leadership and direction. They provide positive role models, promoting

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Outstanding

a culture of having high aspirations for children and young people. The inclusive management style encourages shared ownership of staff development. Staff are well motivated and do not just rely on the management team to provide direction and development opportunities. For example, a member of staff identified some external training on the ‘Prevent’ strategy and a couple of staff attended the training. They have set up a file with information on radicalisation and provided training to the staff team. This means that staff are better equipped to safeguard children and young people who may be at risk of radicalisation. Staff training and development is viewed as important by managers so that they have a skilled workforce that can meet individuals’ needs. All staff have a level 3 qualification, except two night staff who have recently enrolled on the course. Staff receive a range of mandatory training, as well as specific training to meet

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Outstanding

individualised needs. For example, staff have attended training on working with children and young people with mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder and training has been arranged on neonatal abstinence disorder. The statement of purpose provides clear details of the services provided. Practice is in line with the statement of purpose. The children’s guide has recently been updated to incorporate the suggestions and views made by the children and young people; they asked for it to be ‘more trendy’ and ‘hip’. There is a detailed development plan, which staff have contributed to. Consultation with key stakeholders, including parents and placing authorities, also informs the development plan. Children and young people have produced their own development plan called ‘Improving our home - Kids stuff 2016’ with the help of the registered manager. The plan also gives feedback on last year’s plan. Evidence

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Outstanding

from this inspection confirms that their views and suggestions are listened to and implemented where possible. For example, they now keep chickens and a greenhouse has been provided. The wide-ranging quality assurance systems are robust and effective in monitoring the care and staff practices. The whole staff team takes responsibility for different areas. Staff discuss and monitor individuals’ care and support, and reflect on their practice in daily handovers and weekly staff meetings. The management team monitor records and staff practice, and where shortfalls are identified these are dealt with promptly. The monthly reports from the visits by the independent visitor complement the internal monitoring systems and help inform future developments. Partnership working is an integral part of staff practice and is a key strength. Feedback from a range of professionals and parents confirms this. This ensures

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Outstanding

that children and young people get appropriate help and support to meet their needs and improve their lives.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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