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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2630934 1 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a large national provider. The home provides care for up to five children with social and/or emotional difficulties and mild learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place as the provider gave Ofsted notice of their intention to admit children after a period of closure. The visit was to ensure that the home was safe for children to move into, with a suitable manager and adequate staff team.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 26 August 2022, the provider informed Ofsted they were planning to close the home as they had been unable to recruit a new manager. The previous manager left on 30 June 2022 and the provider was unable to recruit enough suitable staff. At the time, one child was living at the home, a planned transition was underway and the child subsequently moved out. Ofsted issued a notice of decision on 4 November 2022 to impose a condition that the provider must give Ofsted three months’ notice of their intention to admit children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A new manager has been appointed and has applied for registration with Ofsted. The manager is experienced and keen to support children to move into the home. She has been well supported by the senior leadership team to undertake a thorough review of the home’s systems.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There has been a full refurbishment of the home, to ensure that it is of a high standard for children to move into. The home has been fully redecorated, with new furniture and soft furnishings purchased. The children’s bedrooms are ready for Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2630934 2 them to move into, with further personalisation planned for each child to match their own style and preferences.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has updated the home’s statement of purpose and ensured that the new staff team is aware of her ethos and high expectations for the quality of care for children. The manager has well-organised systems for children’s case recording and for the oversight and monitoring of the management systems in the home. As a result, requirements raised at the last inspection under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and regulation 36, children’s case records, have been met. The children’s guide has been updated to ensure that it is clear how children can make a complaint and the manager has ensured that complaints forms are available in children’s welcome packs. This means a recommendation from the last inspection has been met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has also reviewed the location risk assessment for the home to ensure that staff can support children to keep safe and be aware of hazards in the local area. As a result, a recommendation from the last inspection has been met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed the arrangements for the administration of medication. The system for recording medication and for medication storage is clear and staff have received training in the safe management of medication. However, as no medication has been administered while the home has been closed, the requirement made at the last inspection under regulation 23, medicines, was not able to be tested during this visit and is restated.

p.2

This monitoring visit

New staff have been safely recruited and have received training to ensure they can meet the needs of children. The staff have been working in other homes in the organisation to develop their skills and experience while also having team meetings and training together. The manager is undertaking supervision with the staff to share her vision for the home. The planned rota ensures that there is a suitable mix of qualified and experienced staff on duty at all times to meet the needs of children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, the three-month condition has been lifted and the home is ready to admit children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2630934 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2630934 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that medication is administered to children as prescribed.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 26 April 2023

p.4

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2630934 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

p.5

Inspector

Jessica Forshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2630934 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6