Children's Home run by Aspire Child Care Ltd in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 1 SC413779 Registered provider: Aspire Child Care Ltd

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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 children’s homes is operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 September 2018

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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: SC413779 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2017 Full Good 08/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/08/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff: are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation12 (1)(2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, have clear procedures to follow in the event of an allegation, and to make a prompt referral of the allegation to the placing authority. 1/11/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(2)(a)(b)(e)(i)) 1/11/2018

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

With specific reference to allegation management training. Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, outcomes for young people living at this home have been variable. Some young people have made significant progress since the start of their placement and continue to do so, while others have not. In the main, this is due to the risk-taking behaviour of one young person. Staff worked hard to help this young person overcome the challenges in her life. However, despite their best efforts the decision was made to move the young person to an alternative provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Many of the young people arrive in the home having experienced considerable early childhood trauma and displaying challenging behaviour, particularly in the early stages of their admission. However, staff are not phased or overwhelmed by these challenges and respond consistently with warmth, affection and empathy. As such, young people know that staff care about them and have their best interest at heart.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Aspects of young people’s health needs are clearly identified in healthcare plans . Staff regularly talk to young people about the importance of healthy lifestyles, which enables them to make informed choices in this respect. Routine appointments are made, and staff make every effort to support young people to attend these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who had previously refused to attend school or had limited attendance now attend education regularly. Staff place great importance on learning and education. Attending school and working hard is rewarded by praise and celebration. This has encouraged young people to develop a positive attitude to learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged to participate in a wide range of community-based activities. One young person told the inspector of his involvement with the army cadets and that he regularly takes part in golf tournaments. These experiences help promote confidence and self-esteem, as well as provide opportunities to have fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the impact that contact with families and important people has. Staff maintain open communication with families, working in partnership with them, thereby supporting the young person’s best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from living in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Although minor disagreements do occur between young people, these are infrequent and resolved quickly. Young people spoken to during the inspection said that they were happy at the home and that it was better living here than where they have lived previously.

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

Young people told the inspector that they feel safe and well cared for by staff in this home. Staff are skilled at developing positive relationships with young people. Because of these effective relationships, young people develop trust and are able to confide in staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 5 Individual risk management plans are clear about known and emerging risks. This includes risks such as missing from home, self-harm, aggressive behaviour and child sexual exploitation. Clear strategies are in place and consistently implemented to minimise risk and improve young people’s behaviour.

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

Young people’s behaviour can be challenging. However, restraint is rarely used in this home, and only ever used as a last resort in accordance with regulation.

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

Staff act as positive role models and encourage young people to behave positively. Good behaviour is acknowledged using praise and reward. Negative behaviour is challenged appropriately, and staff make good use of individual sessions to help young people reflect. This provides young people with a good learning opportunity to consider alternative strategies that may help them.

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

The home has experienced an increase of missing from care episodes, with one young person going missing on almost a daily basis. Records demonstrate that staff respond to these incidents effectively. There are clear procedures that staff follow; this includes, contacting relevant professionals and making enquiries in the local community to locate young people.

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

Staff carefully balance the need for protection while enabling young people to take reasonable risk. For example, using social media safely and spending time with friends in the community. In the main, this has been effective in promoting young people’s personal growth and development.

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

The registered manager ensures that all staff are carefully selected and vetted before starting work in the home. Health and safety checks are routinely undertaken by staff to make sure the property remains safe and fit for purpose.

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

The home is led and managed by a skilled, competent and experienced registered manager. In addition, the home benefits from the support and expertise of an experienced deputy manager who deputises in the manager’s absence.

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

The registered manager has developed appropriate links with partner agencies, such as the police, safeguarding professionals and placing authorities. However, at times the registered manager has lacked decisiveness and the ability to make effective challenge. As a result, on at least one occasion a young person was not provided with appropriate support from relevant services.

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

There has been one referral made to the designated officer since the previous inspection. The outcome of this referral concluded that no further action was required. However, leaders and managers did not ensure that prompt and timely notification was made to the relevant professionals. This does not demonstrate a robust understanding of allegation management processes. Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 6 The registered manager ensures that supervision is undertaken with all staff. Supervision is seen to be reflective and supportive for staff, with a focus on the welfare of the young people they care for.

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

Mandatory training, such as safeguarding, behaviour management and first aid is up to date and is supplemented by a range of needs-related training. Collectively, this ensures that all staff have the necessary skills to meet each young person’s known and emerging needs. The registered manager is aware of the strengths and areas for development. She utilises appropriate monitoring systems and uses this to improve the quality of the service. The registered manager has improved the system in place for seeking feedback from professionals. She recognises how this can be used as part of her monitoring of practice and to improve the quality of care provided in the home.

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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: SC413779 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspire Child Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Jutland Avenue, ROCHDALE, Lancashire OL11 5DP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine MacKay

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Inspector

Ceri Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC413779 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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