Children's Home run by Aspireone Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 1 SC472325 Registered provider: Aspireone Care Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides emergency, medium and long-term placements for up to two children and young people who have come from a variety of situations and backgrounds and have a range of complex needs. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/11/2016 Full Good 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 28/09/2018

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have warm and trusting relationships with nurturing and dedicated staff and seek them out for emotional support and cuddles. One young person, who has experienced multiple placement breakdowns in the past, is benefiting hugely from the stability, security and firm boundaries that staff provide. Young people who have highly complex needs begin to relax, focus on their own needs and make exceptional progress in key areas of their lives. Young people are very happy and get on well together. They engage in a wide range of fun and stimulating activities. These include going to museums, walks in the countryside and going to their favourite place for coffee.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide young people with a wide range of opportunities to learn, expand their experiences and contribute positively to their plans. This supports their social, emotional and physical well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Sensitive and creative staff communicate exceptionally well with young people and meet their individual needs. This is especially relevant to young people who have autistic spectrum disorder. Staff listen to young people and identify ways to address their concerns and questions. For example, there are age-appropriate books in the home to help young people to understand how their bodies change at puberty.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy engaging in role play and other imaginative play with staff. They explore scenarios which help them to reflect on how they can better manage their emotions and behaviour. Young people enjoy the positive feedback and encouragement that they receive from staff, who have high aspirations for them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make significant and sustained progress. One young person has undertaken GCSE exams after several years of non-attendance at school and is starting at college in September. The other young person is engaging positively with one-to-one Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 4 education in an environment where he feels safe. He will start at school in September. He enjoys weekly art therapy and is becoming better at expressing his emotions. Young people’s anxiety levels reduce, lessening their dependence on medication. This improves their relationships and their self-confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One young person is now able to stay overnight with her family because of the exceptional progress that she has made. She is very excited to be planning a family holiday abroad.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help young people in all aspects of their lives by advocating strongly and persistently on their behalf. This has resulted in young people receiving specialist assessments of their developmental needs and gaining access to essential specialist services. The tenacity of staff has an outstanding, positive impact on young people’s well-being.

p.4

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

Highly trained staff keep young people exceptionally safe. Staff have an in-depth understanding of young people’s personal histories and the things that may trigger anxiety or challenging behaviours.

p.4

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

Staff access detailed, up-to-date and effective individual risk assessments which provide excellent strategies for de-escalation. Young people contribute to their behaviour management plans. This gives staff valuable information and provides strategies to help young people to manage their emotions and improve their behaviour.

p.4

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

Staff practice is underpinned by research and staff have identified a number of resources, such as ‘safer places’ and local community activities, to ensure that young people can enjoy time in the community while remaining safe. Young people trust staff and feel able to tell them about their friends. Staff support young people to have as much freedom as possible, while expertly balancing this with the need to keep them safe.

p.4

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

When young people go missing from the home, staff follow detailed protocols agreed with relevant professionals. When young people return, they are well supported and are always offered independent return interviews.

p.4

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

Young people have become increasingly safe because of the support that they receive. There has been no use of physical intervention for the past year. There has also been a significant reduction in incidents, including the number of times that young people go missing. One young person’s risk of child sexual exploitation has reduced from high to low since the last inspection. Staff maintain a calm and measured response to young people’s behaviour. This supports young people to regulate their own behaviour. Staff undertake excellent key-work sessions to educate young people about key topics, including appropriate relationships and internet safety.

p.4

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

The registered manager’s excellent approach and processes mean that staff are safely Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 5 vetted, medication systems are robust, and the home is safe and well maintained. Her effective and skilful matching of young people reduces risks and ensures that staff can meet the safeguarding needs of both young people.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is inspirational and passionate about the service. She has high expectations of her team and of herself and has worked hard to make this service outstanding. Staff spoke enthusiastically about the strong therapeutic and nurturing ethos of the home. They said how much they love working here and feel strongly supported by each other and the registered manager. Supervision and training are stimulating and relevant and are clearly focused on the needs of the young people.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager encourages creativity, and staff are confident that she takes their views seriously. The registered manager has a thorough understanding of the impact that the care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of young people. She knows the strengths and areas for development in her team and has plans in place to ensure ongoing staff development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are focused on further developing their understanding and practice regarding young people who have autistic spectrum disorder. They have undertaken specific training, work closely to share knowledge and practice and have regular consultations with the in-house therapy team. The registered manager has sourced further training, and the deputy manager, who has significant experience in this area, has also delivered training to the team. A wide range of informative reference material is available in the home and staff have joined a local forum for parents of children who have autistic spectrum disorder. This has increased their understanding further.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Careful and detailed planning for young people incorporates their views and those of parents and professionals. When staff consider that specialist support is lacking, they do not hesitate to challenge other professionals to obtain this. For example, staff have been highly effective in obtaining specialist assessments. This has enabled them to understand and meet the needs of the young people in a way that has not been achieved in previous placements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals and family members spoke highly of how staff work with them and meet the communication and care needs of the young people. One parent said, ‘They have helped her immensely. She’s happy, safe and well looked after. Communication is brilliant. They do a fantastic job. They deserve recognition.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An area for improvement is for the registered manager to ensure that responses to complaints received are fully recorded, including the details of any action taken. Records, are clearly written and informative. However, they are divided between paper copies and computer files. Although this has had no impact on young people, staff and the registered manager must search both systems to locate information. This wastes time and is an area for improvement which the registered manager acknowledges and is keen to address. Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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: SC472325 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Lyme Drive, Lyme Vale Court, Parklands, Stoke-On- Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6NW

p.7

Inspector

Louise Whittle, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC472325 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8