Children's home run by Aspirations Care Limited

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 1 SC471725

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Aspirations Care Limited

Monitoring visit 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 national provider of services for children and adults. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2016.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following the full inspection of the home in May 2018, when it was judged inadequate. Two compliance notices were issued because of the home‘s failure to comply with the leadership and management standard and the quality and purpose of care standard.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, leaders and managers provided Ofsted with an action plan. This document detailed actions they propose to take in order to improve the quality of care and address the weaknesses identified within the home.

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This monitoring visit

In the short time since the last inspection, leaders and managers have made good progress towards meeting the actions set out in the two compliance notices. However, the improvements made remain in their infancy, and will be assessed for effectiveness and sustainability at a further full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken immediate action to improve the quality of the home‘s environment and resources available for the one child living at the home. The child‘s washroom facilities are now repaired. Damaged furniture has been replaced and a range of indoor and outdoor toys that meet his sensory needs have been purchased. During this visit, the inspector observed the child thriving in his environment, playing with his new toys and engaging positively with the care staff on duty. Ongoing maintenance works continue, which includes the redecoration of the communal areas. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 2 Leaders and managers have audited the home‘s records and reporting systems. Care staff have attended training courses and have received the support and guidance needed to fulfil their role and responsibilities. Staff spoken to confirmed that following the full inspection they have been provided with training sessions, formal

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This monitoring visit

supervisions and regular team meetings. These opportunities have helped the staff to understand and respond to the child‘s current needs and behaviours more effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Continuity and consistency of care have improved. The child is now being looked after by an identified staff team who he is developing trusting and meaningful relationships with. Consequently, the frequency and intensity of high-risk incidents have reduced significantly within the home and at school.

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This monitoring visit

Care plans and risk assessments have been reviewed, they now align with the local authority‘s care plans and reflect the child‘s current needs and behaviours. Opportunities for the child to develop new interests and hobbies have improved and targets to maximise his progress are under review.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers‘ monitoring of records and the quality of care have improved, and deficiencies are identified and rectified. Daily reports now provide a better overview of the child‘s day, his achievements, the activities he has been offered and engaged in and his diet.

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This monitoring visit

A further full inspection will be undertaken to review the remaining requirements and assess the effectiveness of the improvements made.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/05/2018 Full Inadequate 03/07/2017 Full Good 25/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 31/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 3

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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

9: The enjoyment and achievement standard

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to—

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develop the child‘s interests and hobbies;

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participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child‘s interests and preferences; and

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make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child‘s interests and hobbies.

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(Regulation 9 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) and (b))

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This relates specifically to ensuring that the child is provided with well-planned and purposeful activities after school. 06/07/2018

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The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and 06/07/2018 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 4 positive responses to other children and adults.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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meet each child‘s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child‘s relevant plans;

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help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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encourage each child to take responsibility for the child‘s behaviour, in accordance with the child‘s age and understanding;

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help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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communicate to each child expectations about the child‘s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child‘s age and understanding;

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strive to gain each child‘s respect and trust;

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understand how children‘s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii) (ix)(x)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 06/07/2018 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 5 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‘s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children‘s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character;

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the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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(Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 06/07/2018

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35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

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 which includes—

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 06/07/2018 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 6 the name of the person who used the measure (―the user‖), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (―the authorised person‖)—

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has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii) and (c)(iv))

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The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (―a quality of care review‖) at least once every 6 months.

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In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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the quality of care provided for children;

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the feedback and opinions of children about the children‘s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered 06/07/2018 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 7 person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (―the quality of care review report‖).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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(Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b) and (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‘s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children‘s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 8

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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

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC471725 9 to 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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