Children's Home run by Aspire Care and Education Services Ltd in Kent

Inspection report children's home: 2654906 1 Registered provider: Aspire Care and Education Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides accommodation for up to two children with learning difficulties. It is one of two homes operated by the same provider. Two children currently live in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was coupled with an assessment of the provider’s application to vary the conditions of the home’s registration by increasing the maximum number of children to be accommodated from two to nine.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2654906 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The needs and vulnerabilities of the children are very well understood before they move into the home. Staff visit children before they move in and help them to prepare for the changes ahead. This careful planning helps the children to settle quickly and start making the earliest possible progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff liaise closely with the external professionals who have been supporting the children before they move in. This ensures the continuity of specialist care and supports the children’s continued safety, good health and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Dedicated staff build warm and positive relationships with the children, who quickly start to trust staff and build feelings of security and belonging. This helps them to have fun and build confidence and to cope positively with new school settings and the challenges these bring. The children’s hours of school attendance have been significantly increased. They have progressed from needing the staff to provide support during transport to and from school to the children doing this without additional support. Partnership working between the staff and the school is not, however, always consistent and effective. This hinders the children’s best possible progress and smoothest home-school transitions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff take considerable steps to help the children to connect with their cultural roots. This includes familiar foods and religious observance, as well as ensuring regular contact with parents who live abroad. This adds to the children’s feelings of acceptance and being valued and contributes to an environment in which they are making excellent progress.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Attentive staff are well-versed in meeting the children’s medical, health, and safety needs. The close monitoring by managers ensures that high standards are maintained. Good staffing levels ensure that the children are closely supervised during the day and regularly monitored when sleeping, as dictated by their needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Clear boundaries and consistent routines followed by the staff contribute to the children’s feelings of security. The positive behaviour support by the staff promotes the children’s sense of progress and achievement. There has been no use of physical restraint techniques. Confident staff interpret changes in a child’s behaviour as the child’s attempt to communicate that something is wrong. When the children do become anxious or frustrated, the staff respond with patience, care and sensitivity until the children feel safe and settled. This contributes to an environment in which they can thrive. Inspection report children's home: 2654906 3 High standards of medication administration, a very safe and well-maintained environment, and sound health and safety practice complete the picture of a staff team that keeps the children safe and promotes their well-being and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have followed their vision and plan, which started by successfully registering the home for two children. Since that time, both children have settled, and the staff team has gelled. Clear succession planning brings continuing stability for the staff team. This includes the appointment of an additional manager, who has been working closely alongside the current registered manager. Development plans include the registered manager moving into the responsible individual position, alongside the appointed manager submitting an application to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The plan for the further development and expansion of the provision included the refurbishment of the premises. This has been completed to a high standard. The home is now ready to physically accommodate more children. This is complemented by the considered approach of leaders, who plan to introduce new children, based on sound assessment and ongoing staff recruitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high ambitions for the provision and how their approach to care can support the children to develop and achieve their full potential. Staff are highly focused on the progress that the children make, and their progress and achievements in all areas are celebrated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff say that they feel supported and affirmed in their roles. They can meaningfully contribute to the plans for the children and the development of the service. They express confidence in leaders and managers, and value the well- planned induction programme and regular supervision that they undergo.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are clear about areas of weakness and those requiring further improvement because of the sound and reliable monitoring systems that they use. Although generally sound, there are some areas of recruitment practice that can be improved. One area is the routine enquiry into why applicants left any previous employment involving the care of children or vulnerable adults. Another is the rigour with which the mental and physical fitness, integrity and good character of applicants are assessed. These shortfalls have been recognised by leaders and managers, who report that recruitment procedures are currently under review. Inspection report children's home: 2654906 4

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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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 19 April 2022

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Recommendation:

 The registered person should ensure that staff work closely with schools to ensure that children are supported to follow their personal education plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children's home: 2654906 5 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 children's home: 2654906 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspire Care and Education Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Aspire Care, 144-146 Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay CT6 6JZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jonathan Deslandes

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Inspector:

John Pledger, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2654906 7 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:

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

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