Children's Home run by Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company in Suffolk

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 1 Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

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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 run and provides short-break services for up to four children with physical and/or learning disabilities. The service offers respite stays and assessment breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in February 2023. A new manager was appointed in July 2023 and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 7 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 February 2024

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. The inspector has 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: 1250253 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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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection, two children were staying at the home for short breaks. The home provides breaks for 27 children, on a rotational basis. Children have positive experiences when visiting for breaks. Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs. This enables staff to build positive and trusting relationships with them. Children enjoy being with staff and are relaxed in their company.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the children’s communication needs. Staff use pictures, symbols and social stories to help children to express themselves. Communication aids are available to the children throughout the home. This increases the opportunity for all the children to make choices, express their views and initiate interactions.

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Findings from the inspection

Some improvements have been made to the home since the last inspection. Staff have decorated bedrooms and changes have been made to the layout of the conservatory and the lounge area. The home is colourful and there are noticeboards displaying artwork on the walls. Despite these improvements, there are still areas that require attention. There is a padlock on a kitchen cupboard, large health and safety signs on display and a window without a blind. As a result, children are not consistently provided with a homely environment.

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Findings from the inspection

Welfare concerns are followed up and escalated when necessary. Staff use professional curiosity to explore and establish the cause of bruises or unusual marks on a child’s body. Concerns are reported effectively and followed up with appropriate agencies to ensure that children are protected from harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s care plans contain clear directions for staff to follow to encourage positive behaviours. Risk assessments are detailed and contain risk-reduction strategies. Staff write incident records by hand. However, on several records, the handwriting is illegible, and staff have used descriptive words that do not reflect the child positively.

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Findings from the inspection

On two occasions, staff have used physical restraint to keep children safe. Records of the interventions are detailed and well documented. Effective recording of restraints helps the manager to monitor the use of intervention to ensure that it is proportionate and necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

An external assessor has completed a fire risk assessment. However, several actions have not been completed within the recommended time. This reduces the effectiveness of fire safety measures at the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 3 The home’s statement of purpose and website are not factually accurate and require updating. Consequently, professionals and families are not provided with the most up-to-date information about the home and its management.

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Findings from the inspection

On one occasion, the manager has failed to consult with the local authority designated officer or notify Ofsted of a safeguarding concern. This reduces Ofsted’s capacity to monitor safeguarding arrangements at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff said that they feel supported well by managers. Managers make themselves available to staff for support and advice. They act as positive role models to staff and have established trusting relationships with the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Managerial monitoring and oversight have improved since the last inspection. Regular reviews and weekly checks ensure that the quality of care and practice is monitored effectively. This enables the manager to take actions to address issues and improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met two of the seven requirements from the last inspection. Five requirements are restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/12/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 27 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last two inspections and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

If a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b) (4))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for 7 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 7 article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 7 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Compair Crescent, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0EH

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Inspector

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250253 9 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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Inspector

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