Children's home run by Aspris Children’s Service

Inspection report children’s home: 1241836 1 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited 06244880 Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and run by an education specialist service provider. It is registered to care for up to seven children who have learning disabilities, and focuses on caring for young people who have complex needs that may include autistic spectrum disorder and associated difficulties. The home is located within the provider’s school campus. This is the first interim inspection following registration.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 10 October 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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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

Children and young people who, due to their disability, have struggled with things like clothing or food, make excellent progress. Examples are being able to wear school uniform for the first time and eating a healthy diet from a starting point of only tolerating fast food. Other children and young people develop independent skills such as helping with the laundry. Staff have developed a newsletter for parents and carers that celebrates the experience and progress of children and young people. Staff listen to children and young people, many of whom have communication difficulties. Staff respond to their extremely varied requests and accommodate as many as they can. Examples of these requests are trips into London, to theme parks, the airport and a chocolate factory. Children and young people enjoy activities closer to Inspection report children’s home: 1241836 2 home such as shopping and horse therapy. Staff buy the birthday present that children

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

and young people desire as well as ensuring that they have the themed birthday cake they want. Children and young people spoken to during the inspection said that they like the staff and enjoy living at the home. They personalise their bedrooms and refer to the provision as ‘their home’. They have a sense of identity and belonging. A social worker said, ‘(name of child) has made much progress, he is responsive to the routines and structure and is supported with contact. He has presented as happy and content, been involved in age-appropriate activity, and staff have been attentive and familiar with his needs.’ All staff have carefully considered the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection and used these to drive forward improvement. Key staff have reviewed the impact risk assessment to assess the effect on children and young people living in the home when considering a new admission. Staff consider every possible scenario and

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

how each child or young person may react. This assessment is now a standard of excellence. There has been one admission since the last inspection and no discharges. The registered manager has reviewed the location risk assessment. This is an exemplar. She has considered the immediate environment as well as the wider community, in consultation with others, to assess and manage risk. The registered manager has reviewed the safeguarding policy to include the procedure that staff follow in the event of self-injurious behaviour. Senior staff test the approach of staff toward safeguarding in formal supervision. Staff discuss the process that they would follow in various scenarios. Children and young people live in a culture where staff are determined to keep them as safe as possible without being risk averse. An independent visitor critiques the quality of care in the home and provides a comprehensive report to the manager. The manager takes the recommendations

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

seriously and uses them as a tool to improve practice. For example, the independent visitor reviewed a high-risk physical intervention and made recommendations on how staff could improve the documentation. The registered manager introduced a system to document how staff monitor vital signs during any high-risk physical intervention. There has been one such intervention since the last Ofsted inspection. The independent visitor recommended improvements to health plans. Staff have put into place detailed plans that fully address the individual health needs of each child and young person. These include issues that can be difficult for some children and young people who are on the autistic spectrum, such as body awareness and social appropriateness. The registered manager has good arrangements in place to monitor medication administration and reconcile stocks. She has the necessary consents in place, including

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

permissions for homeopathic remedies. Children and young people have access to a computer, as recommended at the last inspection, so that they have an alternative way to communicate with their families other than telephone contact. The registered manager has reviewed how staff record sanctions. Records contain good detail, demonstrating that the sanction is proportionate and appropriate. Children and young people are invited to comment on the sanction, with staff checking their Inspection report children’s home: 1241836 3 understanding of it to modify behaviour. The registered manager recognises the need to update the statutory six-month report, following a period of absence, and send the document into Ofsted.

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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: 1241836 4 Unique reference number: 1241836

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspector

Keith Riley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1241836 5 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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