Children's Home run by Aspireone Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 1 SC472325 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

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2014. The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Outstanding 21/09/2021 Full Outstanding 21/01/2020 Full Outstanding 20/08/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 3

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improvement to be good

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

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls in help and protection and the leadership and management of the home have had an impact on the overall progress and experiences of children. However, two children have lived at the home for several years and have made positive progress.

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improvement to be good

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. Managers carefully considered the needs of the child and the children already living in the home before a decision was made for the child to move into the home. Managers implemented a planned and child-centred transition to ensure that the child had a positive experience moving into the home, despite some unexpected changes to the transition plan.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff ensure that children are supported to develop their independence according to their individual needs. Staff supported one child with neurodiverse needs to travel independently to college. This support has enabled the child to develop their confidence and contributed to positive outcomes for them.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff support children to embrace their unique qualities and individuality. Staff support children to confidently explore and understand their identity using a variety of resources, forums, organisations and activities. As a result, children are supported to build emotional resilience and a positive sense of their identity. This supports children to experience improved emotional and psychological well-being.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff do not record children’s views and wishes surrounding their identity needs. The absence of clear records of children’s wishes could lead to their rights not being respected or promoted.

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improvement to be good

Children say that they have good relationships with staff, and they enjoy living in the home. Interactions between staff and children are nurturing and affectionate.

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improvement to be good

A safeguarding incident where a child reported concerns about the registered manager identified significant shortfalls with how investigations into allegations are managed.

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improvement to be good

The internal investigations did not robustly explore the actions of leaders and the impact on the child. There was no reflection from leaders about their actions Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 4 throughout the investigation reports. Language used to describe the incident implied that the child was at fault. This does not demonstrate an understanding of the impact of trauma on children. There was no evidence of learning from the incident. This practice does not prioritise children’s safety and welfare and does not represent a strong safeguarding culture in the home.

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improvement to be good

Managers and the responsible individual are aware of the shortfalls and have an agreed action plan in place.

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improvement to be good

In general, children are supported to understand risks and keep themselves safe. This support, alongside the positive relationships with staff, contributes to children making safe decisions. As a result, incidents where children are at risk of harm are rare.

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improvement to be good

Children have individual risk assessments that effectively identify their risks and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments identify the level of risk posed to each child and are updated regularly.

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good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is passionate and ambitious for children and ensures that this ethos is adopted by staff. She is supported by an aspirational deputy manager. Despite these leadership strengths, shortfalls were identified in the leadership and management of the home.

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good

Recruitment practice is not sufficiently robust. Weaknesses in safe recruitment of staff mean that managers cannot be sure that they only recruit suitable staff to care for children.

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good

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. The quality of supervision varies. Although there are some opportunities to reflect on practice, children are not always the focus of these discussions. This is a missed opportunity to evaluate children’s experiences with staff and to ensure that children receive the best quality care.

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good

The independent visitor visits the home monthly to conduct a review of the quality of care provided to children. Children have not been consistently consulted during these visits. This shortfall has an impact on the quality of the review because children are not provided with sufficient opportunity to share their views independently.

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good

Managers use a variety of monitoring and reviewing systems. While the systems are effective in monitoring aspects of the care provided to children, the shortfalls identified in relation to internal investigations, recruitment and supervision were not identified. This is a missed opportunity to identify shortfalls promptly to improve the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 5 Children are supported by a motivated staff team. Staff speak fondly and positively about children’s progress. Members of staff said that they feel supported by managers and that the home is a positive place to work.

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good

Most staff hold the relevant qualifications for the role. Staff are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and helps them to meet children’s individual and diverse needs. Managers and staff also have monthly consultation sessions with clinical psychologists. This helps them to better understand and support children. This practice ensures that children are cared for by staff who fully understand their needs.

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good

Professionals are positive about the communication with the staff team and about the care provided to children. Some professionals were concerned about how the incident involving the manager and the child was managed. Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that when children report concerns relating to managers or members of staff, effective actions are taken that prioritise children’s safety and welfare. 7 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the independent person visits the home during times when children are present, so that children are given the opportunity to share their views about the care they receive. 16 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 7 February 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 7 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that overseas checks are completed and obtained for applicants who have lived and worked overseas before they start working in the children’s home.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. This specifically relates to the provider recording and maintaining a record of children’s wishes regarding their identity needs and development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person must ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. This specifically relates to the managers ensuring that children’s progress is discussed during supervision sessions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC472325 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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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC472325 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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