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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 1

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Priory Education Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three young people who have a learning disability. The home is operated by a national, private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager for this home registered with Ofsted on 5 May 2020.

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This monitoring visit

During the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Ofsted is not carrying out routine inspections of social care provisions.

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This monitoring visit

Two whistle-blowing calls were made to Ofsted and therefore an urgent on-site inspection was carried out. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no grading was given.

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This monitoring visit

The concerns raised related to safeguarding matters and young people not being looked after properly. While inspectors did identify areas for improvement regarding some of the issues raised, young people presented as happy and as having good relationships with staff. One young person said that he feels safe and that this is a friendly and good home.

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This monitoring visit

Important aspects of written plans for young people and guidance for staff are not clear enough in all areas. This lack of clarity is confusing for staff, who are required to follow these plans to ensure young people’s safety and health. Routines and sleeping patterns for one young person, while a long-standing issue prior to him coming to the home, have not been tackled enough with the consistency, creativity and determination that is needed. However, it is acknowledged that staff have looked after the young people during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

One child has required physical intervention to keep him safe on a number of occasions. Physical intervention records do not always contain the necessary detail Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 2 so that the manager can assure herself that the action taken was proportionate and necessary. The manager’s critical examination of incidents is not always recorded, debriefs of staff are inconsistent and the young person’s views are not always included. Improved management scrutiny and monitoring is required to improve care planning for young people and to ensure that appropriate follow-up responses are taken, such as escalating concerns to senior leaders or notifying Ofsted of serious incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment is welcoming, homely and furnished to a high standard, with considerable outdoor space and play facilities for young people. During the inspection, children enjoyed a range of activities in the local community and in the garden.

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This monitoring visit

Statutory requirements have been set to address the regulatory breaches found at this inspection. Ofsted will continue to monitor this home. Requirements raised at the previous inspection remain in force as they were not reviewed at this inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/11/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 3

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; and ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which gives the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that the child is supported to engage in a wide range of activities, makes measurable educational progress and is provided with access to primary healthcare practitioners. 01/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; 01/04/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 4 an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; and

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(ix)(xi)) 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 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)) 01/04/2019

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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— 15/09/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 5 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and deliver the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all relevant documentation for young people is up to date, concise and relevant, and that all guidance and instruction to staff about caring for young people is clear. Ensure that the manager’s evaluation, monitoring and review is sufficiently robust to evaluate incidents and ensure any necessary follow-up action is taken and that care planning is informed. The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; 01/04/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 6 medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which—

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Requirement Due date

is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and may be safely self-administered by that child.

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Requirement Due date

ordered for a patient, for provision to the patient, under or by the virtue of the National Health Service Act 2006 or section 176(3) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003(b); or

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Requirement Due date

in a case not falling within sub-paragraph (a), prescribed for a patient in accordance with regulation 217 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012(c).

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 23 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(a)(b)(4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, take urgent action to ensure that staff who are administering medication have been assessed as competent by a suitable person. Take urgent action to review the storage of medication keys. After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home; and provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b) 01/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. 01/04/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 7 (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff respond effectively when children are injured during incidents when restraint is used. 02/09/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 8

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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: Priory Group, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspectors

Sarah Canto, social care inspector Paula Lahey, social care regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271467 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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