Children's home run by Aspireone Care Ltd in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 1 SC439116 Registered provider: Aspireone Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2022 Full Good 25/11/2019 Full Outstanding 17/10/2018 Full Outstanding 19/09/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Children have made clear and measurable progress. Both children have made considerable progress in their understanding and ability to manage their emotions. This means that children are able to express how they feel to staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are clear about the progress that they have made as a consequence of being supported by staff. One child said, ‘I have made loads of progress. In my last home, I would kick and hit out at staff. I don’t do that here; I can now manage my anger.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop skills in preparation for living independently. One child has made significant progress in their ability to cook, clean and manage their money. Furthermore, the child has been supported to access adult services. This means the child has the right support in place as they transition to adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend education and progress has been made in ensuring that children are accessing a suitable education setting. Consequently, children have made progress in both their educational attainment and attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to build positive relationships with the staff and to access a wide range of activities that they have not experienced previously. One child has been able to go and watch their favourite football team. One child has been rewarded with a trip to the set of their favourite television show and to meet the cast members. This helps to build lifelong memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and welcoming home environment that is decorated in line with their wishes and feelings. A previous recommendation in relation to the home environment has been met. However, the downstairs communal areas are locked at night. This restricts children’s access and freedom of movement in the home.

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

Children receive a consistent approach to behaviour management from the staff. A restorative practice model underpins the way staff support children. This approach has helped educate the children to make better choices.. As a result, there have been no restraints or episodes of children going missing from home.

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

Children told the inspector that they feel safe and feel confident to share any worries or concerns with staff members if needed. Weekly children’s meetings and direct-work sessions with children offer them regular opportunities to learn and share their views and wishes. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 4 Children’s risks are comprehensively assessed and detailed in risk management plans. These plans are clear and detail what staff need to do to keep children safe. When children have displayed complex or high-risk-taking behaviours, managers have sought support from specialist agencies. This means that children get the right support and that risks reduce.

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

Staff are well trained to be able to respond to the needs of the children and to keep them safe. Monthly sessions with the organisation’s clinical psychologist support staff to develop their skills and knowledge. However, a mandatory training course for one member of staff was significantly out of date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a manager who is suitably experienced. The manager is supported by a deputy manager. The managers are passionate about improving the lives of the children that they work with and are aspirational about children’s futures. Together, the managers form an effective management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about working in this home. One staff member said, ‘This is the best place I have worked in terms of managers; they are always there for you no matter what. They are accommodating and understand.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home boasts an experienced staff team with impressive staff retention levels. Some staff have worked in the home for many years. Such positive staff retention ensures that children receive consistent levels of care and develop trusting and genuinely meaningful relationships with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported with regular team meetings and supervisions that are focused on improving outcomes for children and staff practice. Team meetings provide staff with a variety of learning and opportunities for reflection. Clinical input in team meetings also allows staff to further their understanding and develop bespoke ways of meeting children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has carefully considered the impact of moving another child into the home. The conditions of registration have been changed so that three children can now live in the home. However, managers are carefully considering the timing of this to ensure that they put the needs of the children currently living the home first.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the care provided. They have ensured that all recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Managers have plans to further develop the team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 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, the 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must remove locks from internal doors. 5 April 2023

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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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to ensuring that staff are up to date with all mandatory training. 5 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 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: SC439116 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspireone Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Lyme Drive, Lyme Vale Court, Parklands, Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6NW

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Inspector

Rob Neild, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC439116 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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