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

Inspection report children’s home: 1241785 1 SC1241785 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

The home is privately owned and run by an education specialist service provider. It is registered to care for up to 11 children who have autism spectrum disorder and associated difficulties. The home is located within the provider’s school campus, which the children currently living at the home attend.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2018.

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Inspection date: 22 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1241785 2

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children 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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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have continued to make progress since the last inspection. Monitoring of targets has improved, showing the small steps children are making towards their goals. Examples include a child being able to leave the home for trips, and getting out of the car for short periods; a child tolerating socks and shoes; and a reduction in self-injury for another. Children have been learning cooking skills by making healthier ‘fake aways’ instead of having takeaways. Children have particularly enjoyed this. Improvements have been made in seeking children’s views, with the creative use of alternative communication tools.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children from another home within the organisation have moved into the home since the last inspection. This move was essential to conduct structural work to their home. Staff moved with them to try and make the transition as smooth as possible. While there have been some challenges within the group of children, it has, in the main, been a successful transition. One child was in the process of moving to an adult placement at the last inspection, and she has settled well into her new home. Staff are supporting a child who is currently at a specialist provision due to concerns over their deteriorating mental health. While a suitable placement was being a sought, staff worked tirelessly to support the child and provide consistent support while they were an inpatient at the local hospital.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager was unavailable for the inspection. The deputy managers demonstrated their skills and knowledge and ability to run the home effectively in the manager’s absence. There has been a concerted effort to meet the shortfalls raised as requirements at the last inspection. The recruitment of suitable staff is ongoing. The home now has fewer vacancies than at the last inspection, and staff have moved to homes where their skills are best suited. This has led to a change in the deputy managers within the home. Staff have also been engaging in various workshops and training to improve their skills and knowledge. Staff, including those who are part time, are enrolled and completing a suitable level 3 qualification. The organisation is making time available for them to study during their contracted hours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management oversight is improving. The management team has implemented new checks of records, plans and targets to ensure that all are available, up to date and relevant. Concerns regarding the quality of the environment have been addressed in the main. During the inspection, maintenance personnel were painting worn areas. A leak in between two bedrooms has caused the rooms to become unacceptably damp, without any obvious drying tools being used. Curtains put up as a temporary measure in a child’s room were not the correct size. Inspection report children’s home: 1241785 3 Work is ongoing with regards to meeting the two recommendations made at the last inspection. Therefore these remain. Staff are waiting for the on-site building works to finish before improving the outside play area. Staff supervision sessions significantly improved during December, but processes are yet to be fully embedded in practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspection report children’s home: 1241785 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2019 Full Good 19/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: 1241785 5

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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.

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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 in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(2)(d)) 27/03/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support children to take part in school trips, out of school and other clubs, volunteering and leisure activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)  Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1241785 6

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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

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1241785 7 to 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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