Children's home run by Aspire House Partnership in Harrow

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring has improved. The registered manager has appointed a new independent visitor. Reports are now thorough and useful in helping develop the service. However, they do not specify the visitor’s opinion on children’s safety and well-being as required by regulation. Also, there was a two-month gap, while appointing a new visitor, when no one visited the home to monitor the quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have experienced stability in terms of staffing. There have been no changes to the staff team in this inspection period. Staff support children to stay in touch with their families, sometimes with family members visiting the home. The manager invited families, staff and social workers to a Christmas party in the home on the day of the inspection so children could celebrate with all those involved in their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children currently live in the home but did not contribute to this inspection. Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and two have moved on. Two of the new children went missing a high number of times and this was part of previously established behaviour. They then moved on for reasons outside of the home’s control. One incident, which took place elsewhere, presented a serious risk to the home. Staff risk assessed the incident, managed it well with the police and appropriately reported this to Ofsted. The current residents do not place themselves at risk by going missing and conform well to any legal restrictions on their liberty.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor raised the point that admitting three children at the same time with similar profiles was not in the home’s best interests and it is preferable for admissions to be staggered to allow children to settle in and an informed knowledge base to develop. Although the manager conducts safeguarding risk assessments, these do not specifically assess the impact one child’s admission may have on existing residents, which would improve the admission process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has lived at the home long term. There is good progress in terms of education attendance and employment. There is some ‘drift’ in conforming to aspects of his care plan. The other resident has settled reasonably well. However, placement planning did not take place at the beginning of the child’s stay, not all essential paperwork is available to help staff plan for this child and no education or training is in place. Staff are encouraging his learning with BBC Bitesize or visits to the library. Nevertheless, the child is not receiving the education he is entitled to in order to progress. Staff do provide some challenge to placing authorities but not always with successful outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the two requirements and one of two recommendations made at the last inspection. The children’s register now meets regulations as it includes their previous address and where they have moved on to, providing an accurate record. The manager has amended the workforce development plan to indicate which staff have first aid qualifications and when refresher training is due. Also, the timescales for staff to achieve core training are included in the development plan. This will help to track staff development to ensure a qualified team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the children’s request, the manager is converting a games room into a computer room. The lounge and kitchen are reasonably furnished and clean. Some aspects still appear institutional, such as notices on a ‘young people’s noticeboard’, signs about kitchen hygiene and a list of rules. The manager advises that the appearance of the garden was improved. However, weeds have grown again and the garden appears unkempt in a few places. A recommendation related to making the premises as domestic as possible for children, made at the last inspection, is repeated in this report.

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Information about this children's home

A private company operates this children’s home providing care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/08/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 10/03/2015 Full Adequate

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which – (a) include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44(1)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out in particular the independent person’s opinion as to whether – (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 31/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. With specific reference to reviewing food handling and hygiene notices and displayed information in a few places which may appear institutional and attending to the maintenance of the garden. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Ensure that where the placing authority or other relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children. Expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see

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Recommendations

paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  Ensure the registered person only accepts placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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:. 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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