Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Hampshire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have made good progress from their initial starting points since arriving at the home.  Young people are developing strategies which assist them in self- regulating and moderating their behaviour and emotions.  Young people attend and engage in education. All young people make progress within their individual capabilities. Staff have good relationships with school, promoting consistency of the approach used to support young people.  Staff support young people to develop their life and social skills by offering a wide variety of activities and opportunities.  Young people have aspirations and goals to work towards.  Young people are supported to engage in faith-based activities.  Young people report that they feel safe and have a key adult whom they trust and confide in.  Young people are involved in the key decisions made in the home.  Young people have engaged in regular key-work sessions, providing

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The children's home provision is good because:

invaluable education, learning and review of concerns.  The home has a homely feel, and recent improvements have enhanced the environment.  Staff are skilled, qualified and knowledgeable. They show a real interest in the young people whom they care for.  Staff receive good-quality, varied training that is specific to their role.  Staff have implemented positive changes in the home and have addressed all of the requirements previously set.  Staff have utilised the reviews of serious incidents, and have developed and made changes to practice.  The ethos of the home, as described in the statement of purpose, is evident in the home.

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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 ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there (Regulation 40(4)(c)). 1 August 2016

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

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 (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)). 1 August 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

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46 paragraph 9.36).

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Recommendations

 Regulation 19(2) details sanctions that are prohibited in behaviour management. Any sanction used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38).

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and run by a national private provider. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 10 children and young people with learning disabilities. The home shares a site with another registered children’s home. It also shares the site with two schools, also owned and run by the organisation, which children and young people attend.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25 February 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19 October 2015 Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

18 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Young people are making good progress from their initial starting points. Staff have positive relationships with young people. Each young person has a key adult whom they trust and confide in. Staff involve young people in monitoring the progress that they make. They explore what a young person did on arrival, through to how and what they are achieving now. Young people state what they have achieved, and what they are developing or learning to improve their independence. Young people who previously found it very difficult to be in a communal space now socialise with others in that space. A young person has learned to develop coping strategies to deploy in busy social situations. A young person reported that they are now able to identify when they are struggling and feeling anxious, and will seek staff support and guidance. Young people are learning and developing strategies to self-regulate and moderate emotions and behaviours. A young person stated that he has

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Good

learned how to ‘walk away from a conflict’. Young people have good relationships with staff, formed through regular key-work sessions. The sessions provide invaluable education about key topics and explore issues pertinent to that young person. They are encouraged to talk about concerns, challenges and aspirations. Staff and young people have explored strategies, support and options available to young people. Staff and young people set and agree targets to work towards achieving.

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Good

Young people know how to complain and how to raise issues regarding the home. The young person’s guide is informative, colourful and easy to read. Young people report 'being welcomed and supported to settle into the home'.

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Good

Staff have a real interest and concern for those in their care. They are child focused and patient with young people. Staff relationships with young people are a strength of the home. Staff and young people were observed spending quality time together, chatting at ease in each other’s company, sharing stories and catching up on the events of the day. Staff plan special trips out, considering young people’s interest and hobbies. Staff plan focused activities for those who reside at the home for longer blocks of time. They facilitate a wide variety of on- and off-site activities. Young people attend faith-based activities, community clubs and sporting activities of their choice. Young people with friendships outside of the home are encouraged and supported to meet up and have contact with friends. Young people communicate their needs through a variety of communication aids and systems. Young people who are non-verbal have effective ways of

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Good

communicating their needs to staff. Knowledgeable staff meet the individual needs of young people with effective communication systems between staff and young people. Staff have implemented a variety of basic communication strategies in the home to facilitate communication. The ‘who’s in’ board tells young people which staff are on shift, with photographs and names of the day and night staff. Young people attend weekly house meetings, making choices about menus and activities for the week ahead. Young people have been involved in influencing key decisions about facilities available in the home, such as choosing new equipment for outdoor activities. The home is well presented. Each young person has personalised their bedroom by choosing the wall colour and soft furnishings. Young people are learning key information about a good variety of key topics, including e- safety. They are encouraged to share their views about the home. Staff completed

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Good

an activity with young people to explore house rules. Staff have explored advocacy for young people who are entitled to it. Staff have advocated on behalf of young people, when necessary. Staff facilitate young people’s requests to speak with key members of senior staff at the home. Young people attend school, which is on the same site as the home. Staff attend education reviews and meetings. Staff have good communication with education providers, with a daily handover taking place. Key information sharing has promoted the consistency of approach used with young people. Young people are making good academic progress. Staff promote young people’s education and learning in the home, supporting young people to access facilities and complete basic homework. Staff support young people to access basic healthcare. Clear, detailed practical plans provide clarity to staff, enabling them to meet needs. Staff encourage young

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Good

people to have healthy lifestyles by eating a well-balanced diet and participating in exercise. Staff support older able young people to arrange their own medical appointments. Staff refer to specialised services when required, and follow individual plans to meet specific health needs. Education provides additional therapy services to young people, and plans incorporate identified needs. Staff manage situations of conflict, supporting young people to explore and work through their differences. Staff support and facilitate contact as per the plans in place between young people, friends and families. Staff have regular contact with families, keeping them updated about their young people. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

Young people report feeling safe, and each has a key adult whom they trust and confide in. Staff maintain the environment, with recent improvements to the physical appearance and feel of the home. Staff have good knowledge and understanding of how and what is required to keep young people safe. Risk assessments provide clarity and practical support for staff, enabling them to meet needs and to support young people to manage risky behaviours. Staff promote age-appropriate risk taking by supporting and educating young people about risk in one-to-one sessions and through materials present in the home. Staff review plans and risk assessments, with amendments as required. Staff complete pre-admission impact risk assessments, with careful analysis applied to decision making regarding admissions. Comprehensive initial support plans and risk assessments are drawn up and updated, when needed. Plans and behaviour support plans provide clarity and detail to enable staff to

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Requires improvement

support young people. The staged approach details the de-escalation strategies to be used, with the last resort being physical intervention. Staff have made good- quality records when physical intervention has been used, with debriefings offered to young people. One plan does not reflect the strategies used to support a young person. Their behaviour had changed and staff had not routinely reviewed and amended the plan to reflect this. Staff are proactive and supportive, role modelling and promoting positive behaviour for young people. They celebrate and reward positive behaviour, and use a variety of strategies to de-escalate and distract young people from becoming involved in negative behaviour. Sanctions and rewards are now recorded, when previously they were not. The sanction is detailed, but finer detail is required if it is linked to financial reparation. The records are difficult to read, as they lack consistent review and monitoring.

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Requires improvement

Staff explore and investigate complaints, and respond to the complainant. Records and chronologies of events provide a robust overview, identifying points for improved practice and learning. Staff have responded to all concerns, queries and suggestions as complaints. Staff report, investigate and refer allegations to others, as required. They have detailed records of investigations and outcomes, providing clarity of the actions needed. Staff did not inform HMCI in a timely fashion, following one incident. Staff have good links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Safeguarding concerns are well recorded and documented, with chronologies providing detail of actions and outcomes. Referrals and notifications to others take place when required. Key stakeholders are involved in review and planning to minimise risk. Staff have good knowledge regarding the safeguarding policy and procedures in the home. Recent training has explored and developed the knowledge and actions

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Requires improvement

required. The manager has reviewed and reflected on all complaints and allegations made in the year prior to her arrival at the home. There has been learning. Development and training needs are identified to promote good practice. Two young people were discharged suddenly from the home when their needs could no longer be met. Staff sought advice and guidance from others, and made requests to review plans. Reviews were delayed, behaviours and risk levels escalated, and staff became unable to meet their needs. Managers have reviewed and reflected on their actions. They have reviewed and altered their systems, improving the areas identified as weak. Staff now ensure that assessments and plans are regularly reviewed. Many of the systems in place are in their infancy and need to be embedded. The work completed to date is positive, with all key staff taking on board changes and implementing them. There have been no episodes of missing from the home. The home’s policy,

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Requires improvement

procedure and systems ensure that staff are prepared if an event is to occur. Staff have completed a detailed pre-admission assessment for a planned admission. It explores all known risk factors, providing strategies to minimise and reduce risk, to support the young person to remain safe. It also clarifies if needs can be met. Staff have begun to build positive relationships with the young person which will promote their transition into the home. Medication procedures in the home are robust and effective, with several systems in place to identify errors and manage its administration. Staff have updated and reviewed the home’s location risk assessment, which considers all of the risk factors in the immediate and wider community. Staff are developing relationships with police and other agencies outside of the home. These have visited the home, and have provided education and guidance to staff and young people regarding risk factors. Staff have educated and provided young

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Requires improvement

people with information about e-safety and cyber-bullying. The home’s policy and procedures currently provide restricted access to the Internet. Recruitment processes are thorough and meet the requirements required to ensure that they comply with safer recruitment practice and guidance. Independent visits of the home have provided independent scrutiny. The manager has acted on recommendations made. The registered manager is to review the current process to ensure that it is sufficiently robust and effective, and that some visits are unannounced. Judgement grade

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Good

The home is managed by a house manager who is currently applying to Ofsted to become the registered manager of the home. The home’s manager is managing the home effectively. The application process has been ongoing for several months, but it is hoped that all issues are now clarified and near completion. The manager has made significant changes, implementing and acting on previous requirements and recommendations set. They are suitably qualified and experienced for the role. Staff are knowledgeable and motivated, and were observed to be confident with young people. Managers have good relationships with young people. They regularly review young people’s needs and progress made with them. Case records are of good quality and reflect the daily lives of young people. Young people are engaged in target setting and review. Leaders and managers have good knowledge and insight into the needs of young people in their care. They have

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Good

aspirations for each young person and assist them to fulfil their potential. They advocate on their behalf and challenge others when needed. Managers are effective, with good systems being applied to review and monitor the quality of care provided. Evaluation forms the basis of the home’s development plan. The plan identifies key areas to improve and develop, and has clear action points. Robust independent visits take place, providing additional scrutiny and oversight of the quality of care provided. Managers use the evaluation to act on the areas identified. There has been some significant learning from complaints and allegations made which the manager has taken on board and addressed. They have sought feedback from stakeholders and young people. This has influenced the changes made in the home. Leaders and managers are developing key relationships with others outside of the home. They have developed positive relationships with voluntary organisations in

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Good

the community. Staff have developed positive working relationships with families. They have regular contact and provide weekly and monthly updates to families and carers. Parents are encouraged to visit the home, and meet with staff to explore and review plans. Staff work with families to identify a consistent approach to behaviour and support provided to young people. Experienced skilled staff work at the home. New staff complete a three-month induction into the home. The induction process is currently under review, with a new framework being implemented. Staff are provided with a wide variety of training to support them in their role. They are all trained in the home’s preferred method of behaviour management and first aid. Staff have all completed good quality safeguarding training, exploring all risk factors. Staff have also accessed specific training to meet the individual needs of young people. Some staff have the

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Good

required qualification, and others are enrolled and hope to complete the training during the year. Staff have received regular effective supervision and appraisal of their practice. Managers have reviewed the home’s statement of purpose. The home is making a minor variation in the number of young people that it will offer care to, from 14 to 10.

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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’. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 harmed or at risk of harm or 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 ‘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 0300 123 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, work- based 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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