Children's Home run by Aspiration House Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2691525 1 Registered provider: Aspiration House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in March 2023 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has two houses on the site. One can accommodate two children and the other can accommodate four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home also has a school on the same site which children living at the home can attend. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2691525 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the home opened, three children have moved into the home and one child has left.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager carefully considers the needs of children moving into the home alongside those of the children already living there to ensure the best possible match. When children struggle to settle, the registered manager promptly raises her concerns with the placing authority. This has resulted in a placement ending in the best interests of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by a consistent staff team. Staff know the children well and show commitment and dedication to the children. As a result, children have formed positive and trusting relationships with the people who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress. Staff have developed detailed plans which help them to provide consistent care. Children have structure and routine to their day. This has resulted in children becoming more settled and wanting to try new things, such as joining local football clubs, attending local youth clubs, spending less time on technology and making friends in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before moving to the home, some children were reluctant to attend education. Having education on site and care staff supporting children in school means that children are attending daily and starting to achieve. Staff make sure that learning extends from school into the home. Staff help children to learn new skills and develop their independence. Staff encourage children to take part in devising menus, shopping, cooking and taking care of their bedrooms. This gives children a sense of belonging and helps them to be as independent as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to children. Children are helped to express their views and have a voice. They are encouraged by staff to make day-to-day decisions and to express their views on the bigger things which affect their lives. As a result, children feel valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children maintaining links with their family and friends. Staff help children to meet up with and play with children in the local area. Staff take children to visit their families no matter the distance. Consequently, children can make and maintain new friendships and remain part of their families despite living away from home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have made sure that the environment is homely and have paid attention to personalising children’s bedrooms. However, staff have not always kept on top of the cleanliness of the home by carrying out tasks such as removing cobwebs, frequently vacuuming carpets and general tidying. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691525 3

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

Staff keep children safe. They know the children well and have developed robust plans which identify children’s needs and risks along with strategies to keep children safe.

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

Staff understand the vulnerability of the children living at the home, specifically online risks. As a result, staff work with children to understand the risks, monitor what children are doing online and use technology to restrict access to sites which could pose a risk to children. As a result, children are kept safe online and helped to understand risks as they gain more freedom when using technology.

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

Staff only use physical intervention when absolutely necessary to keep children safe. Records contain the required detail, which enables the registered manager to have good oversight. Following a review of a physical intervention, the registered manager identified a more nurturing approach for one child. As a result of the new strategy, physical intervention has not been needed.

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

On occasions, children leave the home without staff’s permission. Staff follow the child’s missing-from-home protocol and search for them. The registered manager’s review identified the reasons for one child leaving the home and they have adapted the child’s plans so that the need to leave has been reduced. As a result, missing- from-home incidents have reduced.

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

When concerns are raised about staff practice, the registered manager has acted promptly in reporting and investigating. Where necessary, further action has been taken to help staff improve their practice.

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

The registered manager has ensured that staff working at the home, including agency staff, have been recruited following safer recruitment practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a child-focused practitioner who sets high standards for herself and the staff team. She is committed to ensuring that children receive good- quality care and have positive experiences living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has taken on the role as headteacher during a period of illness by the current headteacher. This additional responsibility has not impacted on the care given to the children or the oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New members of staff have a comprehensive induction, and all staff receive a variety of training. Staff also receive child-specific training. The registered manager has made sure that staff who have not attained the relevant childcare qualification have been enrolled to undertake the required qualification. As a result, staff develop the skills and knowledge needed to care for the children at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691525 4 Staff told the inspector that they feel well supported by the registered manager and that they receive regular reflective supervision sessions to support their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that there is good multi-agency working. She is good at building positive relationships with professionals and is not afraid to challenge professionals when she feels that children are not getting the service they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has developed positive relationships with children’s families. Those spoken to were complimentary about her leadership and the difference the care at the home is making to their child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691525 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children have a clean environment. This specifically relates to ensuring that staff regularly clean and tidy the home, remove cobwebs and clutter and ensure that carpets are clean. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3)

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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: 2691525 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspiration House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Aspiration House Limited, 2nd Floor, Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2691525 7 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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