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 . Managers and leaders have had to meet significant challenges since the last inspection, including a temporary change of premises while urgent structural work was undertaken, several staff leaving and the manager temporarily stepping down from her role. It is remarkable that these issues have not had a detrimental impact on the young people; records and observations show that there has been no escalation in disruptive behaviours, or a regression in terms of developmental progress. Although staff were stretched during this time, they remained effective in their care. This is a result of the steps managers took to ameliorate the problems. Specifically, young people were moved to recently refurbished premises on the school campus, further admissions were frozen and prudent use was made of staff,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

including managers, from elsewhere in the organisation. One young person told me he liked living in the temporary accommodation, but prefers being back in the home he is used to being in. This illustrates that the carefully explained moves have been managed well. The young people were asked if they wanted to remain in the premises they had moved into, but both chose to return. Senior managers have taken steps to employ more staff to the home and recently appointed to a vacant post. Perusal of records shows that safer recruitment policies have been meticulously followed, picking up and checking gaps in employment before offering the job to the successful candidate. An induction programme is in place in which new recruits are initially supernumerary, shadowing a permanent colleague, thus avoiding having undue responsibilities before they are adequately trained and prepared. Storage and administration of medication are carefully undertaken. A sample taken

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of medicine-administration records revealed flawless documentation. The statement of purpose only stipulates that supervision for staff will take place frequently, and not how often. This means that the provider does not hold itself sufficiently to account to ensure that staff have the support their role requires. The ‘rule of thumb’ is for supervision to be monthly for full-time staff, but this has not been adhered to. Nevertheless, staff do feel managers are available to give guidance and advice when required. Two young people have left the home in planned moves to adult provision. The key worker has recorded one young person’s transition thoroughly, demonstrating that staff prepared the young person extremely well, emotionally and practically. Although the planning for the other young person is detailed, it lacks evidence of how it was implemented. Other documentation, including key work recording, positive handling plans and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

placement plans are, with the exception of that referred to below, in very good order. Staff give sufficient detail, including handwritten additions as situations change, to ensure that readers understand salient and up-to-date information and can implement agreed strategies and protocols. Although members of staff spoken to were clear about the different delegated responsibilities for young people who are accommodated or on care orders, there remains some confusion about the actual legal status of those in the home. Records not being up dated when the status has changed has not helped this. One young person is no longer ‘looked after’ but the placement plan does not reflect this. In particular, it only contains general arrangements for direct contact with parents; it does not, for example, include the arrangements for the young person to ‘Skype’ or for seeing other family members. The difficulties of recent months have meant that many of the aims to improve the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

service, as written in the review of the quality of care under regulation 45, have been postponed. Nevertheless, practice has developed and young people have made progress. Most notably, staff have concentrated on encouraging desired behaviour rather than imposing sanctions for unwanted conduct. This has resulted in one young person being able to manage his behaviour better as he does not want to miss rewards. Physical interventions have also reduced in frequency. Targets set to increase independence have resulted in increased competence; for example, one young person is able to shop by himself and to make a cake from a mix, as he demonstrated during the inspection. This has been a significant improvement since his admission to the home. The other young person has made small steps towards targets, but has plateaued for some months. As a result, some individual staff have changed their approach to see if they can improve compliance, but there has not been a thorough review to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assess whether the targets are realistic or the strategies to achieve them are the most appropriate. Staff have shown enormous patience in helping the young person make good choices and to undertake tasks he needs to do. Humour, distraction, playfulness, empathy and rewards all play their part in obtaining the desired outcome, even if it takes time. Staff spoke of their high aspirations for young people, and spoke with pride and pleasure about the changes each had achieved since coming to live in the home. Activity logs show that a variety of activities, interests and hobbies are pursued in the home and outside. Although one young person prefers to stay in the home, the other has taken the opportunity to attend a gym and use other facilities in the community. The young people are encouraged to contribute to the life of the home, through house meetings and key work sessions. In addition, complaints in the form of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

‘grumbles’ are encouraged and are dealt with appropriately. One young person was unhappy that new sofas were uncomfortable. Due process was followed, and there is a clear record of the complaint, the response and the action taken in response, which was to purchase a beanbag he could sit on instead. This means the young person knows his views are important and that he can influence his environment.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and run by an education specialist service provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to care for up to four children who have learning disabilities, and focuses on caring for young people who have complex needs that may include autistic spectrum disorder and associated difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is located on the edge of the provider’s school campus, which both the current residents attend, and is within easy access of local services.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3. Specifically, case records must include the statutory provision (if any) under which the child is provided with accommodation. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

If a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website, unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home. (Regulation 16 (4)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The placement plan for a child who is not looked after must set out any arrangements made for contact with the child’s parents, relatives and friends. (Regulation 18 (4)(c)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which should detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice, and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. The arrangements for supervision of staff practice should be included in the statement of purpose. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53 paragraphs 10.8 and 10.10)

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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 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: 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 at: 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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