Children's home run by Aspireone Care Ltd in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 1 SC439116 Registered provider: Aspireone 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 privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since September 2015.

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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 outstanding

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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: 19 September 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2017 Full Outstanding 15/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2016 Full Good 05/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 3

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Recommendations

 Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.6)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, in September 2017, one young person has been discharged from the service. There have been further admissions. One young person remains in placement. The staff at the home take pride in their ability to help young people make this house their home. This means that, in most cases, young people remain in placement until they are ready to live independent lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Placement planning is exceptional. Individual plans encapsulate a full chronology of young people’s lives, including an assessed emotional starting point. Young people are provided with excellent emotional support from a broad range of internal and external agencies, including an art therapy service and the child and adolescent mental health service. These agencies work in partnership with the home and develop bespoke plans that help young people move forward. Consequently, young people make consistent progress while living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy structured contact with family and friends. Contact plans are agreed between young people, families and placing authorities to ensure that contact is valuable and positive for the young person. Should difficulties or concerns arise, the manager and staff are extremely proactive in addressing matters and make suitable adjustments to plans where necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education attendance and attainment are consistent. Staff advocate exceptionally well for young people to ensure that they each receive the best education in a resource that is most suited to their individual needs. Where necessary, staff provide in-school support. This helps the home’s staff and teaching staff to develop a seamless approach when working with young people. As a result, young people achieve and are on target to undertake GCSE mock examinations later this year. It is clear that young people have developed aspirations for their futures and confidently work towards their goals and targets with the support of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The views and opinions of young people are encouraged and respected. Staff listen to young people and enable young people to understand that their contribution is important. Young people’s meetings take place regularly. One young person said, ‘We Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 4 have house meetings which are good because we do most of our planning there. I plan the menus and I like that.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff consistently promote individual recreational activities. Young people are encouraged to try out activities such as horse riding, skiing and ice skating. Furthermore, young people are supported and encouraged to build upon their own interests and skills, for example, art, music and making friends within the community. For some young people, engaging in social activities can be a struggle. However, staff remain proactive and work with young people so that they can take small steps to build up their confidence and self-esteem in order to try out activities of their own choice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are provided with a range of information prior to and upon admission to the home. Information on areas such as individual rights and how to make a complaint, and a guide to the running of the home, enable young people to understand how things work.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make good use of ample indoor and outdoor space which is decorated and maintained to a high standard. Each young person has their bedroom decorated in a way that they feel reflects their personality and interests. Likewise, young people have direct access to a private telephone on which they can make and receive calls independently. The house is warm and welcoming, and young people make this their home.

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

Young people’s safety is effectively prioritised within the home. Individual risk assessments are balanced against a full chronology of life events. This means that risk is measured and appropriate individual strategies are in place to address any concerns.

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

Behaviour management is effective. Young people work with staff to identify areas for development and a suitable reward for the progress they make. Staff are consistent in their approach, which enables young people to adhere to their behaviour management plans.

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

Staff receive annual training in the use of physical intervention and pride themselves on their conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. These strategies work well in practice, for example, where young people exhibit behaviour which may place them or others at risk, a simple supportive guide helps them to calm down and regulate their emotions. Unique behaviour management strategies are developed in partnership with the organisation’s art therapist, the staff and the young person. This process enables all parties to review what works and what doesn’t, and this information then informs future behaviour management plans.

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

Staff prioritise young people’s safety. They work with young people to identify risks and to develop individual missing-from-home plans. Excellent proactive partnership working between placing authorities and external safeguarding services ensures that where risks Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 5 arise, there is an immediate and direct response. This wraparound protective care and support enables young people to address risks and make effective changes to their lifestyles.

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

Young people are supported in accordance with their individual needs and risk assessments. For example, where risks are assessed as high, young people receive a greater level of individual support. This consistent regard for ensuring each young person’s individual safety has resulted in a significant decline in risk-taking behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since September 2015. She is qualified at National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 5. She has extensive experience in the care of children living in a children’s home. She is committed to leading a consistent, dedicated and strong team in the delivery of individualised nurturing childcare practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets and exceeds the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose, and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support that the home provides.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Exceptionally clear and detailed records outline the progress that young people make. Records are securely stored and regularly updated in accordance with the needs of young people. However, there are some records that do not contain young people’s views and are not signed by them, for example records of updated risk assessments and records of key-work sessions. These records do not demonstrate the involvement, views and opinions of the young person. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal monitoring systems provide the home with an exceptional approach to the overall monitoring of care. Detailed information highlights areas for development and the manager’s action plan details the methods used to enhance the service. Staff receive a high level of support from the manager. Supervision takes place regularly and serves to identify training needs and personal development targets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External monitoring also takes place in accordance with regulation. Reports provide a positive insight into the progress young people make, and highlight areas for potential development. The manager welcomes feedback on the home’s overall performance and is proactive in her response to all suggestions made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are provided with an excellent annual training package. Mandatory training is regularly refreshed, while additional training based around the theoretical framework for attachment and trauma is the basis for all planned work with young people. Likewise, staff benefit from regular input from the organisation’s art therapists.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering excellent child-centred practice that is tailored to the individual and personal needs of Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 6 young people. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress that young people make, particularly in their education, in developing their self-esteem and in reducing their risk-taking behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home employs a strong and committed staff team and team members hold the relevant NVQ at level 3. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers ensure that all referrals to the home are suitably assessed for compatibility. Evidence of impact assessments being carried out, leading to decisions to place or not to place, demonstrates a clear commitment to the young people already placed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The statement of purpose is reviewed and updated where necessary, with a copy forwarded to Ofsted in accordance with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff routinely notify Ofsted, placing authorities, parents and community police of any concern or event involving a child, in accordance with regulation 40. Immediate action is taken to reduce risks, including, where necessary, additional staffing. The home places the needs of the young people at the forefront of its practice and this is evidenced in the excellent progress that they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

At the last inspection, in September 2017, two recommendations were made to improve practice. The registered manager has taken suitable action to address these matters. Young people are now provided with bespoke educational packages best suited to meet their individual needs. Furthermore, individual activities are consistently developed and promoted within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One recommendation is made at this inspection. This relates to young people’s contributions to the records held about them 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 7 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: SC439116 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Danielle Barton-Crump

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC439116 9 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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