Children's Home run by Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1250253 1

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Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides a short-break service. The service offers overnight respite stays and assessment breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was conducted following concerns raised with Ofsted by a third party. The visit included on-site and remote inspection activities. The site visit included a tour of the accommodation, a discussion with the registered manager and a sample of the records. The remote activities included telephone calls to parents, further discussions with the manager and a review of records.

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This monitoring visit

The short-break service has continued throughout the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and has offered a reduced service based on priority. At the time of the visit, there were 22 children using the service for two or more nights a month.

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This monitoring visit

During the periods of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the manager provided reduced allocations for each family. This ensured that all families were offered an allocated break. A priority risk-rating system takes into account the child’s school provision and each family’s circumstances. This system has meant that some families have not been able to have their preferred days, which has resulted in a complaint. This complaint has been processed in line with the home’s complaints procedure and investigated appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

As a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the manager has provided additional breaks for children. The extra breaks have been offered away from the main house, which means that more children can safely use the service. The children who have been selected for the additional breaks are those who are likely to benefit from this option. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1250253 2 The staff have worked hard to find safe activities for the children. The children have visited local parks and outdoor amenities, including the local rural life museum. Regular walks and the spacious garden provide the children with fresh air and the opportunity to exercise.

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This monitoring visit

The environment offers a choice of activity space for the children. The conservatory, garden and outdoor sensory den provide areas outside the communal living and dining area. The kitchen has been freshly decorated. However, the paintwork and woodwork in other rooms need updating. The environment is unwelcoming and has an institutional feel. The hardcourt entrance area has items waiting to go to the refuse collection site and is not inviting for the children on their arrival. The manager has sourced a grant to develop and improve this area.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to undertake an investigation about a serious incident or to notify this incident to Ofsted. During a short break, a child sustained an unexplained and serious bruise that was not properly investigated. This was despite questions from the child’s parent about how it happened. The manager notified the parent and responded to the parent’s questions. However, the records of the child’s activities contradict the child’s version of what happened and do not reflect the severity of the injury. Failure to find the actual cause of the bruise means that there was insufficient explanation and exploration of any associated concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The independent person’s visits have taken place both in person and virtually during the lockdown restriction periods. The visitor’s reports fail to include any feedback from parents or professionals and do not raise actions that drive the service to improve. Most of the children are not able to communicate verbally. Therefore, without talking to children’s parents, the children’s views and experiences are not captured.

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This monitoring visit

Two of the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met and two have been restated. The recommendation has not been reviewed at this visit and will be evaluated at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/04/2019 Full Good 11/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1250253 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—

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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—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the accommodation is well maintained and appropriately decorated. 31 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 31 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1250253 4 In particular, ensure that the records demonstrate the investigations undertaken when children have been accidentally injured.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 31 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (5)) 31 May 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This particularly relates to the recruitment of staff. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor concerns raised to Ofsted.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1250253 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suffolk House, 7 Hydra Orion Court, Addison Way, Great Blakenham, Ipswich IP6 0LW

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1250253 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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