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

Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 1 SC062223 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to five children who have complex needs, which may include social and emotional difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and complex associated difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a school on the same site as the children’s home. This is registered separately with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2019. They are appropriately experienced and qualified.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/01/2020 Full Good 13/06/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have remained living at the home and two children have moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care from a consistent and dedicated staff team. Consequently, children make good progress physically, emotionally, socially and educationally. For example, one child had not been attending education when he moved into the home. He has progressed significantly and now has a full-time college placement. He now has aspirations for his future career. Another child has developed his confidence. The social worker told the inspector that the child ‘has come out of his shell since moving and has built really good relationships. He is much more confident in speaking to adults around him and expressing his wishes and feelings’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children form strong relationships with staff that remain in place even after they leave the home. A child who had recently moved out of the home spoke with the inspector. He confirmed that he had liked his time while living at the home and felt supported by staff. The staff have continued to support the child, visiting him in his new home, sending food and offering good parental support. This has really helped the child to feel valued and to settle into his new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at the home and feel safe. They rated the home highly. Children reflected on the good care they receive from staff. They enjoy going on activities together, such as picnics.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests. For example, they are supported to write song lyrics and create artwork. One child has been supported to join the police cadets. This individualised care and support helps children to develop interests and build self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although overall staff speak highly about children, their everyday terminology and recordings can sometimes be confusing for children to read and understand. A recommendation has been raised as a result.

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

Managers’ and staff’s understanding of how to safeguard children is a real strength. This is because staff genuinely care for children. The local authority designated officer confirmed that managers ‘seek consultation and present as open and transparent and will follow up actions agreed’. Furthermore, the local police commented that managers ‘go above and beyond’ to protect children. Excellent multi-agency working helps to protect children. Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 4 There have been occasions when children have been involved in high-risk situations when away from the home. This is despite staff following clear procedures and multi-agency meetings taking place. Staff are skilled at caring for children. As a result, children rarely go missing from the home. Children are not held to keep them safe and incidents in the home are low in number.

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

Managers are not afraid to challenge any service to help ensure their children are safe and are getting the right support at the right time. This provides children with good support from staff who care for them and advocate strongly on their behalf.

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

Staff have training that supports them to help the children in their care. Good- quality key-work sessions help children to understand dangers and expected behaviours. This helps to keep children informed and to make better decisions.

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

The registered manager ensures that staff who are recruited to work at the home are subject to all the necessary checks. This helps to ensure that staff who work at the home are safe to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the responsible individual work well in partnership together. They and their staff team have high expectations for what all children can achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been learning since the last inspection. Staff and managers have worked hard to make the necessary improvements. As a result, the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. The registered manager uses a number of monitoring and auditing tools to support him in the running of the home. Managers are already aware of most of the shortfalls identified at this inspection and an action plan is in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff spoken to were very complimentary about the level of support they receive. Staff explained to the inspector that they felt ‘proud’ to work at the home. They receive regular supervision sessions and ongoing training. However, two staff are not working within the necessary time frame to achieve their level 3 qualification in residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views are sought and listened to. Children are able to express their views in a number of ways and told the inspector that they feel listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All professionals commented about the ‘really good communication’ they receive from the staff. Staff are quick to share information and to advocate for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although children on the whole receive individual care, the registered manager has not followed up on a potential diagnosis for a child. As a result, this may have an impact on staff fully understanding the way the child learns best. Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 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 care planning standard is that children–

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers follow up any information about a child’s potential diagnosis and that care is being delivered in a way that supports the child’s identified learning needs. 28 October 2022

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

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate 24 February 2023 Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 6 qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma;

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the two staff who have not completed the level 3 qualification in the required timescale are supported to do so as soon as practical.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 7 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: SC062223 8

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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

Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC062223 9 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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