Children's home run by Aspire Child Care Ltd

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 sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have lived in this home for a sustained period of time benefit from and enjoy living in their home. Young people are provided with a clean, safe and comfortable home environment. This positive and nurturing setting has afforded young people a sustained period of placement stability and consistency. This positive and nurturing environment has supported the two young people who have lived in the home for a number of years to continue with their ongoing development and progression. This ongoing and committed care and support has assisted one young person in achieving their goal of successfully returning to their family’s home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that young people who are new to the home are matched well to those who already live in the home. Good assessment and transition planning ensures that everyone is aware of, and happy with, new young people joining the home. This ensures that young people feel safe and happy about their move into the home so that a stable, settled and harmonious home environment is maintained for all involved.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress with their education and their social development. One young person maintains exceptional attendance rates and consequently continues to make good progress with meeting their education targets. Educational progress for another young person has improved greatly since their move into the home. The manager and staff have developed effective working relationships with their education colleagues, which have supported one young person to return successfully into full-time mainstream school after a sustained period of school refusal.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, young people enjoy positive health and they are supported to seek additional health services and medical support as they require them. Staff are mindful of parents’ worries and alleviate these as best they can by ensuring that family members are kept as fully up to date as possible during these incidents. Although the manager is making some attempts to monitor and address one young person’s smoking habits, the current practice that is being used has not been discussed, shared or agreed by the placing local authority or those with parental responsibility. As such, the manager cannot be assured that this current practice is suitable or appropriate, or that it is agreeable to those who hold parental responsibility.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive and nurturing relationships built on trust and respect are used well in this home to de-escalate any heightened behaviours or anxieties. Physical interventions are not used by the staff. Young people are encouraged to manage their emotional responses in a safe and managed way. Staff role model calm and positive behaviour and support and encourage young people to behave in this way. When young people engage in inappropriate behaviour, age-appropriate sanctions are used. Loss of privileges and meaningful discussions with staff support young people to consider and modify their anti-social behaviours and redress the consequences of their actions which have caused distress to others. This ensures that young people understand the consequences of their behaviour so that they can change and adapt it.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management arrangements for this home remain effective. The manager quickly responds to and addresses any complaints which are raised about the home. Staff are dedicated and committed to providing a high standard of care to all young people. They speak fondly of all the young people, understand their needs and vulnerabilities well and work well within the constraints of young people’s care plans and risk assessments. Effective use of both the internal and external quality assurance systems ensures that the manager understands the needs, plans and progression paths for young people. The manager uses the action plans identified within these systems to continue to develop the service to promote and enhance young people’s progress and safety.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the three requirements raised at the last inspection. Commissioners and family members are now informed of the staffing arrangements for the young people within the home, as these details are now included within the home’s updated statement of purpose. Furthermore, the staff now receive the support and supervision as set out in the home’s statement of purpose and confirm that they feel sufficiently supported by the manager to perform their roles well. In addition, safe recruitment practice now enhances the safety and well-being of young people. The manager now ensures that a full employment history together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment are obtained. This ensures that only those adults who are safe and suitable work with vulnerable young people.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Suitable action has been taken to address one of the two recommendations raised at the last inspection. Young people become increasingly safe within the home as they are supported and educated on the potential risks associated with using the virtual online world. Staff support young people well so that young people can develop their knowledge and understanding of how to keep themselves safe and the potential dangers that they may be exposed to when accessing and using the internet. As such, young people’s safety and welfare is enhanced. The manager has yet to address the final recommendation raised at the last inspection. Consequently, young people are provided with outdated and inaccurate information when they join the home, as the information within the ‘Children’s guide’ has not been reviewed or updated since April 2015.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care and support for up to two children and young people. The home provides support and accommodation for children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/07/2016 Full Good 28/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/06/2015 Full Good 12/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

p.6

Recommendations

 As part of reviewing and revising the statement of purpose, the registered person should review and update the ‘Children’s guide’ as necessary and make sure that children are given an explanation of any changes. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards', page 24, paragraph 4.23)

p.6

Recommendations

 Staff should continually assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. When there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps that the home will take to manage any assessed risk on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.6

Recommendations

This is with particular reference to ensuring that young people’s placement plans clearly set out how young people are being supported by staff to manage their cigarette smoking, and that these plans have been agreed and signed by the placing authority and/or those with parental responsibility for the child.

p.6

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’.

p.7

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. Whenever 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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8