Children's home run by Aspireone Care Ltd in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 1 SC439116 Registered provider: Aspireone 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 is a privately run children’s home offering care and accommodation for two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people , taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people clearly develop in confidence and self-esteem while living in the home.  Educational attendance and attainment are improved. Young people have a vision for their future and feel they can achieve.  Young people engage very well with staff and have formed trusting relationships.  Young people benefit from weekly sessions with a qualified art therapist. These sessions work in partnership with the planned work undertaken by key workers in the home.  Care planning is exceptional. A bespoke package of care meets all aspects of the young people’s needs and enhances their future life chances.  Contact with important people is promoted and extremely well supported. This means that young people enjoy positive contact on a regular basis.  Young people with a history of being missing settle in the home. Episodes of being missing are significantly reduced.  Behaviour management systems are uniquely designed to address individual

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Key findings from this inspection

behaviours. Young people work really well with staff to develop individual contracts, and this helps them to recognise unwanted behaviours and make sustained change.  Relationships with a range of external agencies are excellent. This means that young people’s risks are assessed collectively and managed in a way that reduces risk.  Young people confirm that they are aware of the complaints procedure and how to make a complaint. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.  Internal monitoring of the home is consistent and provides an excellent analysis of the service provision in the home. Any areas for further development are responded to quickly.  Young people benefit from a small, consistent staff team. Strong relationships are formed between young people and staff.  Parents, social workers, teachers and external professionals speak highly of this service and confirm that young people make consistent progress.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are exceptionally motivated and enthusiastic. Each staff member has a clear understanding of the young people’s needs and of the plans in place in the home. Consistency is a key feature in the running of this home. Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 3 The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 While the home has made excellent progress in supporting young people to re- integrate back into education, the local authority has been slow to address the suitability of one educational placement. The registered manager must continue to address this matter and, where necessary, escalate these concerns.  Staff should continue to promote the interests of young people in order that they gain the confidence to participate in or try out activities in the community.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2016 Full Good 05/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/05/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 4

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Recommendations

 Local authorities have a duty under section 22 (3A) of the Children Act 1989 to promote the educational achievement of their looked after children. This includes seeking a school that is best suited to the child’s needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.5)

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Recommendations

 Each child’s talents and interests should be understood and nurtured, with children selecting activities based on their personal preferences and abilities, so far as is reasonable. Staff should also support children to try activities that are ‘new’ to them, where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people build positive and trusting relationships with staff. One young person said, ‘I get on really well with the staff here. They are funny and help me a lot.’ A social worker said, ‘This is the best place for my child. She has really settled and I can see such a positive difference since she has been here. I am really pleased.’ Young people are cared for on a one-to-one basis, and this ensures that their individual needs are consistently assessed and addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Care planning is excellent. The registered manager and staff ensure that young people’s individual needs are prioritised and addressed effectively. Weekly key-work sessions, group sessions, individual consultation and art therapy enable young people to come to terms with their past and begin to move forward. Young people are central to developing their individual care packages. They consistently review their care with staff and make comments and suggestions as they progress. This ensures that young people have a sense of control about decisions being made about them and their future. From their initial starting points, young people make excellent progress in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Appropriate contact with family and friends is prioritised. Staff provide additional support and supervision where necessary to ensure that young people have positive and happy experiences. Updated contact plans ensure that young people only have contact when it is formally agreed. Prompt action is taken by staff when any concerns arise, and this serves to minimise any disruption between family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people come to the home with a history of educational disruption which may include non-attendance or disruption in school. Staff work well with the virtual headteacher and educational coordinator to ensure that young people receive the right support and guidance in order to sustain their educational placement. As a result, young Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 5 people reintegrate into school. One young person said, ‘I haven’t been to school in a long time. Since I have been here I look forward to going to school and getting my life on track. I think this is a good place for me.’ A teacher said, ‘The staff make sure young people are prepared for their school day. They are in the right frame of mind and are positive about their educational experience.’ A social worker said, ‘My young person was a school refuser. Since being at the home she is attending regularly with excellent support.’ The staff at this home demonstrate a clear commitment to the educational

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

attainment and achievement for all young people. This undoubtedly significantly increases their life chances as they grow into adulthood. However, when the home identifies that a particular school may not be the most appropriate setting, the local authority is slow to intervene. This means that a young person remains in an unsuitable educational setting for longer than is necessary. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Recreational activities are encouraged in the home. One young person has tried horse riding and enjoys days out with staff. However, because some young people have not experienced ‘play’ for many years, or have developed a persona where ‘play’ is not acceptable with their peers, engaging them in activities can prove difficult. It is clear that the home tries to address personal interests, abilities and aspirations of each young person, and develops activity planners with them in order to try out new things. However, young people don’t always attend. A young person said, ‘At the time I want to do the activity, but when it comes to the day I don’t want to do it. I feel embarrassed sometimes or don’t want anyone to see me.’ It is recommended that the home continues to help young people develop confidence and self-esteem in order to try out new and exciting experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Consultation with young people is part and parcel of the day-to-day routines in the home. Young people engage in comprehensive one-to-one consultation sessions, key- work sessions and group discussions. They are encouraged to complete in-house questionnaires and provide feedback on how the home operates, and the work undertaken with them. A young person said, ‘It is good here because staff talk to us about everything. We are asked our opinions and they count. It’s really good.’

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

Young people’s safety is prioritised effectively in the home. Detailed compatibility impact assessments ensure that all young people placed at the home are assessed against the needs, interests and aspirations of those already resident. Likewise, individual risk assessments are balanced against a full chronology of life events. This means that risk is measured, and appropriate individual strategies are in place to address any concerns.

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

Behaviour management is extremely effective. Young people and staff form excellent relationships based on trust and mutual respect. Consequently, young people work with staff to identify areas for development and a suitable reward for the progress they make. Staff are consistent in their approach, and this enables young people to work within the house boundaries. A social worker said, ‘The rules and boundaries are fair and real. My Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 6 young person is working within the rules and on the occasions she doesn’t, she has already agreed with staff the consequences for her actions.’ The registered manager and staff work seamlessly to ensure that young people experience a consistent approach to unwanted behaviour, and receive praise and reward for progress and development.

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

Young people know how to complain, and receive valuable information from the home and their placing authority to guide them in this area. Since the last inspection, there have been no complaints made in the home.

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

Staff confirm that physical intervention is only used as a last resort in the home. Since the last full inspection in October 2016, there have been no incidents where this intervention has been deemed necessary. Staff continue to have annual training in this area, and pride themselves on their successful conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. Likewise, episodes of self-harm are also very rare. Staff receive training in order to assess risk and respond to any concerns in the most appropriate way. Young people at risk of these types of behaviour are referred to the child and adolescent mental health services. They also have increased key-worker sessions and are monitored more closely in the home.

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

Young people come with a history of absenting themselves from their previous placement. Staff work with young people to identify risks and to develop an individual missing-from-home plan. This document is supported by an individual record of incidents, key-work sessions and return-home interviews. From young people’s initial starting points, missing-from-home episodes are significantly reduced. A young person said, ‘I used to run away all the time. I don’t now. I am working towards having free time because I have shown that I can be safe.’ A social worker said, ‘My child was a concern in her home area. Since she has lived here the risks have dramatically reduced and she now looks and acts like a different child.’

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

Young people who have a history of drug or alcohol misuse are exceptionally well supported. Intervention from a range of external services helps young people to identify triggers for this type of behaviour. Likewise, weekly art therapy sessions allow young people to begin to express their feelings and develop a rapport which explores the dangers in their behaviour. For some young people this means recognising the impact of negative friendships, and for others, recognising mirroring behaviours. The team works extremely closely with drug counsellors and health professionals to ensure that the young people’s health is prioritised at all times. When a young person presents as being under the influence of a substance, the individual response plan is actioned immediately and medical attention sought. Consequently, although young people present with risks, these risks are managed effectively and have shown to have significantly reduced since

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

the young people became resident in the home.

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

Young people live at a home with consistent routines, boundaries and expectations. Young people thrive. They feel safe and cared for, and develop goals and aspirations for their futures. Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 7

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since September 2015. She is experienced and qualified at NVQ level 5 in social care. She is committed to leading a consistent, dedicated and strong team in the delivery of individualised progressive childcare practice. Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets and exceeds the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose, and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support that the home provides. Internal and external monitoring systems provide the home with an exceptional approach to the overall monitoring of care. Detailed information highlights areas for development, and the manager’s action plan details the methods used to enhance the service. Staff receive a high level of support from the manager. Supervision takes place regularly and serves to identify training needs and personal development targets. Staff say, ‘This

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

is a great place to work. We all receive excellent support and our views are welcomed in the development of practice. We are a team and we are proud of the great results we achieve for the young people.’ Staff are provided with a suitable annual training package. Mandatory training is regularly refreshed, while additional training based around the theoretical framework for attachment is the basis for all planned work with young people. This ensures that staff receive up-to-date, quality training and implement this in practice, which helps to maintain the excellent childcare practice evident in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager makes good use of reflective practice, and the views of external services and families are taken into account to ensure that young people’s needs are appropriately met. Likewise, patterns and trends are routinely analysed. Data and intelligence provide an excellent tool for staff and young people when reviewing progress and planning for the future. The registered manager and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering excellent child-centred practice that is tailored to the individual and personal needs of young people. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress young people make, particularly in education, risk management and improved behaviour. The home employs a strong and committed staff team. Residential staff are qualified at NVQ level 3. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care and management of young people. Young people’s records are securely stored

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

and regularly updated in order to capture the essence of young people’s lives at any given time. Leaders and managers ensure that all referrals to the home are suitably assessed for compatibility. Evidence of impact assessment leading to decisions not to place demonstrate a clear commitment to the young people already placed. Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 8 The statement of purpose is reviewed and updated where necessary, with a copy forwarded to Ofsted in accordance with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff routinely notify Ofsted, placing authorities, parents and community police of any concern or event involving a child, in accordance with regulation 40. Immediate action is taken to reduce risks, including, where necessary, additional staffing. The home places the needs of the young people at the forefront of its practice, and this is evidenced in the excellent progress they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people live in a spacious, well-maintained property. They have large individualised bedrooms, and ample space in the home to spend time alone if they so wish. The area risk assessment is routinely updated to ensure that potential risk factors are known and planned for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

At the last interim inspection in March 2017, the home was judged to have sustained effectiveness. No requirements or recommendations were made at that inspection. At this inspection the home is judged as outstanding. Two recommendations are made to further enhance the exceptional practice in the home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences 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. 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.

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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: SC439116 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 14-16 Bradwell House, King Street, Newcastle-Under- Lyme ST5 1EJ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Danielle Barton-Crump

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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