Children's Home run by Aston Children’s Care Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC453726 1 SC453726 Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people, aged between eight and 18, who have complex behaviours due to childhood trauma. The home is privately owned. The manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All requirements made at the full inspection have been met. Records now indicate that young people are routinely encouraged to comment on their thoughts and feelings following an incident of physical restraint. This practice ensures that young people are afforded the opportunity to raise concerns. The manager has developed a detailed assessment to consider the suitability of the location of the premises in relation to each young person’s presenting needs. This is now specific to the home’s locality. This supports staff in managing risk in the wider community. Inspection report children’s home: SC453726 2 Since the last inspection, the home has experienced a period of stability. There have been no new admissions and no young person has moved out of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress in respect of their social, emotional and health needs. Staff continue to place a high value on young people’s education and work closely with young people’s schools to try to overcome barriers that affect young people’s learning. This means that young people generally engage well in education.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people go missing from the home, the staff respond well by working closely with other agencies. This prompt action helps to protect the young people from harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When safeguarding concerns emerge, staff take prompt action to ensure that young people are kept safe. However, in one isolated incident, despite safeguarding information being shared with the local authority, a written referral was not made in a timely way. This practice contradicts the home’s internal safeguarding processes and impacts on the opportunity for managers to conduct an effective review.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Key-working sessions have a clear focus on the young person’s specific needs. When required, the staff will cover sensitive topics with young people, such as healthy relationships and personal hygiene.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people learn the skills they require to become independent. They take responsibility for tasks around the house and, as they progress in their plans, they learn to budget, self-care and to cook.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 24/08/2016 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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. Inspection report children’s home: SC453726 3

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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 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(v)(vii)(e)) 01/02/2019

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Dudley Road, Dudley, Staffordshire DY3 1TF Inspection report children’s home: SC453726 4 Responsible individual: Mahesh Mehan

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Inspector

Lisa Walsh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC453726 5 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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