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

Inspection report children’s home: SC402426 1 SC402426 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to five children. A private company manages the home. It is registered for up to three children aged 11 to 19 who have complex needs. The registered manager is qualified in social work and management. She has led and managed the home since 2009.

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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 good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 5 November 2018

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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: SC402426 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2018 Full Good 07/09/2017 Full Good 02/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC402426 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good individual care from staff who listen and engage with them. Children express their views through a variety of individual discussions with staff. They take part in regular house meetings where they discuss a wide range of current subjects that interest them. As a result, children build trusting relationships with those who care for them. Children make good progress in all areas of their health and development. They are having their health needs well met. They attend routine and specialist health appointments and the manager is proactive in obtaining therapeutic support for those children who require it. Children’s need for prescribed medication is reducing as a result. Children are engaging well with their education and have good attendance in school and college. When children are not in school, the manager and staff work closely with placing authorities and schools to support them. They ensure that children are

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

fully engaged in structured activities. Consequently, children are making good progress in their education. The home is welcoming and child centred. There are a range of games and puzzles for children to enjoy. Children’s bedrooms are all en-suite and personalised to their individual tastes. This gives children a sense of belonging. Staff support children to develop independence skills appropriate to their age and ability. The home has an annex where older children can begin to learn how to budget and cook basic meals. This helps children to develop the skills that they will need to be independent in adulthood. Staff support children and young people well when they leave the home. They helped one young person with his move into supported living accommodation over a period of a month, visiting him and helping him set up his flat. This ensured that the young person had the necessary support to begin his adult life.

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

Children are safe in the home because staff know how to safely care for them. Children do not go missing and any safeguarding concerns are acted on and referred swiftly to the appropriate authorities. Staff receive a range of safeguarding training including child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Recruitment procedures are thorough and ensure that all those working in the home are safe to do so. Staff manage challenging behaviour well. They make good use of rewards and incentives which are individual to children. Children’s plans are clear about the approaches that staff are to use to manage and reduce negative behaviour. As a result, incidents requiring the use of physical restraints are few and have significantly reduced. Inspection report children’s home: SC402426 4 When staff do use restraint, the records of these are evaluated by the manager to ensure that they are appropriate and measured. However, on one occasion the

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

manager was involved in a physical intervention and this was not independently evaluated. This did not ensure that there is appropriate scrutiny.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A long-standing and qualified manager effectively manages the home. The staff team is consistent and there is a high level of staff trained to the expected qualification in residential care. The manager has a clear understanding of the progress that children make and has a good awareness of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She has a good level of oversight into the running of the home. However, a recommendation in a recent health and safety audit has not been swiftly acted on. This was to review the stair nosing on a fire escape to ensure that these are highlighted. Staff receive a wide range of training. Staff knowledge and practice is further developed by the manager in supervisions and in team meetings. This ensures that children are cared for by staff who are knowledgeable and skilled in childcare. The manager works effectively in partnership with a range of professionals. Placing

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

social workers are positive about the care and support that children receive and in the level of communication with the manager and staff. They see significant improvements in the behaviour and confidence of the children they have placed in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC402426 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 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 (1)(2)(d)) 31/03/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: SC402426 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

Sue Young, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC402426 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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