Children's home run by Aspris Homes Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 1 SC413085 Registered provider: Castle Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and provides care for up to three children. The home caters for children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2023 Full Outstanding 15/12/2021 Full Outstanding 30/04/2019 Full Good 19/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 3

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outstanding

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. The children are cared for by staff with whom they have formed positive, secure relationships. The children enjoy the staff’s company. Interactions between the children and staff are fun, playful and relaxed.

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outstanding

Staff understand the children’s complex needs extremely well. They work effectively with external professionals to ensure that the children’s needs in all areas are well met. This includes staff consistently seeking medical care for the children when needed and working closely with professionals to ensure that potential risks to the children are well managed. This ensures a co-ordinated approach to supporting the children’s development while also ensuring their safety.

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outstanding

While staff recognise challenges the children face due to their vulnerabilities, they remain aspirational for them. They have been able to influence and maintain significant progress for both children. One child who struggles with social anxiety has grown in confidence and continues to regularly spend time independently, volunteering at a local horse-riding stables. Another child has completed their secondary education, gained qualifications and is on track to pursue further education at college. The child was also able to maintain a job for several months and their independence skills have greatly developed. Both children now have aspirations for their future. The excellent progress that the children continue to make is largely due to staff’s commitment and success with instilling self-belief in them.

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outstanding

The children are a priority for the staff, who go the extra mile to ensure that children enjoy positive experiences. The children are provided with opportunities to engage in varied activities of interest and are introduced to new experiences. One child enjoys going to the cinema and theme parks with staff, and recently started having driving lessons. A child who dreams of becoming a professional jockey has enjoyed a trip to a well-known horse-racing stadium and has been featured in a magazine regarding their passion for horse racing. The child expressed that they are happy living in the home and that they are ‘massively supported’ with their horse-racing interest. The experiences the children have, help to promote a good emotional well- being and also create amazing memories for them.

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outstanding

Staff are forward thinking and proactive in their efforts when supporting the children. They have identified local job vacancies and are supporting a child to resume part-time work, alongside their education. This will potentially further develop the child’s skills and experience and put them in good stead for their future.

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outstanding

Children are extremely well supported with developing a greater understanding of diversity and equality issues. They have been introduced to foods from different Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 4 cultures on theme nights and staff welcome conversations about diversity. A child who is exploring their identity is greatly supported. They enjoy time spent at youth clubs among other children who are also exploring their identity. Consequently, this child is being supported to have a positive self-image, in an environment where they feel safe and accepted.

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outstanding

The children live in a well-maintained home, in which they have different spaces outside of their bedrooms for their enjoyment. These include a games room, gym room and a large garden space. Staff regularly seek the children’s views and act on them. For example, in response to a child’s dissatisfaction about health and safety signs displayed in the home, these were replaced with smaller signs to maintain the homely feel. In addition, when a child expressed being unhappy with the kitchen being locked at nights (due to the other child’s needs), this was taken on board and solutions explored straight away. A child expressed being happy living in the home and said that they would not change anything.

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outstanding

Staff understand both children’s complex needs and vulnerabilities extremely well. Comprehensive risk assessments in place provide staff with clear guidance on managing the risks individual to each child. Incidents are extremely well managed by the skilful staff in line with the children’s plans. The staff regularly review and update the children’s plans. This ensures that the children continue to receive individualised care in line with their changing needs.

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outstanding

The simple things that matter to the children, matter to the staff. Children are encouraged to share their wishes and views, and staff act on them. This has helped staff to maintain trusting relationships with the children. This is evident by a child being comfortable to have open discussions with staff about personal issues.

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outstanding

Staff are mindful that the children have experienced past trauma and are patient when dealing with behaviours that challenge the staff. When incidents have occurred, staff have supported children through a skilled approach without the use of restraint. A social care professional reported that staff manage challenging situations highly effectively.

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outstanding

Children are happy living in the home and have not gone missing since the last inspection. Even so, there are clear protocols in place which guide staff on actions to take to ensure the children’s safety should they go missing.

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outstanding

The importance of effective partnership working to meet the children’s needs is recognised by staff. The staff provide ongoing support to help a child understand the potential risks of being in an unhealthy relationship. When the local authority was unable to provide the requested additional support, managers sourced specialist input, to complement the work that they are doing. This demonstrates the commitment of staff to ensuring the children’s safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 5 Staff successfully support the children’s engagement with positive, meaningful activities. Staff keep the children positively occupied in things that interest them, to help to deter them from behaviours that may lead to harm. Additionally, staff are proactive in seeking research relevant to the needs of the children, such as the impact that coercive control has on children and young people. The staff share the

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outstanding

research with the rest of the staff team. Consequently, staff practice is informed by current research and understanding. This way of working ensures that children continue to receive a high standard of individualised care.

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outstanding

Safer recruitment checks are carried out to a high standard. This helps to ensure that only suitably skilled and experienced applicants are employed to work in the home. Regular health and safety checks carried out in the home also help to ensure the safety of the children and others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers actively strive to ensure that children are provided with positive experiences that create fond memories. They strongly believe that the children can be supported to achieve great outcomes, despite their complex needs and vulnerabilities. Managers have inspired a staff team that shares the same vision. Consequently, children receive a high standard of care aimed at giving them the very best life chances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers know the children extremely well, including the experiences needed for them to progress further. This is due to the managers spending time with the children and caring for them alongside staff. The managers maintain their relationships with the children by meeting with them each month and allowing them the opportunity to speak about any issues they would like. This has provided the opportunity for the managers to model outstanding practice to the staff team and reinforce the importance of the children being listened to and made to feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective partnership working with all professionals involved in the children’s lives is strongly encouraged by the managers. A social care professional described the managers as resourceful, resilient and consistent. It was also reported that the managers often attend a child’s review meetings alongside the child’s key worker. In addition, the managers support staff with advocating for the children when needed. For example, they advocated for a child to receive medical care when their mental health deteriorated. The managers take on board feedback and suggestions made by partner professionals. For example, they are exploring staff training in mentalisation. This demonstrates that meeting the needs of the children is a top priority for the managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have been provided with training relevant to the children’s needs, and this is supplemented by additional specialist training. The managers ensure that there are regular reflective group discussions, and that staff are also well supported individually through supervision sessions. New staff are paired with an experienced member of staff who guides them in their role. The managers ensure that the needs Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 6 of the staff are well met and that they are well equipped to carry out their role effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are acutely aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. There is great focus on continual improvement to ensure that children continue to receive a high standard of care. A key area of focus is recruitment to fill two staff vacancies with experienced, skilled staff. In the meantime, the current staff have covered shifts, which has enabled children to receive consistent care while recruitment is in progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Respect for diversity and acceptance of differences is promoted by managers. Staff have had training on diversity and inclusion and are able to confidently support a child exploring their identity. Managers also encourage staff to be proactive in ensuring their own continued development, including keeping informed of research relevant to their practice. This ensures that children continue to be cared for by greatly skilled and knowledgeable staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The actions of managers have influenced a committed staff team. The staff enjoy working in the home and spoke highly of the support they receive from their managers. A staff member expressed that their managers and colleagues are like family.

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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: SC413085 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Castle Homes 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

Sasha Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC413085 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 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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