Children's Home run by Jasper Education and Support Services Limited in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home: 2724536 1 Registered provider: Jasper Education and Support Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties and have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably experienced and has been in post since 28 April 2023 when the home opened.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2724536 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Staff work hard to support the children. As a result, they are both making progress. The children know that staff will help to keep them safe and this is helping them to build secure relationships. The staff talk about the children with pride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an energised and positive atmosphere at the home. During this visit, children and staff were decorating the house for Halloween. Conversations were humorous and showed that the children know they can trust staff. Children’s views are valued and staff seek them out to provide opportunities to share their thoughts. The children are encouraged to contribute to all aspects of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from families and professionals is positive. They appreciate the good levels of communication. One family member said that staff are supportive and show how much they care about the child. The positive relationships between the staff and children’s families help children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children engage in education. Staff show them that learning is important. They take one child to school to ensure that they are left with friends and teachers they trust. One child is currently waiting for a new school placement. The child is supported by staff to learn online. The staff are proactive in challenging any delays in finding a suitable new school for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children know that staff will always make time to hear what they have to say. One child said, ‘I know the staff are happy with who I am. I am different and open about my sexuality. Staff do a lot for me.’ Staff support the child to go to theatre groups where his personality shines in the creative space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is promoted through good diet, plenty of sleep and support for their emotional well-being. Both children are registered with appropriate health agencies and staff accompany them to their appointments. They have access to a therapist who specialises in supporting children’s emotional well-being. Staff are sensitive to the children’s needs. The staff recognise and manage children’s low mood, anxiety and trauma-related behaviour. Staff respond with empathy, acceptance and understanding, which helps children to heal from past experiences.

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

Leaders respond to safeguarding issues effectively. The managers monitoring and oversight of incidents are good. Leaders are starting to identify patterns in children’s behaviour. Any learning is shared with partner agencies and concerns are discussed in team meetings. This provides a consistent approach to managing incidents and safeguarding children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724536 3 The staff know how to manage risk. They work with the children to identify activities that interest and stimulate them. Good-quality risk assessments and partnership working with social workers ensures that children are supported to take appropriate risks. The children have enjoyed a wide variety of activities since moving to the home.

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

One of the children said that they liked living at the home and felt safe. They know there is always a member of staff to talk to if they feel anxious. Staff respond to children using therapeutic techniques. The staff said learning to work with children therapeutically helps them to see the child’s perspective.

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

The children have had adverse childhood experiences and have engaged in risky behaviours. The staff follow good-quality behavioural plans that help them to identify children’s feelings. When children are anxious or frightened, staff are able to offer techniques to support them to feel better. Children benefit from therapeutic meetings, when each child is invited to go out to a place of their choosing with a member of staff to have a meal and talk. This helps children to feel listened to and heard.

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

The staff use restorative meetings to support positive relationships. The children are encouraged to use these meetings to talk about their feelings and how individual and group dynamics affect them. Staff meetings are also reflective. The children and staff hold each other to account. They are open and honest. Restorative meetings ensure that feelings are explored and understood. Staff and children can reflect on behaviours and this helps them to move forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is an aspirational management team who are an inspiration to staff and children. Managers encourage children to want the best for themselves, and this is reinforced by high-quality care and support. All staff and senior managers understand the children and the progress they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are unanimous in their praise of the management team. One staff member said, ‘I lived in care but I didn’t understand how you work with children until I came to work here.’ Despite the home only having been open a short time, the management team has embedded a culture of reflective learning. Managers model reflective work that encourages relationship-building.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children benefit from a staff member who has experienced care and staff who are culturally diverse. Children are open and honest about their emerging identity. Staff go out of their way to support children as they move towards independence. This helps the children to identify with others and to accept difference.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The enthusiasm for working with children is clear from the moment you step into the home. Leaders are creative and enthusiastic. They are constantly exploring ways to improve the children’s experiences. They use research and online resources to inform learning. This is passed on to staff who say that they benefit hugely from the Inspection report for children’s home: 2724536 4 additional training. Leaders invite the children to contribute their views about their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported by regular supervision sessions. They meet individually and as a reflective staff group with the home’s therapist. She helps the staff team to develop new strategies and explore how current strategies support the children. Scenario- based training embeds their learning. All staff consistently apply their training in their day-to-day work. This enables them to apply techniques that actively engage children. Examples of exceptional practice are evident throughout the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff rotas are drawn up well in advance to give staff alternate weekends off. This means that staff can plan months ahead and plan holidays with confidence. The staff have five ‘duvet days’ a year that are additional to their allocated annual leave. These days can be requested as part of emotional well-being support. Leaders ensure that staff know that they are valued. They provide high-quality support and development to staff, which means staff are more likely to view working at the home as a long-term career.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

At the time of this inspection, the manager had been off work for four weeks. The responsible individual and senior managers have provided an exceptionally high level of oversight during this period. They have continued to follow the ambitious and child-focused development plan. Leaders continue to build relationships with the local community to help the children feel connected to their new home. They have been invited to the parish council to talk about the care experience and how the children are settling in.

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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: 2724536 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Jasper Education and Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Jasper Education and Support Service Limited, 303 Goring Road, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing BN12 4NX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Catherine Russell

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Inspector

Trudy Potter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2724536 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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