Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 1 SC443959 Registered provider: Priory New Education Services Limited 07221650

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by an independent company. The home is registered to provide care for up to eight young people who have learning disabilities, three of whom can be accommodated on a short-break basis. The experienced manager took up this post in 2012.

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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 good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2018 Full Outstanding 08/06/2017 Full Good 30/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 3

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Recommendations

 Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11). Specifically, individual key work sessions should support young people to discuss and explore their feelings and emotions.  Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10). In particular, these practices should be kept under regular review and the outcome recorded.  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to

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Recommendations

help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38). Specifically, sanctions should be proportionate in nature.  Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are making excellent progress in all aspects of their lives. They receive individualised care and support that is tailored to meet their needs. Staff have an in- depth understanding of young people’s complex behaviours and communication methods. One parent said, ‘The experience of coming here has been transformational for my child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support young people to become more independent and learn new skills that will prepare them for adulthood. They are encouraged to help with daily tasks such as cooking meals and housework. One parent said, ‘They have taught him how to grow as an individual. They have given him tools and strategies to help him develop and prepare him for his future.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education attendance is high and young people are making good progress. Staff from the home and school communicate regularly. This means that young people receive a Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 4 consistent approach from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support young people to stay healthy and attend their health appointments. Comprehensive health passports are in place, which document their support needs should they require medical treatment. Slow and carefully planned desensitisation work has supported one young person to overcome their fear of hospitals, and this has enabled them to have an operation that has helped to maintain their mobility.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage young people to spend time with each other and form positive friendships. Young people’s confidence and self-esteem are improving as a result of this. One young person volunteered to act as a mentor to another young person who has recently moved to the home. He has learned to use a picture exchange communication system (PECS) to communicate with him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have access to a wide range of activities in the home. The garden is well equipped for outdoor play, and there is an arts and crafts room and a sensory space, which young people enjoy using. High staffing levels and the availability of specialist transport mean that young people also enjoy frequent trips out with staff. Young people are encouraged to participate in their local community. For example, they have recently visited and prepared food for a local charity for homeless people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people who have short breaks at this home are happy and settled during their stays. They are an integral part of the home and are welcomed by staff and other young people. One young person said, ‘It’s amazing here. The staff are lovely and understanding.’

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

Staff provide young people with a high level of supervision. They ensure that young people live in a safe, supportive home environment.

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

Staff have an in-depth knowledge of the young people they care for. Detailed care plans and individual behaviour support plans ensure that staff use consistent approaches with young people. These plans are live documents and kept under constant review and adapted as young people’s behaviour changes.

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

Effective risk assessment ensures that disability is not a barrier to participation or inclusion in everyday life. Risks are balanced and managed to ensure that young people have the opportunity to pursue their interests and try new and exciting activities. For example, young people have been on holiday to an outdoor activity centre where they participated in archery, climbing and kayaking. This was the first time that one young person had been on holiday.

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

High staffing levels ensure that young people do not go missing from home. However, in case this happens, each young person has a missing from home profile that details their vulnerabilities and gives clear instructions for staff to follow should the young person go missing. This means that staff are equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to safeguard the young person. Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 5 Staff understand their roles and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding vulnerable young people. Staff supervise formal contact arrangements with families safely. Sensitive planning and support have enabled one young person to build a more positive relationship with their family and to spend time in the family home for the first time in years.

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

Due to the complex needs and behaviours displayed by the young people, it is sometimes necessary to limit their access to certain areas of the home for safety reasons. This practice is risk assessed and discussed with young people, parents and professionals involved in the young person’s care. To further improve practice in this area, a recommendation has been made that any restrictions applied are kept under regular review and the outcome recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is very experienced and suitably qualified for the role. She is a confident leader and has created an aspirational and positive culture in the team. This is improving the lives and outcomes of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has a clear vision for the home’s development. To underpin this, managers have developed a highly effective internal auditing and monitoring system. This helps them to understand the quality of care that the young people receive and take effective action when necessary to make improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has made changes to the staffing structure and working practices to ensure that young people are supported by a skilled and confident workforce. Staff morale is high, and there is a shared commitment to supporting young people to maximise their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is stable, and this provides the consistency which young people with complex needs require. Staff work together cohesively, and the daily care of young people is extremely well planned. One member of staff said, ‘The team [members] work well together and always have the children at the forefront of everything they do.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from highly effective supervision arrangements. The manager has researched good practice in this area and introduced a new format for supervision meetings. This encourages staff to reflect on their practice and to identify ways to improve the support that they give to young people. Senior staff use coaching and practice observations to inform and supplement the formal supervision process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works in partnership with other professionals to ensure that young people receive the services and support that they require. She can confidently and effectively challenge services where necessary. One commissioner said, ‘It is evident that the manager’s priority is the young person, and she is tenacious and determined to ensure that the person’s rights and welfare are at the core of care practice .’ Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 6

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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: SC443959 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory New Education Services Limited 07221650

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspector

Sophie Thomson, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 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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