Children's Home run by Priory Education Services Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 1 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 is a privately owned home. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties, where associated moderate learning difficulties and low- risk mental health concerns may be contributors.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 6 May 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 5 February 2021. The manager was appointed to the role in March 2021. They have not registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The home manager is suspended from work pending the outcome of an investigation. The home is currently managed by a covering manager from another home in the organisation, who is also not registered.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to make significant progress, which is captured through photos and the use of a tracker.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate every child’s achievement. For example, at the end of the school term, the children were rewarded with a trip to a water park. Children have been nominated for school and local authority awards in recognition of their remarkable achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise that children can benefit from caring for animals. There is a house cat which all the children take responsibility for, and one child has their own pet rabbit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have recently enjoyed a holiday in Cornwall. They take part in household tasks such as gardening and in leisure activities such as going swimming and playing bowling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have regular time with their friends and family. When children have stayed with their family overnight, staff have maintained support by staying close at a local hotel. This has helped children maintain important relationships with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are doing well in education and have clear aspirations for the future. Children who have not attended school for a long time now attend regularly. Staff have committed to driving a long distance to enable one child to attend their chosen college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic diversity is recognised, valued and promoted positively. Staff promote openness to equality and fairness. This includes being sensitive to children’s sexuality and respecting children’s vegan and vegetarian diets.

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

Staff manage self-harm and ligatures risks well. Children build trust with the staff and know that they care about them. Staff respond to children’s emotional needs sensitively. As a result, children can talk about their feelings and ask for help when they need it.

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

Staff help children to take appropriate risks that reflect their age and understanding. For example, one child is now able to use the kitchen confidently and safely. Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 4 The local police community support officer visits the home often for group chats. The children take part in conversations about topical issues such as staying safe on social media.

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

Staff are skilled in managing the children’s behaviour. Their approach is positive and is consistent with the home’s ethos of providing nurturing care that keeps the children safe.

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

Staff are well trained in safeguarding. However, some poor practice has resulted in the staff not always being confident to raise concerns. This has now improved with the new covering manager in post.

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good

Some poor management has had an impact on the children. This is being addressed by the organisation. At present, the home does not have a registered manager. This requires action by the organisation in line with regulation.

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good

The oversight from the responsible individual is strong. The responsible individual monitors the quality of care using well-developed auditing processes. These processes result in clear development and action plans to improve the home.

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good

One child’s local authority has failed to secure them with a new accommodation in accordance with their plan. This has caused regression in their independence skills and an increase in self-harm. The covering manager raised a complaint with the authority and arranged for the child to have an advocate.

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good

Staff say that support has improved under the covering manager. The team meetings are productive and focus on the care of the children. The covering manager has ensured that the staff have a predictable rota which meets the needs of the children.

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good

Staff receive regular, helpful supervision. However, staff do not consider their appraisals to be useful in their professional development.

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good

Complaints have not always been managed well. The responsible individual has now taken swift action to address this shortfall. This has resulted in complaints now being fully investigated.

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good

Staff do not always have the resources to carry out their roles. The staff have been without a printer for some time. This resulted in a child’s emotion reflection chart not being updated since September. The Wi-Fi is unreliable and hinders the staff from keeping children’s records up to date. Furthermore, the freezer storage space is limited. Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that the home manager has applied to be registered with Ofsted. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have access to a working printer and reliable Wi-Fi, and improve freezer space for food storage. 31 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. The appraisals should be of good quality and provide clear feedback on areas of improvement for staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 6

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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: 2585129 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

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2585129 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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