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

Inspection report children's home: SC034415 1 SC473631 Registered provider: The Priory Group

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates and runs this home. It is registered to provide care for up to six children and young people. The home currently does not have a registered manager. An interim manager has been appointed, and they are well qualified and have worked in the home since 2014.

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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: SC473631 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2017 Full Good 28/06/2016 Full Good 17/05/2016 Full Inadequate 11/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC473631 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must co-operate with the child’s placing authority in agreeing and signing the child’s placement plan. (Regulation 17 (1)(2)) 11/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of the care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)) 11/12/2018

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food, hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is with particular reference to the safety implications of looped blind cords.  A child’s bedroom should not generally be entered without their permission, though it may be necessary to establish routines to allow for rooms to be cleaned regularly. Usually, rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or

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Recommendations

another person’s safety or well-being. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  Children’s homes staff should encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day to day health and well-being. Where children have specific health needs or conditions, they should be supported to manage these subject to their age and understanding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10) This is with particular reference to the staff following the medical advice and guidance provided by the Inspection report children's home: SC473631 4 children in care nurse, the advice being that a child needs to always have access to their inhaler.  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and

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Recommendations

experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children identify their progress and proudly talk about their achievements. This is encouraged by the staff, who have aspirations for the children and help them to focus on their future possibilities. One child is set to sit his GCSE exams and is working towards further education. A social worker reported, ‘[Name of child] has noticeable improvements in his emotional well-being. His self-esteem has improved, and he is starting to take pride in his appearance. He has had his hair cut for the first time in months.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make substantial progress within education and this is not solely academic progress, but also behavioural. One child is regularly achieving awards for their commitment to education and they are sharing this positivity with other children in the school. They now have the responsibility of being a school mentor. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is making good progress in his education. This is significant, after being out of education for some time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a home that provides them with a long-term placement and stability. They form trusting relationships with the experienced and diverse staff team and like receiving emotional warmth, which the staff happily give. One child said, ‘Everything about the home is outstanding.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from the good routines and boundaries that are implemented by the staff. As a result, the children experience a healthier lifestyle, and this is improving their well-being. For example, one child is sleeping better, while another child is no longer smoking cigarettes. The consistent and positive approaches taken by the staff are also helping the children to learn how to regulate their emotions. One child said, ‘I am hardly ever restrained, but before I lived here, I was held all the time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager’s planning for children being admitted into the home is thorough. He confidently rejects unsuitable referrals, thus protecting the children living in the home. Before a child is admitted, the manager identifies any training needs for his staff team. Recently, the staff team attended some tailor-made autism training, developing their communication skills towards the children. Additionally, most children and young people experience a planned move from the home. The manager advocates for them to ensure that their move is into appropriate accommodation. When a child left the home in crisis, Inspection report children's home: SC473631 5 measures were taken to try to provide the child with a positive ending.

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

The staff quickly identify and respond to any potential safeguarding incidents. This immediate action ensures that the children are safe, and that measures are implemented to maintain their protection. The staff are proactive and they regularly complete focused work with the children. This level of engagement and guidance is preventing the children from becoming involved in further risk-taking behaviours and is reducing the possibility of potential harm. To maintain the children’s safety, the members of staff have completed room searches. However, there is no record of the child being present or informed about this procedure taking place in their personal space. Additionally, the window blinds within the home are a potential safety hazard.

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

The staff understand the potential risks associated with children living in a group. These group dynamics have led to negative behaviours which include bullying. The staff have clear processes to address and prevent bullying. Complaints regarding bullying are quickly responded to. The children can make a complaint in varying ways, including via a social media app. One child said, ‘The staff were really good when [name of child] tried to attack me; the staff stopped him and kept me safe.’

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

Individual risks and vulnerabilities are clearly understood by the staff and these are routinely considered to ensure the children’s safety. Risk assessments are detailed and thorough and the children’s behaviours are improving from the effective staff interventions. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child]’s behaviours are better. He no longer smashes up his room, and previously he would do this daily.’ As young people reach the age of 18 years, the staff have frank discussions with them to address the potential risks they face now and in the future.

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

To further support the children’s health needs, the administration of medication is a thorough process and the children clearly understand why their medication is prescribed and administered. However, it was identified that for the treatment of asthma, the staff were not following the medical advice and guidance, as provided by the children in care nurse, that a child needs to always have access to their inhaler.

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

At the time of this inspection, there was no registered manager in post. The provider has taken active steps to appoint a manager and the deputy is now in post as the acting manager. A child said, ‘I really wanted [name of acting manager] to be the manager. I was really anxious that someone new would get the job.’

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

The staff continue to work with other agencies to progress the children’s long-term plans. Through joint working and commitment, one child successfully completed their youth offending order in nine months instead of the allotted 18 months. For other children, partnership working is helping to rebuild their relationships with their families. As a result, one child has enjoyed a holiday with his family. The manager and his team Inspection report children's home: SC473631 6 have very clear aspirations for the children and they are quick to respond and advocate for the children if their needs are not being met by other professionals.

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

The manager is aware of the strengths of the home and the areas that he wishes to develop. He is using the support network from within the management and senior team to share good practice and develop himself within the role. Although he has a clear overview of the home, this does not transfer to the completed regulation 45 report, which has no consultation with the children. The manager has internal monitoring systems in place. However, during the inspection, gaps in records were identified. For example, a child’s file did not have a signed placement plan.

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

The manager embraces the staff’s expertise and utilises their transferable skills to support the children to explore new pursuits and interests. One staff member is teaching a child to play the guitar. The manager oversees the staff practices through regular supervision. However, discussions about the needs of the children are not recorded in the supervision documents.

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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: SC473631 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Priory Education Services Limited, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Armstrong

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Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC473631 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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Inspector

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