Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 1 SC449307 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited 06244880 Full 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 and accommodation for up to seven children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and run by a large private organisation that also provides educational provision .

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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 living at this home have made significant progress.  The young people have experienced focused, consistent care from interested Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 2 and attentive staff.  Risk-taking behaviour has reduced significantly for some young people. They are engaged in a range of positive and meaningful activities.  Young people have reignited their interest in education and now attend school regularly.  Life skills are being learned which prepare the young people for greater levels of independence in their future.  Leaders and managers have created a cohesive team that works effectively and consistently to meet the needs of the young people. The caring and compassionate emphasis of the leaders and managers is a key factor in supporting the staff to help young people to achieve their best.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/07/2016 Full Good 01/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people living at this home benefit from trusting relationships. Staff are dedicated to supporting the young people to achieve the best possible outcomes. Staff have high aspirations for the young people. They help them to think about their future plans and to try hard to achieve their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Progress is being made for the young people that was not previously thought possible. One young person is participating in activities. She identifies that this would not have been possible without the support and guidance from the staff. She said, ‘From where I came from six months ago, I am doing really well. I have independence and freedom which has made me feel great.’ She now regularly enjoys a hobby and will try new things with growing confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Decision-making by young people is encouraged. The staff promote opportunities for the young people to engage in forums such as house meetings and their care reviews. This provides the young people with avenues to explore choices and to take ownership of their care planning. As a result of this, the young people are actively engaged in making decisions about their care and future plans. Leaders and managers take complaints seriously, respond robustly and provide complainants with clear outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is given due prominence. The staff work tirelessly to ensure that the young people have suitable education. For some young people this has meant changing courses. Staff have supported the young people to negotiate changes with their education providers, to excellent effect. One young person is walking to her educational provision independently. This is significant progress, as her attendance was previously a concern. Another young person has achieved her first full day at school after chronic non-attendance. These are good examples of the excellent progress in education for the young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Activities available to the young people enrich their experiences and broaden their horizons. Young people and their families confirmed that they have greater opportunities for their future due to the positive experiences that they are having through activities. One young person found inspiration for future study through her activities. The registered manager seeks feedback about activities to support the continued development of the home. This ensures that the young people’s views are incorporated into future planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Considerable thought is given to providing the young people with specialist help. Staff are trained to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver care for specific health conditions. One young person has significantly improved her compliance with treatment for a serious health condition. Consequently, her health has improved and the long-term risks have significantly reduced. Specialist therapies are also provided to meet young people’s individual needs. As a result of this, the young people’s health and well-being is effectively supported. Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 4 The staff are well trained in the delivery of therapeutic care. They are a cohesive team, and meet regularly to reflect on their practice. There have been occasions where the young people have pushed the boundaries and have tried to harm staff. Leaders and managers have used these incidents as opportunities to improve the practice within the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

home. Supervision and team meetings are used effectively to ensure that staff are aware of any changes in practice and are cohesive in their approach to behaviour management. As a result of this consistent management of the young people’s behaviour, challenging incidents have greatly reduced in frequency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A mutual respect between staff and young people is underpinned by the caring and considerate ethos at this home. Leaders and managers take a person-centred approach to ensure that both the needs of the young people and the staff are paramount. Consequently, the focus at the home is one where everyone cares for each other and wants to do their best. Staff afford the young people time. They are interested, listen carefully and genuinely want to help the young people to achieve well. They take time to help the young people reflect when things haven’t gone well and to help them plan how to avoid future mistakes. As a result of this, the young people are motivated to do well, and they are making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Excellent planning and support is provided when young people arrive and depart from this home. The young people and staff are prepared for new arrivals, and they work together to ensure that the new arrival is welcomed into the group. Where young people have moved outside the organisation, planning has also been effective, enabling a smooth transition from the home. As a result of this planning and support, young people experience well-thought-out moves to their future placements.

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

The safeguarding culture at this home is well embedded and effectively implemented. The staff have the skills and knowledge to know what to report, to whom and when. All of the young people felt safe living at the home and could name trusted staff to talk to if they had any concerns. Staff are highly responsive to missing from home behaviour. They are tenacious in trying to find the young people, and they follow clear protocols and reporting procedures. Some young people have significantly reduced their risk- taking behaviour since living at this home. They attribute this to the consistent and caring approach of the staff.

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

Risk assessments are thorough and reliably inform the staff of signs of risk and strategies to manage it. Frequent group reflection supports the staff to review risks and agree strategies to encourage the young people to reduce risk-taking behaviours. Meticulous planning is successful in minimising risk around known triggers, for example when young people are joining or departing from the home. This results in staff delivering focused, proactive care that reduces risk and ensures the young people’s safety.

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

Inventive plans for the young people clearly lay out expectations for their behaviour. Leaders and managers work with the team to develop strategies that enable the young Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 5 people to take managed risks. Inquisitive staff look for triggers and help the young people to understand their behaviour and emotions. Together they agree ways to move forwards. Consequently, the young people are achieving their goals and become better equipped to deal with life challenges.

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

Independence is encouraged in line with individual young people’s abilities. Small steps towards achieving greater independence are celebrated. This gives the young people a sense of achievement, and encouragement to continue learning new skills. Goal trackers help the young people and the staff to monitor progress. Discussions take place around matters as they arise, for example keeping safe online. Records show that staff and young people are visiting important topics during key-work sessions. Consequently, open channels of communication between the young people and staff ensure that pertinent issues are openly discussed.

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

Difference is celebrated at this home. The young people are encouraged to develop their individual personalities and preferences. They enjoy expressing themselves through their appearance. They can to earn rewards such as hair and nail styling for achieving their goals; these are effective motivators for some. Others prefer activity-based incentives. Consequently, rewards are agreed between the staff and the young people.

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

Effective relationships with the wider community are well established. Effective inter- agency work with the police enhanced the staff’s approach to managing incidents of young people going missing. A representative from the police force said, ‘Staff genuinely care about the young people, they are responsive and committed to keeping them safe.’

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

The use of physical restraint is rare. When such measures are used, records sampled demonstrated its use was proportionate, with clear recording and good-quality managerial oversight. Debriefs always take place following restrictive measures. Opportunities for learning are drawn for both the young people and staff. The staff are attuned to the young people’s needs. They are adept at early intervention and proactive in managing challenging behaviours. As a result of this, restrictive measures are used only very infrequently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is dedicated to her role. Her enthusiasm and attention to detail ensure that her staff and the young people are her focus. She applies forensic monitoring to ensure that she identifies strengths and weaknesses in order to continue to grow and develop her team and, through this, the young people. She uses advice, guidance and criticism effectively to make improvements to the service. Her purposeful and consistent leadership inspires her team and has directly contributed to this outstanding judgement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An enthusiastic and focused deputy manager complements the registered manager’s passion for delivering a high-quality service. Together they enthusiastically lead the team of staff who make it their top priority to give the young people their dedicated and effective care. Frequent staff meetings, regular supervision and effective information Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 6 sharing underpin the home’s cohesive approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Induction for new staff is thorough. Staff feel well prepared for their work and understand key areas for focus. A programme of training and development for staff provides them with opportunities to develop their skills. A staff member said, ‘I am clear on my development goals, my appraisal lays out ways for me to achieve them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One staff member said, ‘Safeguarding is our number one priority. We talk it through in residents’ meetings each week, to check in with the young people and guide our work through team meetings and supervision.’ Staff know the young people well and can identify triggers. A key worker said, ‘I can see the signs [a young person] is struggling, which means I can respond to her and try to head potential problems off by talking them through.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Forensic managerial monitoring leaves no stone unturned. The effectiveness of the service is scrutinised and reviewed. Feedback from the young people and key stakeholders is welcomed and used to guide development plans. Frequent communication with families ensures that they are included in plans for the young people. One parent said, ‘I know they have the kids’ best interests at heart, and they keep me involved.’ The home has positive links with local agencies and frequently engages with them to contribute to keeping the young people safe. The young people make good use of the community amenities and are well integrated into local community networks. As a result of this, young people are experiencing safe, consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The physical environment of the home is well maintained. Routine servicing of equipment further ensures that the premises are safe. Fire precautions are proactively advised to all visitors and well understood by the young people and staff. Daily handovers include any arising health and safety issues. The young people’s bedrooms are spacious, well equipped and decorated to their preferred style. The garden is an ongoing project, however it provides a safe space in which the young people can relax. Consequently, this home provides a well-maintained haven of calm for the young people.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 7 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: SC449307 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited 06244880

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 9 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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Inspector

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