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

Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 1 SC449307 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to seven children. A large private organisation owns the home and provides education. The statement of purpose states that the home supports children with complex needs, which may include emotional and behavioural difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted registered the manager in January 2021.

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management of the home has changed since the last inspection. The registered manager remains in post but has not been in the home since mid-July 2021. He is due to leave the post permanently in April 2022. Since the last inspection, the management team has changed again with a new home manager starting in February 2022. He is keen to provide stability and consistency to the home. The staff team has also changed significantly. Staff have been seconded from other homes within the organisation and new staff have been recruited.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Gaps remain in the quality of care and understanding of children’s needs. This leads to instability and splits in the staff team’s approach to care. This is currently being investigated, particularly in relation to the abusive behaviour from one child to another. Two of the staff, who are thought to be collusive in the child’s behaviour, have since moved on. However, the investigation is ongoing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a serious safeguarding concern about two of the children. This is thought to have been an ongoing issue that had been unnoticed or ignored by staff. The new management team recognises the seriousness of the issues and has reacted appropriately, including moving one child to another home in the organisation where they will receive better support to manage how they interact with others. Staff are helping the child who remains in the home to build their confidence and self-esteem. During the investigation, it was noted that two members of staff have provided a parent with their personal phone numbers, which demonstrates an insufficient understanding of safeguarding boundaries. This was managed appropriately once it was uncovered. However, this identifies a flaw in safeguarding training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child who remains in placement is increasing in their confidence in the home. They were seen to be approaching staff easier and taking more pride in their appearance. They were observed to be making choices and telling staff about their day. The child has plans in place for activities that they enjoy, with the flexibility to change when they happen.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, six requirements and two recommendations were set. Both recommendations and four requirements were deemed to be met at this inspection. New processes with regards to medication have led to all staff being aware of what the medication children are taking is for. This has also been transferred to children’s plans to provide greater clarity. Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 3 Children’s individual culture and identity are also much more detailed in plans, including the explanation of the history or reason for some aspects of cultural or religious practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical environment of the home has undergone redecoration and is mostly well maintained. There is an ongoing plan in place to improve the quality of the environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Pre-placement planning has been overhauled in the home. However, no children have moved into the home to measure the quality of this. Processes are now clear on how to report notifiable events to Ofsted in a timely manner, and the process to ensure the suitability of the contents of parcels children receive has also been reviewed, although this is not currently considered to be an issue.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two requirements that require further development relate to the leadership and management of the home and staff training. These remain an issue as highlighted throughout the report. With regards to staff training, new permanent staff have not had behaviour support training. While physical interventions are not being used in the home, staff have not had training in the organisation’s approaches to de- escalation or how to protect themselves or others. Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/02/2020 Full Outstanding 20/11/2018 Full Outstanding 20/03/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 5

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 27 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 27 May 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is consistency in staffing to help children to feel safe and settled in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand personal and professional boundaries when communicating with children and their families. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14) Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 6

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 children’s home: SC449307 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC449307 8 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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