Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 1 SC412971 Registered provider: Priory New Education Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides residential and respite care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning disabilities. The manager has been registered since November 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/08/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 3

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Statutory requirement

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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular, the registered person must ensure that— medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child. (Regulation 23(1)(b)) 13/07/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Over the past year, there have been considerable changes to the staffing complement. A new manager has been registered. She has brought in a new management team as well as refreshing the care staff team. All the young people living in the home are in stable, long-term placements. During the past year, they have experienced a lot of change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Initially, this caused anxiety for some parents whose children use the service. However, the parents of all young people speak well about the current management and staff teams. They recognise the positive changes that have taken place over the last year and confirm that they are happy with the high level of care being given to their child. One remarked, ‘I do know he is in the right place with the right people.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A highly dependent group of young people are well cared for. Their complex needs are understood and met by small teams of designated staff. The staff understand those needs and can meet them. Routines are tailored to meet individual need. These routines impact positively on young people, contributing significantly to the good, steady progress that they are making in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and young people create a lively, energetic environment, which creates a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Young people are confident and happy in the home. They form strong bonds with the staff who care for them. This is also a key factor for families, who acknowledge the high levels of support given to them by the manager and her staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 4 Care plans, coping strategies and assessments of risk are detailed and reflect the individual needs of each young person. They are revised and updated regularly, which keeps them current.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

High staffing ratios and good transport arrangements enable young people to engage fully with community-based facilities. Activities are planned to meet individual need, allowing young people to develop their interests and hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are in full-time education, attending a school operated by the organisation running the home. Attendance levels are high, which contributes significantly to the steady educational progress being achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Complex health needs are being well managed. Strong and well-established links exist with community-based healthcare services. The home retains good links with a range of services which provide specialised care to young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The systems, processes and training for staff in storing, administering and recording medication have been revised and overhauled since the last inspection. An incident linked to administering medication occurred recently. This incident has led to a further review and remains an area that still requires development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged to maximise their potential and are encouraged to develop skills to give them greater independence. For example, young people are participating in a scheme run by a national supermarket chain which develops and promotes their cooking skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is undergoing a rolling programme of refurbishment which is improving the decor and facilities. Young people are comfortable and at ease in their environment. Sensible steps have been taken with the decor and furnishings, based on each young person’s sensory tolerance.

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

Risk management processes, coupled with assessments of risk, are individual for each young person. Staff calculate risk effectively to ensure that young people are socially mobile.

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

Within and around the home, appropriate routines and checks are in place to ensure that the home and its surrounding environment are safe places to be.

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

Clear safeguarding arrangements protect young people. Initial and regular refresher training helps staff to understand their roles in keeping highly vulnerable young people safe. Strong links exist with those external agencies charged with protecting children.

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

Young people are prone to self-injurious behaviour, which explains the high number of physical interventions that have occurred. Regular review and evaluation of practice Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 5 include other professionals and parents, allowing for coping strategies to be modified. This has led to a reduction in the number of incidents taking place.

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

Behaviour management is well managed. A non-confrontational approach means that young people live in a non-punitive environment. High staffing ratios, coupled with good organisation and planning, ensure that young people do not go missing from the home.

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

Recruitment and staff clearance processes are of a high standard. Visitors to the home are vetted appropriately. This ensures that young people meet people who pose them no risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has had a positive influence in the home during her first year. She is well supported by a deputy who is also relatively new. Detailed planning and evaluation of the service have taken place, with the home’s strengths and areas for development clearly defined.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite the high number of changes to the staff team, a backbone of experienced staff remain. Collectively, the staff team is buying into the ethos, culture and revised working practices that are being introduced. This is contributing significantly to the re-energising of the home, which is proving to be beneficial to young people and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The supervision and appraisal programmes for staff have improved. They are being implemented with greater consistency. Solid induction for new staff, coupled with an active training programme, provides staff with the skills, confidence and ability to promote effectively young people’s welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good working partnerships with the families and professionals involved with young people are in place. Parents feel included in all aspects of decision making and are well supported when a young person visits home. They speak positively regarding the levels of individualised care being given. A parent said, ‘The managers and staff are on his wavelength and understand him well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One requirement linked to medication has been generated as a result of this inspection. The manager demonstrates a clear understanding of the areas to be improved and has clear plans in place to address them. Time is needed for them to be achieved. Overall, the home has experienced a period of improvement since the last inspection.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 6 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: SC412971 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory New 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

Graham Robinson: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC412971 8 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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