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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are making good progress and continue to develop positive strategies to assist them in managing and self-regulating their behaviour and emotions. They are developing essential life and social skills which is enhancing their future life opportunities. Young people are supported to complete household chores, learn to shop, cook basic meals and budget their finances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have improved the safeguarding knowledge and understanding of staff and completed training and questionnaires with staff to gain a fuller understanding of the knowledge they have and any gaps in their practice. Managers apply a robust approach to safeguarding, taking swift action when needed and making prompt referrals to other agencies when required. Records provide a clear evidence trail from instigation through to outcome. Managers review and monitor all concerns and they ensure that all actions identified are acted on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have acted on all complaints made and responded to complainants. They were proactive following an unsettled evening in the home. Young people wrote apology letters and delivered them to local residents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have listened to and acted on the concerns raised by young people in the home. Staff encourage young people to share their views and explore ways of solving difficulties and conflicts that arise. The voice of young people is very present in the home. Young people have been requesting a house pet for a significant period of time. The home now has a kitten which all young people have been involved in welcoming to the home and they actively assist in caring for it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to address their basic and more complex health needs. Staff review plans and protocols ensuring that they provide clarity about actions required should a condition deteriorate. They have supported young people to attend medical appointments and reviews. Young people are beginning to address long-standing health needs, which is having a positive impact on their health and well-being. Staff encourage young people to lead a healthy lifestyle by taking part in physical activities and eating a well-balanced diet. All young people are engaged in education, with staff supporting those in transition to explore their options and visit new education settings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff follow clear behaviour support plans which detail practical strategies for staff to follow. When incidents occur they complete detailed records of the events, strategies used and outcomes. Young people are offered an opportunity to review and reflect on their behaviours and feelings. Staff are trained in the home’s preferred method of behaviour management. Staff minimise the use of physical intervention; when it has been used they detail which method has been used, by whom and for how long. Managers review and monitor all incidents with plans and de-escalation strategies reviewed as required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are proactive in their approach to missing-from-home episodes. They use a coordinated collaborative approach to managing episodes of missing-from-home- episodes. Staff keep detailed records of episodes and return-to-care information. Missing-from-home plans detail required actions to manage risk. Levels of missing- from-home episodes have reduced, with young people developing positive alternative strategies. Plans are shared with local police and other stakeholders, promoting the joined-up approach to managing incidents of young people going missing. The manager intends to link child sexual exploitation risk assessments to missing plans to ensure that all risks factors are considered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New admissions to the home have been well supported through the application of detailed robust transition plans. Staff consider all known risk factors with plans and assessments detailing how and what is needed to support young people to minimise and reduce risk. The manager has developed a child-friendly process to prepare young people prior to moving in to the home. They are fully involved in the early stages of planning and visit the home. Managers have assessed that this process is having a positive impact on young people’s transitions into the home and they are settling more quickly. A young person has kept a diary of her experiences of settling into te home and explored what may help others in the future. Staff support young people to move on from the home. They assist young people to explore their options and develop practical life skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff maintain detailed risk assessments and plans which provide essential information and detail that enables staff to meet young people’s needs. Risk assessments are thorough, detailing historical and new risk factors. One specific risk management plan for a risk-taking behaviour was not detailed on the home’s risk assessment for the individual. The required approach was detailed in a separate protocol. Regular review of target setting occurs. The manager plans to change the recording systems to promote the ability of staff to assess young people’s progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well presented and homely, and young people take pride in the home and its appearance. Staff go the extra mile, ensuring that the home is pleasant and welcoming to young people. They encourage young people to personalise their bedrooms. Young people have good relationships with staff, seeking their support and guidance when they are anxious or worried.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s location risk assessment is very detailed, with input gathered from other agencies. It provides current information about risk factors in the local area and strategies to minimise risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager registered with Ofsted in the late autumn. She has been effective in bringing about positive change to the quality of care offered in the home. She has acted on all of the requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regular visits from the independent visitor provide a robust additional layer of scrutiny of the home. The manager uses a variety of systems to regularly review, monitor and evaluate the quality of care provided in the home. She has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses, which is utilised in the homes development plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have good insight into each young person’s needs, having a clear understanding of the plans in place to support them. Managers and staff regularly review plans, exploring current strategies and interventions used. Through this they developing the consistent and effective approaches used by staff in the home. They have developed effective positive working relationships with others ensuring joined up planning for young people.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and run by a national private organisation that also provides education provision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/07/2016 Full Good 01/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 06/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 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 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: 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 children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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