Children's Home run by Aston Children’s Care Ltd in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 1 SC453726

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Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children with complex behaviours due to childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2022.

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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 this inspection, the inspector 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: SC453726 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

Three children live in the home. Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and one child has moved out of the home, in line with their plans. Children live in a home that provides them with homely comforts.

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The care of children

Children have positive relationships with staff, who know them well. Children’s religious and dietary requirements are known and supported. Staff support children to attend places of worship. One child told the inspector that staff know not to put her photos on the wall because this is considered as bad luck in her religion. Instead, this child’s photos are displayed on tables in the home.

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The care of children

Staff support children to explore their individual identity and characteristics that make them unique. For one child, this has meant her brother, who speaks her birth language, has been to the home and cooked cultural foods and supported staff to understand their heritage.

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The care of children

The home has commissioned a clinical therapist to support children with their behaviours and emotions related to their experiences. Children also attend specialist physical and mental health appointments for their individual care needs.

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The safety of children

Staff understand risks that individual children may face. Staff are supported to prevent and respond to risks through clear risk management plans and training they have received.

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The safety of children

Children infrequently go missing from the home. When children do go missing, staff respond immediately. They look for children and action procedures swiftly. One child, who was known to go missing before moving into the home, has not been missing while living in this home. She has built trust with staff and now has independent time out of the home and returns at the agreed time.

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The safety of children

When children make allegations and complaints about the care they receive, the manager is diligent in her response. The local authority designated officer is consulted, and relevant professionals are informed. Children are spoken with, which reinforces that their views are important and taken seriously.

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The safety of children

Sometimes, children are restrained by staff to prevent them hurting themselves or others. Restraint is only used as a last resort and staff use a range of skills to try to de-escalate children’s behaviour in the first instance. These incidents are well Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 3 recorded, and the manager carries out debriefs with children and staff to aid future learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has grown in confidence since the last inspection. She knows the children and staff well. The manager recognises her own development in her leadership and management skills. She attributes this to the support she has received through newly appointed senior managers and the clinician who has been commissioned to work with the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff feel well supported in their role. They benefit from regular supervision and appraisals to help them further develop and acknowledge good practice. Staff recognise their personal development and how they now understand how children’s behaviours are part of their communication, which is impacted on by their experiences. One member of staff said that the therapeutic training she has received has changed her ‘whole practice’ for the better.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager’s and staff’s hard work is demonstrated through meeting all the previous requirements made at the full inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2021 Full Inadequate 15/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 181 Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV3 0EQ

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Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC453726 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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