Children's home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report children’s home: SC402385 1 SC402385 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited 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 14 to 19 who have complex needs, which may include autistic spectrum disorders and complex associated difficulties. The registered manager has managed the home since July 2016.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC402385 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/08/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC402385 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

The registered person must ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to any individual employed to work in the children’s home in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d)) 10/08/2018

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff, who care for them and understand their personal needs. As a result, young people make good progress in all areas of their development. A social worker stated, ‘He just isn’t the child he was six months ago. His behaviour has changed for the better. His mum is noticing a difference at home. Even the little things such as taking his plate to the kitchen after a meal and being able to communicate more. I’m hoping that he continues to flourish.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When young people’s school attendance declines, there is good joined-up working between the home, school, local authority and the in-house therapy team. Staff work hard to engage young people in school and use individual incentives to support this engagement. Staff have a ‘never give up’ attitude and continue to give clear messages to young people about the importance of attending school. When young people are ready to find employment, staff support them to find the right employer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and has benefited from recent refurbishment. One young person Inspection report children’s home: SC402385 4 told the inspector, ‘It actually feels like a good, proper family home, not a house where you are in care.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Identity is embraced and celebrated. Young people enjoy themed culture evenings when they dress up and sample new foods. They enjoy healthy debate during young people’s meetings about topical events. One young person told the inspector, ‘They’ve helped me to be me.’ This inclusion means that young people feel empowered to be themselves and this in turn raises their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported to develop their own hobbies and interests. This includes going trampolining, going to the cinema, attending youth groups and caring for their own pets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer updates and advice to support parents with their parenting skills and knowledge. This partnership working helps to send consistent messages to the young people.

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

Safeguarding concerns are well managed by the registered manager, with prompt monitoring of incidents and quick referrals to safeguarding agencies. Allegations made by young people are appropriately investigated and notified to the appropriate agencies, including Ofsted.

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

Good partnership working with the in-house therapist and child and adult mental health services means that consistency and information sharing is everyday practice. One social worker told the inspector that for their child, ‘Staff monitor her well-being but aren’t risk averse. We have agreed responses which help her. Her risks have definitely decreased as a result.’

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

When young people go missing from the home, staff follow safeguarding procedures. This means that young people are quickly found. Staff ensure that young people receive a return to care interview. This interview helps to identify the reasons why a young person has chosen to put themselves at risk.

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

Young people are not currently at risk of child sexual exploitation or radicalisation. However, staff receive training on how to support the young people should this be the case.

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

The home has recently undergone a health and safety audit. This has shown that all health and safety checks are undertaken regularly and that the home environment is safe to live in. Inspection report children’s home: SC402385 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is child-focused and understands each young person’s individual needs. However, the manager has not given sufficient attention to the safe recruitment of new staff. For example, the manager has not picked up that some new staff have not provided a full employment history, including explaining any gaps in their employment. No check has been made on why the employment ended when the member of staff has previously worked with children or vulnerable adults. There is not sufficient verification of staff qualifications. This lack of oversight compromises the safety of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Young people have made repeated requests to have the home’s computer repaired. Despite attempts made by the manager to resolve the problem, young people continue to wait. This has left young people feeling frustrated by not having access to the internet to support their education and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff feel supported by the manager and benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. The manager and the staff have a shared commitment to improve the well- being of the young people and understand their roles and responsibilities in achieving the best possible outcomes for every young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is good communication between the manager and other professionals. This helps to ensure that young people receive multi-agency input at times of need.

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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 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: SC402385 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, Middlesex W14 8UD

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Inspector

Louise Battersby: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC402385 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 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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