Children's Home, Residential special school run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 1 SC391860 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

This privately owned home provides care and support for up to 12 children with learning disabilities. The registered manager has completed a level 4 qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 10 October 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2019 Full Good 14/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/09/2017 Full Good 05/06/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 3

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outstanding

Children receive exceptional care that meets their complex needs. They are very well supported by staff who know them extremely well. A passionate and caring staff team provides children with a loving and warm home environment. The staff are fully committed to ensuring that children achieve positive outcomes.

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outstanding

The staff team is vastly experienced in caring for children with complex needs. They are knowledgeable about each child and are attuned to their needs. For example, staff have worked alongside a child’s family to address her high levels of stress and anxiety when settling into the home. Individualised and well-considered plans ensured that staff worked consistently to help the child to settle and make positive progress. This included staff using a variety of communication tools and aids to help the child feel content and relaxed at night.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are met and well managed. For example, one child who had not attended a dental appointment for over two years is now having regular check- ups. Staff were understanding and sensitive to the child’s fear of the dentist and created an individual support plan which encouraged and supported him to receive the correct dental care. Comprehensive health plans capture key information and provide staff with clear guidance. Staff work closely with parents and social workers to ensure that children’s health information is updated. This joined-up approach enhances positive health outcomes for children.

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outstanding

All children access education that is appropriate to their individual needs. One child who had not been in education for an extended period is now accessing education on an almost daily basis and is meeting her learning objectives. The regular communication between the home and the school ensures that children’s daily experiences are well known, and staff can respond effectively. This has been fruitful in helping children to be successful and make progress in school.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of children’s voices being heard and use a wide range of resources to assist with communication. For example, Makaton, picture exchange systems and social stories are used to help children pick what they would like to eat or what activities they would like to do. As a result, children can express their views and are fully consulted about their care.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a range of sensory activities that enhance and enrich their lives. This includes using the home’s own sensory garden, which children love to spend time in. The garden is also used to grow vegetables and fruit. Children are actively involved in the growing, harvesting and eating of the home-grown produce. Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 4 Staff support children to have amazing experiences and do activities that they have never done before. For example, children have been on holiday. This was made possible by the thoughtful and well-considered planning by the registered manager.

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outstanding

Staff focus on supporting children to progress through a variety of experiences that enhance their social and emotional development. For example, one child who was reluctant to leave the home is now undertaking activities in the community, such as trips to the local cafe and theme parks. Another child is now independently using cutlery at mealtimes. A parent told the inspector that it is fantastic to be able to sit and eat a family meal with their daughter. When children achieve their targets, their successes are celebrated and rewarded. This means that the children feel valued.

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outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to promote positive relationships between children and their families. One parent informed the inspector that the home is very flexible with family time and she can come to the home on a regular basis and spend quality time with her son. Another parent said staff completed a four-hour round trip to enable their daughter to have time with the family. This level of support ensures that children maintain positive relationships with those close to them.

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outstanding

Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure that the care provided to children is well coordinated. Professionals told the inspector that the home is ‘amazing’ and that the staff and managers are ‘delightful’ to work with. Other comments included that staff are ‘very committed to the children’ and that ‘children are loved’.

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outstanding

The safety and well-being of the children are central to staff practice. Behavioural support plans are comprehensive and provide staff with clear guidance and strategies to support children’s behaviours. Plans are updated in response to any incidents that occur. The oversight of managers ensures that staff always have up- to-date guidance. This reduces the potential risk of harm to children.

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outstanding

Staff know the children well and understand the triggers that may unsettle them. They use their intuition to recognise when children are anxious or distressed. Staff intervene early and offer guidance and reassurance. They use a range of individualised approaches to help children settle. For example, one child uses a weighted blanket to help her feel calm. Another child likes touch such as tickling to provide a sense of calm. Staff also use a range of communication aids to help children express their feelings and emotions. This well-thought-out approach keeps children settled and safe.

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outstanding

The registered manager plans well prior to any child moving into the home. This includes staff visiting children before they move in so that children are familiar with the staff who will be caring for them. This helps to reduce children’s worries and helps them settle at the home more quickly. Detailed risk assessments are in place and staff understand from day one how best to protect children and keep them safe. Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 5 Safeguarding incidents at the home are minimal. On the rare occasion that a safeguarding incident occurs, the registered manager undertakes a comprehensive review. Clear safeguarding procedures are in place that meet the needs of children. Staff know these procedures and are confident in their implementation. Children’s welfare is promoted and constantly reviewed.

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outstanding

Similarly, allegations into possible harm are investigated thoroughly by the registered manager. Children are supported and safeguarded throughout the process. The registered manager ensures that any identified learning is actioned quickly.

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outstanding

Physical intervention is only used when all other interventions have been exhausted and the welfare of the children and staff is at risk. The staff use their individual knowledge, experience and understanding of children’s behaviours to enable them to work restoratively with children. Following a physical restraint, staff use innovative and individualised approaches to ensure that children’s voices are heard and recorded.

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outstanding

Staff support children to take appropriate risks to develop their social and independence skills. For example, one child has become increasingly confident in the kitchen and is now able without support to make himself a hot drink. This is significant progress given his starting point.

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outstanding

Good recruitment practices are in place. This ensures that only appropriately vetted individuals work at the home and provide care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since February 2019. She is highly experienced and knowledgeable. She leads by example, providing highly effective leadership. Her innovative approach means that children’s care continues to evolve and improve. She is supported by an equally experienced and dedicated deputy manager. This leadership inspires staff to provide exceptional care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has strong oversight of the effectiveness of the care being delivered. Regular audits are completed which scrutinise the performance of the home and children’s outcomes effectively. The management team strives for continued improvement and they work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that the home has a stable and skilled team of staff who can meet the needs of the children. The good staff retention rate is largely down to the respect and affection that staff have for the registered manager. Staff told the inspector that they would not want to work anywhere else.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff learn through an extensive and varied training programme that is relevant to the needs of the children in the home. The registered manager strives to find new Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 6 ways of enhancing staff practice. Research-based practice forms the foundations from which staff work with children each day. For example, staff are trained in research-based communication methods to support children’s interactions. In addition, staff use Lego therapy to promote children’s emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The strong and effective learning culture at the home enables staff to feel well supported and their development is valued. Staff receive regular supervision, appraisals and team meetings. This supports staff to discuss and reflect upon children’s progress and their own development. As a result, staff are reflective practitioners who can identify and improve their own practice and the care they provide to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak highly of the home and the positive effect that the care provided has on children’s lives. One professional, who has been involved with two of the children who live in the home, detailed the exceptional progress that children have made since moving to this home. Another social worker told the inspector that the home is fantastic, and the staff and manager are a delight to work with.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager communicates well with families so that they are kept up to date on their children’s progress. A parent told the inspector that their child had made great progress since moving to the home. They said that the registered manager always answers any questions and discusses visiting plans with them. This means that children maintain important relationships and continue to develop their identity needs. Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 7

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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 for children's home: SC391860 8

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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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, Fifth Floor, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Bridon

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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC391860 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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