Children's home run by Aspire Residential Care Home Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 1 SC441591 Registered provider: Aspire Residential Care Home Limited

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Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for three young people up to the age of 18. The home offers care for young people who have behavioural and/or emotional needs. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Several of the requirements made at the last inspection have not been met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Changes to managers and staff continue to affect young people’s feelings of stability.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Progress in safe recruitment has not been sufficiently prompt to ensure that practice safeguards young people. For example, managers have failed to verify employment histories and references prior to staff commencing employment.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, one agency staff member had no evidence of a criminal records check being completed. This compromises the safety of young people through Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 2 potential exposure to unsuitable adults.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 There has been insufficient improvement in the recording and investigating of complaints. For example, complaints have been raised in young people’s meetings, but have not been considered by staff as a complaint. One young person has complained about a radiator and doors slamming, but there are no corresponding records. This means that the manager cannot be assured that all complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are responded to appropriately.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Since the last inspection, there have been three allegations about staff conduct. None of these allegations were passed on to the designated safeguarding officer for advice. This failure to report allegations of abuse to outside agencies reduces external scrutiny of the conduct of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Managers are unable to provide evidence that staff supervision takes place regularly. In addition, the manager has still not implemented a workforce development plan. The lack of attention to staff development means that staff practice is not sufficiently reviewed and managers do not formally plan for staff training that helps to improve practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Some staff have not completed training to understand autistic spectrum disorder, online safety and the risks of child sexual exploitation. There has been no training provided regarding the Prevent duty. Gaps in staff knowledge mean that they are not sufficiently informed about how to keep young people safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The statement of purpose has been updated. However, it does not reflect changes to the staff team.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Staffing rotas do not reflect when staff are working in the home. This lack of clarity compromises the safety and well-being of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Young people still do not have lockable storage in their bedrooms. This means that they are unable to keep personal items secure should they wish to.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of these ongoing shortfalls, seven requirements made at the full inspection have been re-issued.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are five new concerns identified at this this visit.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The home has been without a registered manager since July 2017. Following interim management arrangements, an experienced manager commenced employment in November 2017. The current manager intends to make an application for registration.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The handover between the two managers was weak. This means that the current manager’s understanding of the needs of young people, the home’s progress in meeting inspection requirements, the strengths of the home and the areas for Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 3 development is limited.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 An independent visitor visits the home once a month. However, managers fail to take action to meet all the recommendations made by the independent person in a timely way. A lack of attention to using quality assurance to develop services compromises the progress of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 One young person does not have a behaviour support plan. Another young person’s behaviour support plan does not give clear guidance to staff about the risks when he is on family contact. The absence of up-to-date plans means that staff do not have an up-to-date understanding of young people’s risks and their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Physical intervention is rare. However, when physical intervention is used, staff fail to make a record of the action. This shortfall compromises the opportunities for staff and young people to reflect on incidents and the manager’s opportunity to review staff practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 There is an improvement in the physical condition of the premises. All previously highlighted concerns are now addressed. For example, a doorbell is fitted, the lounge has new sofas and worn flooring has been replaced in the office. In addition, adequate precautions are now in place to help reduce and protect against the risk of fire. A fire risk assessment is in place, staff have undertaken fire safety training and maintenance staff have ensured that fire doors offer the required fire protection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/10/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(v)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child and that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to training to raise awareness of autistic spectrum disorder, Prevent and online safety 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to understand the impact that the quality of care is having on the progress and experiences of each child, use this understanding to inform the development of the quality 28/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 5 of care provided in the home and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(h)) The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. This is with particular reference to ensuring the staff structure and staff details are current. (Regulation 16(1)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d))* 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b))* 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(i)- (v)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37(2)(a)) This includes a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI and each other relevant person without delay when a serious event occurs. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)-(e)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children are provided with appropriate furniture, such as a lockable cabinet or drawers to securely store personal items, including any personal information. (‘The Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that there is a workforce plan in place which can fulfil the requirements of Regulation 16 Schedule 1. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 6

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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

Registered provider: Aspire Residential Care Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 311f The Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street, Hockley B18 6NF

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Inspector

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC441591 7 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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