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

Inspection report children’s home: SC476486 1 SC476486 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered for up to seven children, whose complex needs may be associated with having autism spectrum disorder and related difficulties. The registered manager has managed the home since January 2014, and is appropriately experienced and qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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 declined in effectiveness.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, children have not been effectively safeguarded. There has been an increase in incidents of children going missing. For some children, this has resulted in criminal charges being made against them.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff are working closely with other professionals to bring about a reduction in missing behaviour and this is beginning to have some effect. Children are starting to engage again with staff and therapists. Managers are conducting compatibility assessments to ensure that all the children living in the home remain suitable to do so.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Children said that they feel happy at the home and feel that staff listen to them. They are continuing to make progress from their starting points, although for some this progress has reduced over recent months. Inspection report children’s home: SC476486 2 The home’s statement of purpose is not an accurate reflection of the home. It states that the home has a flat on the grounds for one young person to live in independently. This gives a misleading impression to those looking to place children, as the flat is not currently being used as living accommodation.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff rotas are not fully completed, as they do not list the names of the staff who are sleeping in the home at night. As a result, the rotas do not give an accurate reflection of who has been working in the home.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have not all been met. Although managers have reviewed and updated children’s individual risk assessments, the home’s location risk assessment has not been adequately updated to reflect current safeguarding concerns or children’s needs. It does not clearly inform staff of the areas where there are concerns, to enable them to take effective measures to keep children safe.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

The home environment continues to require attention. Children’s bedrooms remain in a poor decorative state and damage to children’s bedrooms is not swiftly repaired. This does not encourage children to develop a sense of belonging or take pride in their home.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Although staff have recently undertaken training in ‘Prevent’ duty, specialist training for staff to gain a better understanding of some of the children’s needs has not yet been completed. Staff have not all completed training around county lines or knife crime. Moreover, one member of staff has not completed the required training in residential care within the expected timescales. This means that staff may not have all the necessary knowledge or skills to meet the children’s needs.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2019 Full Good 05/03/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 18/04/2018 Full Good 03/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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(s) must comply within the given timescales. Inspection report children’s home: SC476486 3

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(2)(c)(i)) 30/11/2019

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(b)) 30/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2)(c)) 31/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16(3)(a)) 30/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

ensure that they maintain in the home the records relating to Schedule 4. (Regulation 37(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to having a copy of the staff duty roster of the persons working at the home, their full names and the hours worked. 30/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the 30/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC476486 4 premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2))

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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: Priory Education Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sue Young, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC476486 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 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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