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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 1 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is run by a provider of specialist education. It is registered to provide care for up to nine children with autism spectrum disorder and associated difficulties. The home is located within the provider’s school campus, where the children currently living at the home also attend the school.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children feel happy in the home. They can seek reassurance from staff, when needed, and all children enjoy the activities on offer. One parent spoke positively about how, despite her child’s complex medical needs, staff have sensitively supported her child to join in a group holiday and enjoy activities with their friends.

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The care of children

Staff know the children well and ensure that support is tailored to their needs. Staff build positive and trusting relationships with children and are able to provide them with the reassurance that they need to try new things. For example, one child was supported to visit London for the first time and experience using the underground train and seeing the sights.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, children’s attendance at the provider’s attached school has improved. Since the last inspection, children’s attendance at the provider’s attached school has improved and they are now attending regularly. Staff at the home have improved their links with education staff, which better supports children’s learning.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the risks children face and know how to respond. One child has a complex medical condition which staff have sensitively supported them with. Despite this, not all staff have received up-to-date training regarding the child’s complex medical condition. However, several staff are trained and available to the child should the need arise.

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The safety of children

Children do not go missing from the home. Due to the complex learning needs of the children, there are robust security measures in place and all children have high staff support. However, when tested, staff’s knowledge on the community risks children face was limited. Security measures, such as high staff supervision, internet filters and restricted access to the home, ensure that these risks remain low.

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The safety of children

Staff understand children’s behaviours and are alert to situations that may cause them to be distressed. They intervene effectively to help steer children away from situations that may cause them to be anxious. New behaviour management plans have been introduced, which helps staff to deliver a consistent response.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned from their position. The responsible individual has also left their role. The organisation has acted quickly Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 3 to position the senior quality manager to the home in place of the responsible individual until a recruitment process is concluded. Also, the organisation has placed another manager to oversee the home while a new registered manager is appointed permanently. Both managers have knowledge and experience of the home, the staff and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since these changes, staff and a parent have been positive about the impact. Staff feel that there is more management presence in the home. They say that there is better oversight of their work and they feel better supported. The parent commented positively on the communication they are now receiving, which was previously poor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, staff have joined from another of the provider’s homes, which recently closed. As a result, agency staff have not been used. Staff demonstrate skill in their practice. However, some avoidable gaps have been identified, such as managing a child’s health condition and risks in the community. These gaps have not been identified due to poor monitoring and a lack of supervision of staff. This has been identified by the incoming managers and a plan is in place to address this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders have responded to shortfalls identified at the last inspection. All but two requirements have been met. An action plan was implemented and monitored by leaders. Where shortfalls have been repeated, leaders have taken action to address them.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/04/2021 Full Good 22/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/07/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 2 November 2022

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and

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Requirement Due date

provide each employee with a job description outlining the employee’s responsibilities.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)(c) (4)(b)) 2 November 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm, particularly in the community. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to respond to the health needs of children and help children to manage long-term conditions. Where necessary, staff should be able to meet children’s specific individual health needs arising from a disability, chronic condition or other complex needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.12) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 6

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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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Inspectors

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Tony Waite, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241785 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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