Children's home run by Aspireone Care Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 1 Registered provider: Aspireone Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in October 2018 and is privately owned and managed. It provides care for up to two children who may have a learning disability and/or have experienced childhood instability which has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has two registered managers, both of whom are suitably qualified and experienced.

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 10/05/2021 Full Good 05/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 3

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home. At the time of inspection, two children were living at the home.

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outstanding

Managers and staff know the children very well. The care and support that they provide is exceptional. Because of this, children make excellent progress and have good outcomes.

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outstanding

Children and staff have developed excellent relationships. Staff understand and meet children’s individual needs and invest in their progress. One child said, ‘Staff do above and beyond for me.’ Another child said, ‘Staff are amazing.’ Interactions between staff and children are natural, warm and reciprocal.

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outstanding

Children have made outstanding progress in developing their independence skills. Children can make simple meals, travel independently and manage their own finances without staff support. One child has excelled in their independence, by looking after their own health needs. The child successfully self-administers all their medication. The staff’s effective support develops children’s life skills and prepares them well for adulthood.

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outstanding

Both children are in full-time education and their attendance is excellent. With support from staff, children make superb progress towards their educational goals. Open lines of communication with schools enable staff to be highly attuned and responsive to helping children overcome their educational barriers. These relationships have encouraged children to have a positive attitude towards learning. This support has resulted in one child recently passing their GCSEs. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] has done amazing. They would not have achieved what they did in their GCSE results without the staff encouragement, motivation and support.’

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outstanding

A significant strength of the home is the staff’s ability to promote the voice of the child. Children are empowered to have a voice. Their wishes and feelings are at the centre of decision-making in the home. They make choices about their living environment and the design and decoration of their bedrooms. Furthermore, children attend their reviews, where they actively contribute to their own care plans. Children in this home can express themselves, and they feel listened to.

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outstanding

The manager and staff promote harmonious living and healthy peer relationships. One child attended a course to learn about a peer’s diagnosis for them to better understand and gain insight into the peer’s unique needs. The child said they wanted to go on this course ‘to support and understand [name of child]’. This initiative makes an excellent contribution to understanding and celebrating differences, as well as promoting positive relationships. Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 4 Managers and staff understand the importance of promoting children’s relationships with people who are important to them, such as family and friends. They have been instrumental in supporting children to have family time with their parents and siblings where previously this has not been possible. The manager also arranged for one child to have long-distance contact with a friend. This demonstrates how children’s views are listened to and acted on. This practice supports children to

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outstanding

maintain their identity, alongside developing a sense of belonging, which leads to positive experiences and progress.

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outstanding

There have been no safeguarding incidents in this home. This is testament to the unwavering efforts of the staff.

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outstanding

The manager creates individualised plans and protocols for children’s needs and risks. These are based on the home’s model of care and research expertise from the in-house psychologist. The manager and staff regularly review children’s plans.

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outstanding

Children are cared for and supported by an extremely competent and highly skilled team of staff. Staff receive excellent training and support to ensure children’s safety and well-being.

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outstanding

Staff have developed an in-depth understanding of both children’s individual needs. Staff know exactly how to manage and support these needs effectively on a day-to- day basis. This helps children feel safe and protected from harm. Staff’s efforts in fostering a sense of safety and belonging have become the foundation for children’s safety and well-being. One child said that, without any doubt, they fully trust the staff.

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outstanding

The staff ensure that children use the internet safely. For example, parental controls are implemented to ensure that children access only age-appropriate materials online. Staff also conduct checks on children’s devices as necessary and in line with their plans. In addition to this, dedicated staff take proactive measures to equip children with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the online world responsibly. Through engaging sessions and the use of interactive resources, children learn about potential online risks, and the importance of privacy and responsible behaviour online. This represents exceptional progress for one child, who was previously unable to access the internet safely.

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outstanding

Restraint has not been used since the home’s last inspection. This is because staff find alternative ways to help children cope and emotionally regulate. Restorative conversations encourage children to communicate their feelings. Staff have developed their skills and understanding of how to make things better for children when they experience difficult emotions. Staff work with children to help them understand behaviour that may present a risk to them. This work has supported children to become increasingly safe. Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 5 There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. Highly attentive care, staff’s warm and nurturing approach and the comfortable environment children live in reduce the likelihood of children going missing. One child said, ‘The best thing about this home is, I’m just relaxed.’ There are risk assessments in place in the event of children going missing from home, which give

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outstanding

the staff clear direction on how to respond.

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outstanding

Children are helped to understand their behaviours and recognise their successes. Each child has a positive behaviour chart. Children’s achievements are celebrated with well-done certificates and rewards. For example, children are given extra pocket money so they can buy items of their choice. As a result, children’s positive behaviour is reinforced through praise and reward. This positive approach has meant that consequences are rarely used.

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outstanding

Rigorous safer recruitment procedures are in place. The provider satisfies themselves that only staff with suitable skills and qualifications work in the home. These processes keep children safe from any individuals who may not be suitable to work with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by two suitably qualified and experienced managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The high-quality care provided to children is driven by both registered managers, who are aspirational and effective. They know children well and are child-centred in their approach. They constantly strive for high standards. This approach and drive are cascaded to the staff team in a way that motivates them. One member of staff said, ‘Both managers have a passion for their jobs and this shines through.’ Staff respect and value their managers’ leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from thorough inductions and are supported through regular supervision and annual appraisals. They say this helps them to reflect on their practice and encourages their professional development and growth. Managers provide highly effective and innovative team meetings, where they create additional learning opportunities to develop staff practice. The in-house psychologist provides additional insight into the home’s model of care and research practice. This guidance supports staff to help children overcome difficulties and emotional barriers they may be facing. This approach has improved children’s care, which is evidenced in the children’s outstanding progress and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home operates with a full permanent staff team. One member of staff said, ‘We are at a place where there is complete harmony. Everyone really gets on, and we all care and look out for each other.’ The home’s culture promotes a sense of teamwork.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are supported by a skilled and experienced staff team. Staff have completed a variety of relevant training to meet the children’s individual needs. They work collaboratively to implement training in their practice. Staff have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care to children. Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 6 Partnership working with external agencies is excellent. The registered managers and staff have developed strong relationships with all external professionals, including social workers, and parents. One professional said, ‘Staff communication is excellent, they always keep me in the loop.’ And one child’s teacher said, ‘Working relationship with the home is excellent.’ A common thread in the feedback from professionals is that children are happy, thriving and making outstanding progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Both managers are aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Although their monitoring and reviewing systems are generally effective, there have been lapses in identifying gaps in the independent visitor’s monitoring, and minor errors in recording of children’s medical records. The managers acknowledge these shortfalls and are implementing processes to address current issues and prevent future shortfalls. Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 7

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Recommendation

◼ The registered person should actively seek internal monitoring and independent scrutiny of the home including regulation 44 to ensure continuous improvement. This specifically relates to the registered managers having robust oversight of the independent person’s monthly visits, including ensuring that the visitor seeks the views of children living in the home. In addition to this, they should have effective systems in place to address shortfalls in recordings of children’s medical information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 1276911 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Lyme Drive, Lyme Vale Court, Parklands, Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6NW

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Amy Powell, Charlotte Simpkin

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1276911 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 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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