Children's Home run by Aspireone Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 1 SC472325 Registered provider: Aspireone Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company which supports children who have experienced adverse life experiences resulting in trauma. Children may also display complex behaviours. The home is registered to provide care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager is moving to a senior position in the company. The current manager is not registered with Ofsted. She is currently working towards a level 5 diploma.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2021 Full Outstanding 21/01/2020 Full Outstanding 20/08/2018 Full Outstanding 06/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 3

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outstanding

Since the previous inspection, the same two children have remained living in the home. Both children are settled and have lived here for a number of years. Managers and staff have provided consistency and stability to help the children to thrive and have exceptional experiences.

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outstanding

Children experience warm and nurturing relationships from staff, based on unconditional postive regard. Children feel safe and secure. Staff think creatively and continually adapt their approach to support children to progress. One staff member said, ‘Staff are always thinking of new ideas and experiences for the young people, to enrich their time at the home.’

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outstanding

Children are free to express themselves in their own ways. One child has a passion for public transport and wants to be a bus driver. The staff enthusiastically engage in his role play and join him on his imaginary journeys. Children are able to be themselves. As a result, they feel valued and genuinely cared about.

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outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress with their education. Staff encourage children to have high aspirations and have established positive routines for children. As a result, both children have outstanding attendance. Staff’s unwavering support and encouragement has helped one child to pass their recent mock exams and they are on course to do well in their GCSEs. Another child is doing well in their public services course. Managers have arranged additional educational support at home to support the child to work towards their dream of joining the army.

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outstanding

Staff support children to develop skills to increase their opportunities to succeed in life. Initially, one child had no interest in seeking employment. The staff team encouraged and supported the child to develop their interview skills. As a result, this child grew in confidence and was able to find a job themselves.

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outstanding

Leaders and managers passionately advocate and challenge on children’s behalf to ensure that their needs are met. Children have so much confidence in the leaders and managers that they do not feel that they require an advocate. One staff member said, ‘The fight for the right support for each young person is fought, and authorities are challenged to ensure that the children get the right support they need, because each and every member of staff at the home cares for these young people.’

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outstanding

Staff provide children with exceptional life experiences. One child has a keen interest in radio and working as a presenter. Staff have arranged for them to have a tour of the local radio station. The child is ecstatic at having this opportunity. Another child is in the cadets and gets the chance to go camping around the country. The staff ensure that he has all the essential items to be prepared for this. Staff and children Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 4 enjoy activities together, which makes for a family feel at the home. They go out on activities, including going to the cinema, on holidays to Wales and on racing experiences. As a result, children are provided with memorable experiences which they cherish for life.

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outstanding

The staff are creative and innovative in their direct work with children. The team has an extensive understanding of the children’s learning styles. They go above and beyond to ensure that information is presented to children in a way that they can engage with and understand. One staff member created a rap about consent and safe sex. They recorded the rap as a music video and showed this to the children. The children enjoyed this and gained knowledge on how to keep themselves safe. Staff also decorated the home for Valentine’s Day, with heart-warming messages put on the wall about the qualities that staff and children loved about each other. The home was also decorated to celebrate LGBTQ+, which created a fun way for children to learn about people’s differences.

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outstanding

From the moment of entering the home, there is a warm, joyful and homely atmosphere. Children choose the home’s decor and their bedrooms are decorated to their tastes. However, a small amount of mould has started to form on the bathroom ceiling. The managers have provided assurance that this has been escalated to the maintenance team.

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outstanding

Staff create an atmosphere where children feel safe and at ease in the home. They develop strong trusting bonds with children so that children are able to talk about their feelings openly and honestly. Staff are well trained to ensure that they are working safely and effectively with children. As a result, there have been no allegations against the staff. The positive relationships between staff and children enable issues to be overcome more successfully. When children are upset, staff are adept at using de-escalation techniques, such as the PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) model, in line with children’s positive behaviour plans. Consequently, there are very few incidents in the home.

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outstanding

Consequences for behaviours that are not socially acceptable or are unsafe are natural and used as a learning experience for children. Consequences are not punitive, but provide children with opportunities to reflect on their behaviours and learn from their experiences.

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outstanding

Children have not made any complaints, however, they do understand how to do so. Managers have implemented a child-friendly approach to ensuring that children are able to raise any concerns. The home has a ‘worry monster’, a teddy bear who stays in the lounge. Children can write any worries they have on a slip of paper and put this in the monster’s mouth. This gives children an alternative way of sharing their concerns if they do not want to speak directly to someone. This innovative approach helps to ensure that children are able to share their thoughts and feelings. Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 5 Staff have a strong understanding of children’s individual risks and what they must do to keep children safe. Managers and staff ensure that the risk assessments for each child are thorough and are regularly updated to ensure that they provide the team with clear guidance on how to reduce any risk of harm. As a result, there are

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outstanding

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. There are clear protocols in place should children go missing and staff have a clear understanding of how they would respond.

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outstanding

Leaders and the team have positive relationships with a wide range of professionals. Local police regularly visit the home, giving the children productive learning experiences. For example, children have been educated around knife crime, which has given them valuable knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An inspirational, dynamic and passionate registered manager has led the team since August 2014. She has worked hard to achieve the best outcomes for children, and is now moving to a senior role in the company. The previous deputy manager of the home, who worked closely with the registered manager, is equally experienced and committed and has taken over as manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have a comprehensive knowledge of the strengths of the home and areas for development. Auditing systems enable full oversight of the quality of care provided. This ensures that children receive care which enables them to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have provided children with meaningful experiences, this has enabled them to make a difference to the lives of others. Staff and children have taken part in charity events, including creating parcels for Ukrainian families and skipping for cancer research. Children have also made cakes and sold them in the local neighbourhood, raising a fantastic amount of money for charity. This has provided children with a sense of purpose and achievement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recruitment practices are safe and effective. Managers have good oversight of staff who come to work in the home. As a result, they have been assured that staff are suitable and the best fit for the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research-based training is used to support practice. Leaders and managers have attended additional training to gain further knowledge to share with the team, including training around mental health and mental health first-aid training. This led to the appointment of a senior care worker to the role of mental health champion in the home. This has increased the understanding of the importance of mental well- being in the home. Children are benefiting from positive mental health and well- being activities such as movie nights, positivity cards and positive quote of the day. This practice supports the positive relationships being formed in the home and gives children a sense of happiness and positive well-being. Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 6 Children are supported by a team of skilled and knowledgeable staff. Supervision for the staff team is regular and enables staff to reflect on their practice. There is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

evidence of staff being upskilled as part of supervisions. The manager has introduced quizzes, such as on safeguarding and medication, to ensure that staff’s knowledge is regularly refreshed. Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of its children. In particular, the registered person should ensure that mould is prevented from growing in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 5.9)

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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: SC472325 8

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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

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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