Children's Home run by Aspire Child Care Ltd in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 1 SC413779 Registered provider: Aspire Child Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Good-quality, individualised care is provided by a small and caring staff team. The young people have forged good relationships with the staff team; this is because the team has remained consistent during their time at the home.  Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and to understand the importance of maintaining good health. They are provided with good information and advice about a range of important health matters.  Staff are conscientious and ensure that young people’s welfare is promoted at all times. They have supported and enabled young people to make better life choices. This has resulted in a significant reduction in missing-from-home episodes.  The home works well with other agencies, such as the police and placing authorities, to keep young people safe. Professionals spoken with during the inspection were complimentary about the support provided to the young people.  The manager is an effective leader who is supported by a committed staff team.

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Key findings from this inspection

She is child focused and has high aspirations for young people. Staff feel valued and share the manager’s vision to improve the life experiences of young people.  The staff team benefits from regular supervisions and team meetings, and participates fully in development opportunities. This ensures that staff are well equipped to meet the individual needs of the young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Not all young people benefit from good education outcomes as some refuse to engage with the education provision that has been identified for them.  The staff continue to develop their resilience, and recognise the feelings that arise from working with young people who display complex and challenging behaviours.  Procedures are in place to ensure that relevant professionals and agencies are informed of significant events. However, this system is not sufficiently robust. On at least one occasion the registered manager did not notify HMCI of information pertaining to the protection of children.  The review of the home’s quality of care report lacks feedback from social workers, young people and parents. These shortfalls restrict the manager in identifying whether the care that the home provides is effective. Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/08/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child protection enquiry is instigated or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considered to be serious (Regulation 4(4)(d)(e)) 30/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating and must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 30/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Staff need to have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for learning. If a child’s progress is not in line with their agreed targets or next steps, staff should seek expert advice from educational professionals, such as the virtual school head. Staff must challenge the child’s education or training provider if the child does not receive sufficient support to progress as outlined in their plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.11)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely and domestic environments. This specifically relates to addressing general wear and tear issues around the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 Staff should have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. When necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (Staff should have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. When necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide Staff should have the skills to respond Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 5 to each child’s individual behaviour. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In the main, young people enjoy stable placements, as confirmed by one social worker who said: ‘This is [Name’s] longest placement to date, and has certainly been one of the most stable.’ This stability provides a good foundation from which young people can develop emotional resilience, good relationships and a positive self-view. Staff recognise the impact of young people’s early-life experiences on their behaviour and presentation and work hard to provide a secure base. Staff invest their time in the young people by being interested in young people’s experiences, listening to their views and opinions and supporting them with situations that cause stress and anxiety. Staff offer reassurance and help to resolve issues in a calm manner, and also advocate on their behalf. This positive approach is helping young people to develop relationships and manage challenging situations in a more positive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational outcomes are variable. Some young people have made excellent progress and have clear aspirations for the future. Unfortunately, for one young person attainment and progress is poor. The manager and staff acknowledge the challenges they face in supporting young people’s educational engagement and have escalated their concerns with individual education provisions. There is clear evidence that every effort is made to challenge barriers and promote the young person’s participation. That said, this young person continues to refuse to attend. So, future learning and employment opportunities are compromised as the young person has not gained the skills and qualifications needed in adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that young people’s views and opinions are central to the development and review of how care is delivered. This is achieved through regular meetings and consultations with staff. Staff are skilled at communicating effectively with young people to ensure that they are consulted and listened to with regard to all aspects of their care. This means that young people grow in confidence, and are empowered to share their views and contribute to making decisions that affect their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote meaningful and safe contact for all young people, with their families. This is facilitated in line with the placing authorities’ plans. Young people are encouraged to develop appropriate friendships with peers, and staff make every effort to get to know young people’s friends, as good parents would do. This positive approach increases young people’s sense of belonging and enhances their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s physical health has improved because they are encouraged and supported to take pride in their appearance, eat healthily and take lots of exercise. Staff ensure that young people have good access to information and guidance on all health issues. This enhances young people’s awareness of risks associated with smoking, substance misuse and sexual health matters. Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 6 Young people’s hobbies and interests are encouraged and promoted. At times, young people are reluctant to engage. However, through the implementation of good routines and lots of encouragement young people are able to develop interests and make new friends. Interests include movie nights with staff, youth club, bike riding and water sports. Young people are encouraged in line with their age and cognitive ability to learn new skills such as keeping their rooms tidy and helping with household tasks. This helps

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

young people acquire self-care skills and feel part of the household.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The property presents as a welcoming environment. However, some redecoration and repair work is required. This includes replacing damaged fixtures and fittings. The manager does have a maintenance plan and has acknowledged that further work is required. This work will make for a more homely environment.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people’s welfare is promoted because staff are aware of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and as a result, they have a sufficient level of understanding and awareness of the procedures that they must implement when safeguarding concerns are identified. Records demonstrate that when concerns arise, staff respond to these appropriately and promptly. This was confirmed by a social worker who said: ‘Staff are alert to risks and are quick to respond. They maintain regular contact with professionals and ensure all relevant information is passed on.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are sufficiently detailed, and are updated regularly. They provide an overview of identified behaviours, triggers and strategies for mitigating risks. Changes to these plans are clearly communicated so that all staff are aware of any new or emerging areas of risk for each young person. This provides effective protection to young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Some young people have made significant progress in identifying and reducing their risk- taking behaviour. For example, one young person who has a history of going missing on almost a daily basis has not been missing for a considerable period of time. This represents significant progress and further demonstrates that this young person enjoys a happy and settled placement. In total there have been six missing-from-home episodes since the last full inspection. Records prove that when young people have left the home without permission, staff respond and make efforts to locate them and ensure their safe return. Staff talk with young people about risky behaviours and undertake direct work around personal safety and protection, for example regular discussions on e-safety, exploitation and relationships. Good inter-agency work between the home, safeguarding professionals and the police continues to minimise opportunities for young people to

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

partake in risk-taking behaviour and thus ensures their safety and protection.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has also been a reduction in the number incidents of disruptive and negative behaviour. The staff members’ knowledge of young people has helped them to develop Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 7 strategies to resolve and reduce negative behaviours. Strategies include helping young people to understand their emotions, their triggers and the impact their behaviour has on their safety and the safety of others. Although the frequency and severity of incidents have reduced, not all staff have the necessary skills and experience to respond to more challenging situations. This is something the manager has started to talk about with individual team members. But, the effectiveness of this intervention is yet to be tested.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager makes good use of safe recruitment practices to ensure that staff are suitable to work with young people, and are appropriately vetted. These measures promote young people’s safety and minimise the likelihood of them being exposed to unsuitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since 2010. She is also registered to manage one other home within the organisation. This has not proved detrimental to the running of this home due to the homes being in close proximity. The manager is suitably experienced, and has the necessary skills and qualifications to provide effective leadership and management for a small and dedicated staff team. The manager is child focused and has a thorough understanding of the specific needs of the young people who live at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is sufficiently resourced in terms of staffing. Staff have a broad range of experience and skills to meet the everyday challenges of caring for young people. Leaders, managers and staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities and they are all given regular opportunities to develop and reflect on practice. Team meetings and handovers provide good opportunities for discussion about young people’s progress, and identify areas for development. These mechanisms have undoubtedly contributed to good communication within the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is up to date. This includes safeguarding, first aid and child sexual exploitation. Opportunities are available for more training in response to emerging need. This is positive as it ensures that the staff team has the necessary knowledge and skills to provide good-quality care to young people. The manager monitors staff performance, competency and conduct through regular supervision and annual appraisals. The staff team reports satisfaction with the support and supervision provided by managers. One member of the team stated: ‘The manager is very supportive and has an open-door policy. She is very hands on and has been very accommodating when I’ve needed more support.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Procedures are in place to ensure that relevant professionals and agencies are informed in the event of a serious incident. However, on at least one occasion the manager has failed to notify HMCI of a significant safeguarding matter. More positively, records demonstrate that appropriate action was taken, with a well-coordinated response from safeguarding professionals. That said, failure to notify Ofsted hinders the regulator in effectively carrying out its safeguarding responsibilities to ensure that young people are Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 8 protected from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring undertaken for the organisation by the manager is not sufficiently robust. The manager completes a review of the quality of care every six months. The report offers a lot of detail and provides some analysis of the quality of care that the young person receives. However, the current systems for gathering the views of the young person, relatives and professionals are ineffective. This does not help the manager to understand the effectiveness of the home’s approaches to securing improved outcomes for the young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose is up to date and accurately reflects the current aims, objectives, practices and staffing of the home. Similarly the young people’s guide helps young people to know how they will be supported, what their rights are and what services they can expect to receive. Both documents are reviewed regularly and the manager ensures that relevant parties are notified of any changes.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. Also, 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspire Child Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Jutland Avenue, Rochdale, Lancashire OL11 5DP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine MacKay

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Inspector

Ceri Evans: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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