Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

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 live in an environment where disability is not viewed as a barrier to achieving a full, meaningful life.  Levels of care are high, with individualised plans, strategies and areas of personal risk in place that allow specific needs to be addressed.  Good educational arrangements, coupled with good levels of attendance, help young people to make good educational progress.  Young people settle well and make good progress in all areas of their lives. This is recognised by parents and other professionals.  Independence is promoted to maximise a young person’s full potential quickly after admission, and this underpins later transition planning.  The home provides young people with an inclusive, non-judgemental environment where consultation and choice are integral to everyday life.  The strong, trusting relationships formed between young people and staff contribute to the way the home operates and keep behaviour management

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The children’s home provision is good because:

issues down to a minimum.  Young people feel safe and are kept safe. Challenging, disruptive and unsafe behaviours reduce as they settle into the home.  A well-trained, relatively experienced staff group have the skills and commitment to care well for a group of young people with diverse needs.  The home is well organised and effectively managed.

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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 the design of the home allows anyone who uses a wheelchair the ability to access freely the play area from the dining room, along with all areas of the garden. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraphs 3.24)

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that all incidents of physical restraint are recorded with consistency. Additional comments that do not appear to have been followed up should not appear in the records. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by an independent company. The home is registered for eight young people who have learning disabilities, three of whom can be accommodated on a short-break basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

27/08/2014 Interim Declined in effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people, whether living in the home full time or receiving respite care, experience high of levels of care. Individual needs are recognised and met, with disability not being viewed as a barrier to achieving a full, meaningful life. A dependent group of young people with diverse needs form strong, trusting relationships with a staff group that provide high-quality, consistent care. As a result, young people progress and move forward in all areas of their lives.

p.6

Good

Young people make good progress based on their starting points. For example, some have been transferred to the home from adolescent psychiatric units, and others have a history of aggression that has caused placement breakdown previously. Staff are skilled in settling young people and providing them with routines that allow them to experience a more socially accepted lifestyle.

p.6

Good

A social worker spoke about the progress being made by a young person: ‘His social skills have come on. I observed him in a local shop. He was polite and explained exactly what he wanted, but was aware of how much he had to spend.’ The social worker finished the discussion by stating, `this is the most stable placement he has ever had.’

p.6

Good

The understanding of staff regarding the needs of each young person, coupled with the quality of the relationships they build with them, their parents and other professionals, form the foundation of the home’s operation. The consistency of care given allows young people to develop trust in others and builds their self- confidence. As a result, they have opportunities to achieve real personal success, which fosters their self-esteem. A parent captured the view of others when they said: `My daughter has consistent staff who know her well and are able to understand what her needs are despite her being non-verbal and unable to communicate.’

p.6

Good

Progress can be evaluated by reviewing documents such as planning documentation, coping strategies, assessments of individual risk, reports prepared for reviews, monthly reports compiled by staff that are sent to social workers and parents, and in the records of the individual work undertaken by staff. All are individual to each young person and are tailored to meet specific needs. The quality of planning documentation is an area of improvement. These documents are reviewed and updated regularly, which keeps them up to date.

p.6

Good

The arrangements to meet young people’s educational needs are good. All are in full-time education at a special school operated by the Priory group. The school acts as a hub to this and two other homes by providing education and specialist input, such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, along with the support of a behaviour analyst, learning disability nurse and cognitive behaviour therapist. Attendance levels are good, reflecting the good educational progress young people are making, based on their starting points. Appropriate community-based arrangements are in place, which meet the everyday health needs of young people. The home maintains good links with community- based services that know and understand the specific needs young people have. An example of a young person being seen promptly by a GP was noted during the inspection. More specialist services such as those for mental health can be

p.6

Good

accessed when required. The arrangements for storing, administering and recording medication are good. The home’s own arrangements with community- based health facilities, coupled with the specialist input available, ensure that all aspects of a young person’s physical and mental health are being addressed.

p.7

Good

Young people enjoy and benefit from a range of activities that take full advantage of community-based facilities. They choose activities with staff that form the basis of their weekly activity programme. Activities are individualised to meet specific needs. Fitness and exercise form part of each young person’s weekly programme due to the home’s drive towards fitness and health. Young people are consulted and choose menus. Staff ensure that meals are balanced and nutritious. This helps to educate young people and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

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Good

Consultation levels between staff and young people are high, which reflects the levels of communication between them. Staff constantly offer young people choices on an informal basis. Formal meetings with young people are held monthly, which are recorded. This gives them some autonomy regarding certain aspects of the home’s daily functioning, as well as giving them choices to make on a daily basis. It shows young people that their views are important and taken seriously.

p.7

Good

Preparation for transition to adult life is good. Reviews look to plan effectively as young people move towards adulthood. For example, one young person’s planned transition is due to be completed shortly. The planning has been flexible to meet his needs. Developing independence skills is an area that starts to be addressed quickly after admission. Young people are encouraged to undertake household chores, take on responsibilities such as keeping their room tidy, and develop skills that will benefit them in adulthood, for example practical skills such as washing clothes, managing money and cooking.

p.7

Good

Young people benefit from living in an environment that is purposely designed and organised to meet their needs. They are relaxed and at ease in their surroundings, which they say they like. Bedrooms are all single occupancy with their own bathrooms. They are personalised to suit the taste of the occupant. The overall quality of the state of repair, décor, furnishings, fixtures and equipment is high.

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Good

Young people can move around their designated areas inside the home freely. However, for those who use a wheelchair, free independent access to the garden and play areas is restricted, because these young people need help to negotiate obstacles such as steps.

p.8

Good

Young people live in an environment that is safe and where they feel safe and secure. Up-to-date assessments of risk, the regular servicing of safety equipment and good working practices contribute towards the environment being kept safe. This is recognised by parents in some of the comments received. For example, one said: ‘My daughter always has somebody with her to keep her safe. The environment is clean and clear of bits, which is important as she has severe pica and will eat anything.’

p.8

Good

Although not having any need to test them recently, appropriate safeguarding procedures are in place. Staff are well trained and have regular top-up training in safeguarding as well as associated areas of risk, for example, in child sexual exploitation and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff are able to demonstrate an understanding of their role and responsibility in keeping young people safe. Good, professional working relationships are in place with the external agencies charged with keeping young people safe.

p.8

Good

The home has not experienced young people going missing. Despite this, there are appropriate risk assessments and clearly laid-out practices for staff to follow should such an incident occur. This proactive approach is recognised as good practice.

p.8

Good

Young people operate within clearly defined boundaries that they are comfortable with.

p.8

Good

Staffing levels are high, which helps to keep safe young people who can be prone to impulsive, damaging behaviour. The presence of a staff group who understand the needs of the young people in their care, along with their associated behaviours, creates a non-punitive environment. For example, good behaviour is rewarded, while challenging, damaging behaviour does not draw negative responses from staff because the home operates without the use of sanctions.

p.8

Good

Relationships with young people and their families flourish. The stability and consistency of care given by the staff team help in reducing the number of serious behavioural incidents that take place. Behaviour management is monitored effectively by senior staff, with incidents reviewed to see whether things could have been managed better and whether anything can be learned. This helps to improve practice and reduce the number of incidents occurring, and also aids consistency.

p.8

Good

Records of all behaviour management incidents are up to date and properly kept. The manager’s attention was drawn to the records of physical intervention. This links to a matter of consistency when completing these records. For no apparent reason and with no evidence of any follow-up, some records contained extra comments added at the bottom of a page where no entry is required.

p.9

Good

Staff numbers have increased recently and will continue to do so to ensure that the diverse needs of young people continue to be addressed. Recruitment practice and clearance procedures are thorough and meet regulatory requirements and current guidance. Recent staff recruitment is due to the growth of the staff team and is not just to replace staff who have left. Overall staff retention is good.

p.9

Good

An experienced and suitably qualified registered manager provides strong leadership. Her senior team of staff work supportively and cohesively with her, sharing the ethos and culture created in the home, along with her vision for the future. Expectations of staff performance are high, for example in the targets set for staff training.

p.9

Good

Staff say that they feel well supported. An active programme of supervision takes place regularly where issues, working practices and staff development are reviewed and discussed. Appraisals take place annually. This level of support and the review of performance help staff to understand the implications of their actions, giving them a greater appreciation of their responsibilities and the impact their working practices have on young people.

p.9

Good

Communication levels among the staff team themselves and with the senior team are high and effective. For example, time is set aside for staff to hand over at each shift change. This is another practice that enhances the consistency of care. The overall morale of staff was observed as being high.

p.9

Good

An active core staff training programme is in place and there is an expectation that staff will participate fully in the programme. This means that core skills such as safeguarding, first aid and physical intervention are refreshed and updated regularly. This ensures that staff skills remain current to meet the existing needs of young people. More specialist training is arranged where necessary to introduce new skills for staff. For example, this year staff have received specialist training in Tourette’s syndrome, e-safety and the ‘Prevent’ duty and radicalisation. This training improves knowledge and skills as staff look after young people with ever- changing and more complex needs.

p.9

Good

The training programme, along with other areas, is closely monitored by senior staff, who are now aided by the introduction of an up-to-date, modern electronic calendar system. One function of this system gives senior staff an overview of how the training programme is progressing and alerts them to issues that could be problematic. This has improved the overall internal monitoring of the home.

p.10

Good

Managers have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas that require development. There is a proactive management team, which regularly reviews and reflects on current practice and looks to see whether it can be improved. Both internal and external monitoring is thorough, with detailed reports being produced. The internal monitoring of the home is an area of improvement since the previous full inspection.

p.10

Good

The home has a good record of compliance with the regulations. Since the previous inspection, no requirements or recommendations have been made. However, a number of new initiatives, working practices and improvements have been introduced since then. They include improvements to the home such as a new patio door, new flooring and redecoration. There is greater delegation to staff, giving them more responsibility, and systems of recording have been revised and updated. Greater success is being achieved when chasing outstanding medical information, and these, along with the introduction of staff and young person of the month awards, which reward hard work and progress, reflect the progress the home has made in the last year.

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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 the ‘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 children looked after 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 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 that 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 whom 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, 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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