Children's Home run by Aston Children’s Care Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453726 1 SC453726

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Aston Children’s Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people, aged between 8 and 18 years old, with complex behaviours due to childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since April 2019. On 11 January 2021, a new manager was appointed. The new manager plans to apply to Ofsted to be the registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

Following a review of notifications sent by the provider to Ofsted, a monitoring visit was undertaken on 19 January 2021. As a result of the visit, compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and regulation 14 (the care planning standard) of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the provider’s progress in meeting the actions set out in the compliance notices. The inspection was completed remotely. The inspector spent time speaking by phone with the manager, staff and a child. The inspector reviewed the requested documents that had been sent by the manager.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager is becoming increasingly established in her role. The manager has taken proactive steps to meet the actions set out in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have now completed a wide range of training. This includes training in respect of autism spectrum disorder, children’s development, learning disabilities and behaviour management. This means that staff now have the required skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453726 2 Staff encourage children to discuss and agree the plans that are in place to help staff understand how best to care for them. The manager reviews these plans regularly. This ensures that staff have clear guidance on how to meet the individual needs of children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand how to keep children safe. This is because they know children well. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans provide staff with clear guidance on the how to manage known risk factors.

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This monitoring visit

The manager ensures that children are supervised and supported in line with their plans. This means that children are appropriately safeguarded, and that staff are available to help them when they need it the most.

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This monitoring visit

The home has upgraded its internet. As a result, staff are now able to access and update children’s records more easily. Staff reported that this has made the day-to- day running of the home more efficient. Children are also happy with the improved internet, as they are now able to access their online gaming.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, the home has been decorated. Children have been able to say how their bedrooms should be decorated. Furthermore, they now have appropriate furniture in which to store their clothes. This has helped them develop their sense of belonging at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, no new children have moved into the home. The manager has implemented a new admissions procedure. The effectiveness of this procedure has not yet been tested.

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This monitoring visit

One requirement raised at the last visit has not been met. The manager has not completed the six-monthly quality-of-care review. The manager acknowledges this and intends to prioritise the completion of this task.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/06/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453726 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)) 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453726 4

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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: Aston Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 181 Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV3 0EQ

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC453726 5 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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