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

Assurance visit report: SC467155 1 SC467155

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is run by a large provider organisation. It is registered to care for up to four children with learning disabilities, and focuses on caring for children with complex needs that may include autism spectrum disorder and associated difficulties. The home is located on the edge of the provider’s school campus, which all of the current children attend. The manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 23 January 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC467155 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children experience high-quality care and nurturing relationships with staff who know and understand them well. A child that has recently joined the home has quickly developed positive relationships with the staff. Children appear happy, and staff are attentive to their needs. The care and attention of staff, in holding the children at the heart of practice, help children to build a positive sense of their own identity.

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The care of children

All the children attend the on-site school. During the COVID-19 restrictions, the children were educated at the home and supported by teaching staff from the school. This enabled the children to continue with their daily school routine and structure. For one child, this served as a springboard to help him return to full-time school.

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The care of children

Compassionate staff deliver care with dignity and respect. Small steps of achievement made by the children have led to significant improvements to their enjoyment and quality of life. As a result, children develop confidence and become more independent.

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The care of children

A strength at the home is the staff focus on helping the children to communicate and proactive support for the children who are non-verbal to express their needs. There is a good use of social stories and individualised communication schedules. Promoting children’s choices, however small, is well embedded in the staff’s practice. This helps the children to develop confidence and to take part in day-to-day decisions. Consequently, children feel listened to and valued.

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The care of children

There are lots of good resources available for the children to have fun and relax. During COVID-19 restrictions, the staff ensured that children were supported with a range of interesting activities. The children particularly enjoyed the home’s newly acquired trampoline. The location of the home means that a wide variety of outdoor spaces and activities are available. The registered manager and the staff recognise that participation in the wider community enhances the children’s life experiences, enjoyment and well-being.

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The safety of children

Children present as comfortable and relaxed in the presence of the staff and each other. Staff understand the children’s needs, likes, and dislikes, and carefully consider what each child may be feeling and communicating. Staff value the uniqueness of each child, and this contributes to the children’s sense of well-being, safety and security. Assurance visit report: SC467155 3 Praise and encouragement underpin staff practice. This creates a positive atmosphere at the home. When the children become distressed or worried, the staff use their knowledge of the children to look beyond children’s behaviour to understand what they are communicating. This is effective, particularly with the children who communicate non-verbally.

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The safety of children

Staff are aware of the children’s strengths and vulnerabilities and the additional risks presented by each child’s disability. When the children become upset or anxious, the staff use their knowledge to help calm children down. The use of physical interventions is rare. When incidents do occur, they are subject to close scrutiny to ensure that the actions of the staff are fair and safe.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments and risk management plans guide the staff to provide support that is specific to the needs of each child. However, one assessment sampled was not recently updated or clear in response to the changing needs of the child. As a result, staff may not have the most current guidance to know what steps they can take to reduce risks.

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The safety of children

Staff are protective of the children. however, the weekly practice of completing body maps, checking for marks or bruises, is institutional and a potentially invasive procedure.

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Leaders and managers

The newly registered manager is confident and aspirational in seeking the best possible outcomes for the children. A value-led culture permeates throughout the home, and staff interact and respond to the children with kindness and care. Staff spoke of especially feeling well supported by each other and managers during the uncertainties of COVID-19.

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Leaders and managers

The home is suitably staffed and resourced, and there is good morale in the home. Leaders and managers ensure that there are appropriate and detailed safe recruitment checks in place. Positive relationships between staff, parents and professionals ensure that the best interests of the children remain at the forefront of the care provided. Staff benefit from the organisation’s training programme, which covers a good range of relevant topics. Consequently, staff develop competence to meet the specific needs of the children.

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Leaders and managers

The environment is welcoming, clean and tidy. However, some signage on the walls leans towards an institutionalised feel. In one child’s bedroom, padlocks are attached to his wardrobe. This is to prevent him from damaging his belongings. While this may be appropriate for the short term, no assessments for this restrictive practice have been recorded or agreed. This prevents choice and decreases opportunities for the child to learn how to take care of his belongings.

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Leaders and managers

A refurbishment of the summer house has mainly been undertaken by the staff but is yet to be completed. This will be a positive addition to the home and further enhance the children’s day-to-day living experience. Assurance visit report: SC467155 4

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Recommendations

 Children should be supported to express themselves as individuals and should be given an appropriate degree of freedom and choice in relation to day to day arrangements for their care, depending on their individual needs and the setting in which they are cared for. This is in relation to both activities and personal items such as clothing, technology and leisure items. Children’s reasonable preferences in relation to day to day arrangements should be met with consideration given to safeguarding, particularly in relation to the use of technology. Where a child’s preferences are unreasonable or cannot be met for safeguarding reasons, staff should discuss this with the child to help them understand why. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.21)

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Recommendations

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the staff consistently: – take into consideration that the weekly practice of completing body maps, checking for marks or bruises, is construed as institutional and a potentially invasive procedure – record any reason for restricting a child’s access to facilities and items, such as locking wardrobes – agree such restrictions with significant people in children’s lives – detail such restrictions in a child’s care plan – ensure that any restrictions are regularly reviewed

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Recommendations

 The design of the home should include any necessary adaptation to meet the needs of children with disabilities or specific health issues. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.24)

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Recommendations

In particular, this refers to the home’s improvement plan for the completion of the summer house that will enhance the children’s experience.

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, risk assessments must be kept up to date, so staff know what steps they can take, and do take, to reduce harm.

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Children’s home details

Unique reference number: SC467155 Assurance visit report: SC467155 5 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

Anne-Marie Davies, Social Care Inspector Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector (shadow) Assurance visit report: SC467155 6 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

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Inspectors

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

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