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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC465940 1 SC465940 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2013 and provides care for up to seven children with a learning disability. It is owned and managed by a large national organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 8 September 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 13 December 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC465940 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/12/2022 Full Good 07/07/2021 Full Good 16/10/2019 Full Good 29/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC465940 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children at this home receive care from competent staff who understand their needs because they take time and considerable care to get to know them. Staff work with other professionals, including teachers, therapists and parents, to make sure they gather detailed information about children to assist children in settling into the home. When children first meet staff, introductions are thoughtfully planned and at the child’s pace, although longer-term plans for children moving fully into the home are unclear.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans and behaviour-management plans contain rich information about their needs and preferences, and possible risks to them, such as self-harming or hitting others. Targets for children’s progress are clear and assist staff in managing their day-to-day behaviours, enabling positive experiences for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to gather children’s wishes and feelings. They use a range of communication methods and tools to ensure that children’s voices are heard. Children make progress with their independence skills and personal care while living at this home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to develop their hobbies and interests through joining youth clubs and trying new activities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and clean. It is decorated to a good standard. Staff help children to personalise their rooms with their favourite colours and things to help them feel comfortable in their new environment. Staff work closely with parents to ensure that children’s health needs are met, including therapy input, medication changes and routine appointments.

p.3

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

There have been no incidents of physical restraint or children going missing from the home since the last inspection. There have been no medication errors. One complaint has been received from a parent. The complaint has been investigated diligently by the organisation and the manager has completed a review of practice and learning within the home, which has strengthened the quality of care provided to children.

p.3

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

Any potential concerns for children are taken seriously, with effective oversight and action from the registered manager. Managers ensure that professional curiosity is consistently applied to practice through strong scrutiny of incidents. The manager works in partnership with the local authority designated officer (LADO) to seek advice and make referrals where appropriate. Staff benefit from bespoke training led by the registered manager, such as safeguarding disabled children. Team meetings are used as a means of sharing Inspection report for children’s home: SC465940 4 information and learning from wider practice, such as child safeguarding practice reviews, to ensure that the well-being of vulnerable children is prioritised.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff, professionals and parents are overwhelmingly positive about the skill set and support of the registered manager. There is regular and meaningful input from the responsible individual, who frequently visits the home. Staff said that they are happy working at this home and described a culture of high challenge and support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, meaningful supervision that supports them in reflecting on their practice. Notes are comprehensively written, with measurable actions for review to ensure that outcomes for children are met.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that safer recruitment processes are mostly strong in this home. Staff identification documents and Disclosure and Barring Service checks are available and previous employment history and any gaps in employment are carefully scrutinised. Nonetheless, the manager does not ensure that safer recruitment processes are always strong. A check for a worker who had worked abroad has been overlooked. Children could be at risk of harm if safer recruitment checks are not carried out.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff are up to date with their mandatory training because the manager maintains frequent scrutiny of training records. Bespoke and additional training is provided to staff around theoretical approaches to care and the sexual abuse of children. All staff, aside from those recently recruited, have the required qualifications for the role.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are frequently held and notes reflect the strong focus on children and their progress. Staff use team meetings as a forum to learn, discuss latest research and legislation and update their learning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC465940 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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 within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) This relates to the registered manager ensuring that appropriate checks are made for staff who have worked abroad. 31 January 2024

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand that the home has a key role in helping children to understand why they are living there and the plans for their future. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.7)

p.5

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: SC465940 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Aspris, The Forge, 43 Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Garstang

p.6

Inspector

Anna Gravelle, His Majesty’s Inspector Social Care Inspection report for children’s home: SC465940 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.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7