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

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:

 Staff are trained, and have skills in effective communication with the young people, many of whom have complex communication needs. This allows young people to make choices about their daily living arrangements, to have a voice in the running of the home and to raise any concerns or complaints if necessary.  The home supports the young people to engage in social and recreational activities, both within and outside of the home. For many of the young people, engaging in outside activities is a new experience, and this enhances their life experiences and quality of life.  Full programmes of educational provision are in place for each young person, supported by personal education planning and review. Additionally, pupil premium monies are spent wisely in the support of young people’s educational progress.  Staff are trained in behaviour management systems, which do not present a risk to young people when physical restraint becomes necessary. The home

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The children's home provision is good because:

has developed positive reward systems to encourage good behaviours, and sanctions are not used as the home deems these as inappropriate for this client group. When a young person’s behaviour presents a risk of harm to the other young people placed, the home consults with the placing authority and makes plans to support the placement ending.  Careful and considered preparation and planning is undertaken when moving a new young person into the home.  The home has met all of the recommendations of the previous inspection, and the decor, furnishings and lighting have been improved to give a more homely feel and to meet the needs of young people who have autism spectrum disorder. The children’s guide is now in a user-friendly format.  The managers are required to ensure that there is a stable staff group that has been trained in the appropriate qualification and in first aid.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘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

13: The leadership and management standard The registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. Specifically, they must ensure that there are at least 80% staff trained to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) level 3 of the children and young person’s workforce, and that all staff are trained in first aid. (Regulation 13(2)(c)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard The registered person must ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. Specifically, they must ensure that there is a stable staff group. (Regulation 13(2)(e)) 26/01/2017

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered for the accommodation and care of seven young people, irrespective of gender, who have learning disabilities. Education provision can also be offered within the wider organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

While there are some improvements necessary to ensure that young people benefit from the consistency of a stable staff group that has undertaken the appropriate training course, and all staff have been trained in first aid, the overall experiences and progress of children and young people living in the home are good. This is achieved by: − good relationships between staff and young people − young people being able to engage in activities in the local community − effective methods of communication being put in place to support young people with complex communication needs, including helping them to know how to make complaints if necessary − good educational provision and support − improvement in young people’s social and educational development − children and young people who are new to the home being welcomed sensitively and with careful and considered planning, and − young people having supported contact with their families and friends.

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Good

The young people benefit from supportive relationships with staff who understand their needs. Key workers fully understand how these needs are to be met and are clear about the particular risks to individual young people. Although many of the young people have complex communication needs, the home has trained staff in communication methods such as Makaton and the picture exchange communication system (PECS), and other young people have been given specialist equipment to assist them. This means that young people are able to express their wishes and feelings, and to raise complaints, and it allows them to make choices about such matters as the clothing they wish to wear, food they wish to eat and activities they wish to take part in. The inspector observed positive relationships between care workers and young people, while choices were being made by them. Young people enjoy a range of activities both in the home and outside it. This has

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Good

enabled several of the young people to engage in things they had previously not experienced. One parent told the inspector, ‘He has really improved here. He is able to engage in activities in the local community and he was never able to do that before.’ Another parent said, ‘She gets involved in all sorts of activities both inside and outside the home, which she really enjoys. I can’t fault it.’ There is good education provision. Young people attend the organisation’s specialist school, and, for one young person whose education needs cannot be met in a classroom setting, a home tutoring arrangement has been put in place by the school. Although this is delivered by care staff, the headteacher visits the home on a weekly basis to monitor the programme and to assess the young person’s progress. There are personal education plans in place and these are reviewed appropriately. Key workers attend these review meetings. The home has been

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Good

instrumental in directing how pupil premium monies are to be spent to give the best educational support to young people. The majority of the young people benefit from progress in their social and behavioural relationships. Staff are trained in appropriate methods of behaviour management, and reward systems that the home has developed have led to improvements in young people’s social development. In one case, this was not successful, and the home, after consultation with the placing authority, gave notice on the placement before the young person concerned presented a danger of harm to the other young people placed. Transition plans have been put in place to support the change of placement. The inspector observed careful and considered preparation for the support of a new placement. This involved an occupational therapy assessment of the home and adaptations being made, a number of visits by the new young person to meet and

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Good

get to know the staff and the existing young people, and the new young person being asked about their choice of decor for their room. Such arrangements are indicative of good practice. Good arrangements are in place to support young people with contact with birth families and friends and the home has developed a ‘handover sheet’, which supports communication between the school, the home and parents. This means that parents are kept informed about the young person’s progress and any items of importance.

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Good

The way that children and young people are helped and protected by this children’s home is good. This is achieved by: − the way that service delivery is tailored to meet the needs of those young people who have complex social and communication difficulties − effective key working − regular updating of young people’s individual risk assessments − careful attention to the living environment − effective working with safeguarding agencies − effective placement planning − training of staff in behaviour management methods, which keep young people safe − creative ways of rewarding good behaviour − the careful vetting and monitoring of staff to prevent unsuitable people from having the opportunity to harm children and young people or to place them at risk, and − ensuring that the relevant authorities are informed of any concerns about inappropriate adults.

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Good

Although many of the young people placed have limited verbal skills and complex communication needs, the home works hard to ensure that children are made aware of how they can raise concerns or get help if needed. This is achieved by an ongoing revision of the children’s guide in a creative symbol format and by staff being trained in effective communication methods, such as Makaton and PECS. The home has enabled one young person to be provided with a communication app through creative use of the pupil premium fund, and this has improved their educational progress and their communication ability. There are regular key- working sessions in which young people are able to share any concerns they might have about their care. Key workers demonstrate a good awareness of individual young people’s needs, and this provides young people with a good avenue of support. Young people’s needs and areas of risk are clearly spelt out in a placement plan

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Good

and in risk assessments, which are regularly reviewed and updated. Careful attention is paid to the living environment to ensure that any risk of harm is reduced. This includes routine health and safety, and fire safety checks. A location risk assessment is regularly updated. The security of the perimeter is made safe by the use of gates and fencing, which are unobtrusive but ensure that young people are not at risk from traffic. Placement planning includes an occupational therapy assessment of the building, and the inspector observed adaptations being fitted to the home in preparation for a new placement. All of these measures help to ensure that young people are kept safe. Some young people have complex behaviour management needs, and all staff receive training in a method called ‘team teach’ during their induction period. This helps to ensure that young people are kept safe from inappropriate methods of

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Good

restraint. The ethos of the home is positive reward for good behaviour using a creative system, which the home has developed. The home does not use sanctions, as this would have little effective understanding by young people who have severe autistic spectrum disorder. A clearly written safeguarding policy is in place and staff receive training in safeguarding, which is regularly updated. All staff are appropriately recruited and vetted, and there is ongoing monitoring of their suitability to work with children and young people. The home informs the Local Safeguarding Children Board and local authority designated officer of any concerns arising, and effective action is taken. These measures help to ensure that unsuitable people do not have the opportunity to harm children and young people or to place them at risk. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to ensure that: − children and young people have the consistency of a stable staff group − the majority of staff have completed an appropriate training programme and − all staff are trained in first aid.

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Requires improvement

However: − the home has a permanent, suitably experienced and qualified registered manager − the manager and staff receive regular and effective supervision − the quality of care is effectively monitored and the service is developed and improved − the statement of purpose and children’s guide are effectively reviewed − the home is kept in good repair and is suitably decorated and furnished − case records are up to date and well ordered − the home reviews placements that may put other young people at risk − the home communicates and works well with parents, placing agencies and other professionals − the leader and staff champion young people’s needs − all significant events are notified to the appropriate authorities, and − the recommendations of the previous inspection have been met in full.

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Requires improvement

Comprehensive children looked after care plans and the home’s placement plans are in place for each young person, and these are reviewed in a timely manner, as required by regulation. These plans identify how young people’s needs are to be met and assess any areas of risk that staff need to be mindful of. The management effectively reviews placements in consultation with placing authorities and family members. The work can be challenging and physically demanding for staff. The accident book records of the injuries to staff caused by being bitten or scratched by young people are exceptionally high, and this has led to a young person’s placement being terminated, due to the anticipated risk to the other young people placed. There has been a high turnover of staff since the time of the previous inspection, and this has resulted in there being an insufficient number of staff who have been in post long enough to undertake the appropriate training qualification, or who

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Requires improvement

have been trained in first aid. This means that young people may not be given the highest standard of care or attention in the event of an accident occurring. Additionally, it may mean that young people do not receive consistent care from people they are familiar with. Staff report that they feel well managed, supervised and supported by regular monthly supervision and team meetings. There is a comprehensive induction programme in place for new staff and good access to ongoing training in the core areas of the work. The organisation has a director of autism, whom managers and staff may consult, and who provides direct staff training in this subject. There is also a speech therapist, who assesses each young person’s needs in this area and who gives guidance and information to staff about individual young people’s needs. All managers and staff undertake an annual performance appraisal, which identifies

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Requires improvement

their training and development needs. An independent visitor conducts monthly visits and writes a report, which makes recommendations for service development and improvement. In consultation with all key stakeholders, there are reviews of the quality of care at a frequency determined by regulation, which also make recommendations for service development and improvement. There is evidence that these recommendations have been acted on, and this means that the home is proactive in improving and developing the service. Copies of these reports are sent to the regulatory body in a timely way. The statement of purpose is comprehensive and clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the home. The statement is reviewed annually. The previous inspection report recommended that the children’s guide be produced in a user- friendly format, and this has been done and is being further developed. This means that, with staff support, young people are able to access information about the

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Requires improvement

day-to-day living arrangements in the home and know where they can go to get help if needed. The other recommendation of the previous inspection report concerned improving the living environment to give a more homely feel to the home. In consultation with the director of autism, improvements have been made to the colour schemes and furnishings in the home. The lighting configuration throughout the home now has ceiling dimmer lights, and there is a well-equipped sensory room. All of these measures improve the quality of the lives of the young people. Placing authorities, fellow professionals and parents value the standard of care provided by the home and feel that communication from the home is good. A daily communication ‘handover sheet’ has been set up, which ensures that school, home and parents are fully informed about a young person’s daily progress. One independent reviewing officer commented, ‘I was impressed with everything I saw

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Requires improvement

and how they were coping and caring.’ A placing social worker said, ‘I am more than pleased with the quality of care provided by the home. The home has made improvements to the home and it is now much more homely. A home education programme is in place, which the staff apply.”

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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 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 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 that 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 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, 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

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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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