Children's home run by Aspirations Care Limited in Gloucester

Inspection report children’s home: SC464630 1 SC464630 Registered provider: Aspirations Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a national organisation which operates services for children and adults. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2017

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has a stable group of children at the moment. The staff have managed some initial disharmony between the two children very well. They maintained clear boundaries and worked hard to help both children understand that they are equally loved and valued. The children have responded very well and are now both settled.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff provide exceptionally kind, supportive and nurturing care for the children. The registered manager ensures that the children are the focus of all the home’s work. For example, the children are encouraged to be creative and work on projects which are both educational and fun. There was a lot of laughter and enjoyment throughout this inspection. This has contributed to the judgement. Inspection report children’s home: SC464630 2 The children and staff are preparing for their Christmas play. The children have written and directed the play, which is called ‘The Twelve Dogs of Christmas’. Twelve breeds of dog are represented through song and dance. One child showed the inspector the detailed planning required for this performance. The degree of thought and professionalism involved in preparing for the play is most impressive. The children have painted the stage set and have assigned songs and dances to the cast. One child

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

rehearsed one of the dance routines with the deputy manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Preparing for the play has been very educational for the children. This has involved a great deal of skill in writing, planning and in working as part of a team. The children’s choice to include the staff and visitors in their show is evidence of the very warm and positive relationships between them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child was icing and decorating a chocolate orange cake that she had made for the Christmas meal and play. She has developed the recipe herself. Staff removed the completed cake to their office, allegedly for safekeeping. It looked so good that the staff were not sure whether it would last until the Christmas play.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are making very good progress in all areas of education. One child is in school and, although she has a long journey every day, she is achieving well. She has been ‘pupil of the week’ on a number of occasions.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The other child receives home tuition. Her tutor has been a consistent figure for a long time. He has helped her to improve in her mathematics and English. She has gained in confidence and, during the inspection, was taking it in turns with her tutor to read aloud. This would have been a real challenge for her when she first arrived in the home. After a very long period away from formal education, this child is about to start in school from January. This is a very positive achievement for her, her tutor and the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children can make use of alternative education resources to help to make learning fun. One child attends a community farm for two days each week, where she has learned to care for animals. She also goes riding, and has successfully undertaken a horse knowledge and care exam.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has only been one restraint since the last inspection. This was appropriate to the situation at the time. Children have gone missing twice, but on both occasions the staff responded very quickly. The children were returned to the home safely.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one recent incident where a child harmed themselves. This was in response to the child becoming very worried that they might have to move out of the home. High-quality direct work with this child helped her to talk about her fears. The registered manager then advocated strongly for her with her placing authority. This has contributed to a plan for her to stay in the home for at least a further six months.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is very well managed. The registered manager has ensured that she has a full, well-trained staff team. Management monitoring continues to be extremely thorough. The registered manager is well aware of the children’s targets, progress and Inspection report children’s home: SC464630 3 additional needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken action to meet the requirement and recommendation from the last inspection. The requirement was in relation to leadership and management. There were several areas of shortfall, some of which related to the wider company rather than specifically to this home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, the home had a good development plan, but was using inappropriate terminology to describe the staff team. This was misleading because it implied that they were trained therapists. This has been resolved now.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, some staff said that they had, when first appointed, been moved between different homes some distance apart, for operational reasons. The registered manager has ensured that members of her staff team are not moved to homes a long distance away. This helps to ensure that the children receive continuity of care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s placement planning documentation remains complicated. The documents have been adopted by the company nationally and individual homes are not allowed to change the format.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, there were occasions when the controlled drugs book had not been signed by two staff members. This is no longer the case. Every entry has been double-signed, which is good practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been very few notifications to Ofsted since the last inspection. In most cases, incidents in the home have not required notification. However, one incident where a child harmed themselves should have been notified, because it involved a visit to hospital and further medical intervention. Not notifying this incident to Ofsted was an isolated oversight. A requirement has been made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has made such good progress since the last inspection because there is strong, knowledgeable leadership and a stable, well-trained staff team. The registered manager and her team, as well as the children, should be commended for their hard work.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2017 Full Good 08/02/2017 Full Requires improvement 06/04/2016 Interim Not judged 01/12/2015 Full Requires improvement

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

Inspection report children’s home: SC464630 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, the 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 there is any incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

Examples of incidents that are likely to be considered serious, affecting the welfare of a child, include a serious illness or accident, or a serious incident of self-harm. (Regulation 40(4)(e) and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.11) 14/01/2018

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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

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report children’s home: SC464630 5 Unique reference number: SC464630

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspirations Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5a Hare Lane, Gloucester GL1 2BA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine Cameron

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Inspector

Heather Chaplin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC464630 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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