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

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:

 At the last inspection this home was judged inadequate. A compliance notice and requirements were issued. They are all now met to a high standard.  The manager has taken an innovative approach to training staff and meeting shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. His expectations of care standards are high and staff are clear of what is expected of them.  Focused training for staff is improving their skills and enhancing their understanding of their role. Consequently, children and young people are now experiencing a consistently good standard of care.  Safeguarding procedures have significantly improved. All staff now make robust risk assessments. This ensures that all decisions are well thought out in the best interest of children and young people.  Staff demonstrate excellent practice in locating children missing from the home. Individual missing from home risk assessments are now shared with

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The children's home provision is good because:

the police. This enables care staff and the police to respond quickly when children and young people go missing.  The outside areas of this home are now safe and well kept. Consequently, children and young people can now enjoy the outside space.  Children and young people continue to make good progress in all areas of their development. For some, educational attendance is especially good.  Children and young people participate in a range of social activities, which enhances their social skills and experiences.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  All staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in Regulation 32 (4) within the relevant timescales listed in Regulation 32 (5) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12). This relates to encouraging staff to complete qualifications such as the children and young people’s workforce diploma level 3, to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to undertake their role.  Ensure that staffing is sufficient. Sufficient staff means a home having enough suitably trained staff (including someone in a management role) on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1).

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11 February 2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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people living in the home are

Since the last inspection, the management is working hard to develop staff practice and improve children’s and young people’s experiences of living here.

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people living in the home are

Staff have undertaken intense, bespoke and focused training. Workshops around role modelling and training on values have improved staff knowledge of how their attitudes and actions affect children and young people. As a result, children and young people now witness positive adult role models. This helps children and young people to form appropriate and trusting relationships with staff. One young person commented, ‘I like all the staff, they listen to me when I want them to.’

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people living in the home are

Good-quality placement plans are now in place for all children and young people. As a result, staff are clear on their duties and have a comprehensive understanding of how each individual should be cared for. Children’s and young people’s views about their care are highly prioritised. One-to-one sessions with staff and group meetings provide opportunities for each individual to share their wishes and feelings.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people make good progress in education. Close links between school and residential staff ensure that young people receive a consistent approach at school and in their home. Staff work hard to engage all young people in learning opportunities. Some young people have now started to attend education for the first time in several months.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people enjoy a range of activities such as trampolining, the cinema, shopping and football matches. This broadens their life experience and enhances their social skills.

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people living in the home are

Staff actively promote a healthy diet and exercise for children and young people. As a result, children and young people now choose to engage in physical exercise. They understand the advantages of keeping fit and making healthy food choices. Children and young people benefit from emotional support from the onsite psychologist. This is helping some young people to explore their past life experiences for the first time.

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people living in the home are

Children and young are well prepared for independence. They are proud of their achievements and they enjoy rewards for completing tasks such as cleaning, cooking and shopping. For some, progress in this area is exceptional. For example, individuals who previously found activities such as shopping and self-care difficult now happily undertake these tasks. They are able to wear a varied wardrobe for the first time. This enhances their self-esteem and helps to develop their personal identity.

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people are helped and protected

Since the previous inspection, staff members have been refreshed on their behaviour management training. This has impacted positively on how staff respond to challenging behaviours within the home. A previous regulatory requirement in relation to this is fully met. There has been no use of physical intervention since the last inspection. Positive reward systems inspire children and young people to achieve.

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people are helped and protected

Innovative training around risk assessment and decision making has significantly enhanced staff skills. They are now able to demonstrate why risk assessment is important and they show full accountability as to how decisions are made. One member of staff commented, ‘Now we have smart decisions rather than thinking let’s just do this. We think is it going to be safe and are we teaching young people to do the right thing? We need to make proper decisions and not just make quick decisions.’

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people are helped and protected

Staff demonstrate outstanding practice in relation to locating children and young people who go missing. They go the extra mile to follow children and young people to make sure that they are safe. In addition, a going missing dashboard has been created. This provides quick access to risk assessments, going missing profiles, important telephone numbers, maps of local areas and detailed information of local and major transport links. This provides staff with a wealth of easily accessible information to coordinate a search for a missing child or young person.

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people are helped and protected

A requirement set at the last inspection to ensure that going missing risk assessments are shared with the local police has been met. Sharing this information has informed all professionals of individual’s risks, allowing them to act as quickly as possible to locate children and young people.

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people are helped and protected

Staff have knowledge of risks that can affect young people such as radicalisation, child sexual exploitation and un safe use of the internet Staff know the signs of potential abuse and they are confident to report any safeguarding incidents. The manager has good systems for the monitoring of safeguarding concerns. He is robust in his approach to addressing any child protection issues. One social worker commented, ‘I find them rigorous with safeguarding. They communicate effectively and directly. They act immediately. I always know what has happened and what they are going to do.’

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people are helped and protected

Since the last inspection, significant improvements have been made to the grounds of the home. A new fence, football nets, a well-kept lawn and paved areas create a safe environment for children and young people to enjoy.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager has been in post since October 2014. He is suitably experienced and qualified to undertake the role. He demonstrates dedication, innovation and drive to improve standards. All the requirements and the compliance notice set at the last inspection are met to a high standard. The manager’s expectations of staff conduct are now well defined. The supportive wider senior management team has contributed towards improvements. Specific training on supervision, role modelling and staff values have reinforced the manager’s messages and enhanced staff skills.

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leaders and managers

The majority of staff in this home are new in post. At the last inspection, it was identified that the manager lacked the support of a deputy manager. The deputy manager now supports this home four days a week and will return full time in two weeks. This will further strengthen management support and provide another positive experienced leader for staff to learn from.

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leaders and managers

It was previously identified that only the manager and deputy manager held the required care qualification. Since the last inspection, another member of staff has achieved this and two more members of staff are close to completion. All other members of staff are enrolled or in the process of being enrolled on a relevant qualification. Completion of this course will strengthen staff understanding of their role. It will ensure that the home continues to function within regulations.

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leaders and managers

Staff feel well guided by the manager. Increased supervision during this period has improved staff confidence. The additional training that they have received has increased their knowledge base. They now fully understand what is expected of them and how they should be supporting young people. One member of staff commented, ‘We have been well supported. The extra training has really helped me. The role modelling workshop was brilliant, helping us to reflect and look at our practice. What we should be doing.’

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leaders and managers

Partnership working with external professionals continues to improve. New links with the local police have created another positive support network. This promotes effective information sharing in the best interests of children and young people. The manager advocates for children and young people to ensure that they receive the support that they need.

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leaders and managers

The manager is fully aware of the strengths and areas for development. He has good internal monitoring systems that help him to identify issues and act accordingly. The progress tracking systems demonstrate young people’s achievements and ensure that work is focused on meeting areas of need. The manager is supported by effective external monitoring systems, which help to identify areas for improvement.

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leaders and managers

The home is now working within their statement of purpose. As a result, children and young people receive a good standard of care.

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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

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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