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

Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 1 SC062223 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered for up to five young people aged 11 to 19 who have complex needs, which may include autistic spectrum disorder and complex associated difficulties. Young people usually stay at the home Monday to Friday, for 38 weeks of the year. The registered manager has managed the home since October 2017.

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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 good

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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: 27 November 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/11/2017 Full Good 07/09/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Not judged 01/07/2015 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This inspection was aligned with an inspection of the school which is on the same site.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people experience excellent continuity of care from staff whom they trust and respect. The rapport between staff and young people is second to none. As a result, young people experience warmth, respect and sincerity. One young person told the inspector, ‘I think this home is outstanding. Staff are lovely, they make me laugh. I love it here and never want to leave.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and the staff help young people to achieve their hopes and dreams. For instance, one young person wishes to pursue a career in the army. Staff have helped him to enrol and attend army cadets, they have helped him to practise morning drills and have supported him through the application process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Excellent communication between teaching staff and care staff means that young people receive tailored care. For example, the headteacher has arranged for a retired soldier to help build up one young person’s fitness level. This has included participating in charity events for a charity close to the young person’s heart. As a result, the young person is flourishing physically and emotionally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Appropriate use of praise helps to encourage and motivate young people to have high expectations for themselves. One young person has progressed so much that she now attends college and is working towards becoming a veterinary nurse. Staff have brought in their own pets and arranged work experience placements to give the young person the experiences she needs to succeed in her chosen career.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Kindness and respect for one another is at the heart of the home. Staff use innovative and imaginative ways to help each young person to develop and maintain healthy relationships with the other young people in the home. For example, the staff and young people have created ‘friendship butterflies’. These are displayed on the wall and celebrate acts of kindness towards each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff do not stop at just supporting the young people in their care. They extend their high level of care and support to family members. This is because staff understand that a joined-up approach is necessary to help each young person to achieve their full potential. One parent told the inspector, ‘I really feel they’ve helped us become more effective parents too. They’ve dealt with things that were beyond me, when I was too sick to help [my child], without complaint and without judgement, and I honestly trust them with my daughter’s life, because they treat her as if she is their own .’ Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 4

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

Staff understand the impact of early childhood experiences. This is due to their specialised training and joined-up working with the in-house therapist team. Staff understand young people’s current behaviours and what to expect next. This approach means that staff are always one step ahead and can put preventative strategies in place before things escalate.

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

Young people are happy and feel safe in the home. As a result, there have been no episodes of young people going missing from care and physical interventions are rarely necessary. This is achieved because staff can identify potential risks and triggers. Plans to reduce these risks are detailed and are highly effective in keeping young people safe.

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

The manager ensures that there are effective arrangements for the health and safety of young people. This includes appropriate routine monitoring of fire safety to ensure that young people are safe and have a pleasant and stimulating environment in which to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is passionate and inspirational. She is conscientious in evaluating the quality of care provided to ensure that every young person is making progress that makes a positive difference. Her enthusiasm influences the staff, who share her passion and drive for achieving the best possible outcomes for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

By using research, staff have helped young people to reflect on their behaviour, set personalised targets and achieve their goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff promote a culture that ensures that every young person is listened to and respected as an individual. The manager and staff deploy their responsibilities of care in a manner that treats all young people with dignity, respect, sensitivity and fairness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Positive steps are taken to gather the views of young people, their parents and others about the quality of care. This ensures that key stakeholders have an important voice that informs the provision of high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is clear about the home’s strengths and weaknesses. She has a detailed and aspirational plan to further develop the home. The manager is also keen to share her practice with other homes within the organisation so that other young people can also benefit from the creative practice her staff deliver.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 5 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 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: SC062223 6

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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: Priory Group, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 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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