Children's Home run by Aasra Care Limited in Greenwich

Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 1 Registered provider: Aasra Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 11 May 2023. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders, managers and staff provide a calm, safe and stable home for children. Staff are trained in a therapeutic model of care. There is a focus on building and maintaining trusting relationships. Over time, children who have experienced significant disruption in previous placements are able to trust staff and feel more comfortable and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and home manager make child-centred decisions about the children coming to live at the home. They help children plan their move into the home and this helps them to settle. One child who had waited a long time to live in a home that would welcome them and their pet said that they like the home and there was not anything that could be improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to return to school. The management team and staff understand the barriers that prevent some children accessing education. Children’s views about school are listened to and careful thought is given to children’s plans. One child spoke about their GCSE choices and plans for their future. A social work manager said that the progress a child had made with education was in part ‘due to the robust support of the team around them’. Staff are aspirational for the children and committed advocates for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered promptly with healthcare professionals and supported to attend their appointments. The home manager has made good links with health providers in the community. The managers and staff team have worked hard to ensure that specialist help is available for the children living at the home. Referrals have been made to child and adolescent mental health services. The management team is proactive and ensures that staff have the specialist support they need to help the children in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to keep in touch with their families and other people who are important to them. One child who is placed a long way from their family has been supported well. Their parent described the home manager as ‘phenomenal’ in terms of the support offered to help her see her child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff look after children who struggle with their mental health. They work hard to offer consistent and compassionate care. They celebrate small steps and want the children in their care to know that they can be relied on. Parents and carers are regularly updated about their children’s welfare. Parents said that the communication from staff is good. One parent said, ‘I can’t fault them.’ Another parent said, ‘Staff are very good with communication. They tell me everything.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Diversity is celebrated. This helps children to develop a positive self-image and builds their confidence. Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 3 Children understand how to make a complaint. Complaints are taken seriously and responded to. This ensures that children’s views and worries are considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, inviting and decorated to a high standard. Children personalise their bedrooms. The registered manager has agreed to review the use of door alarms on bedroom doors. This does not support the family feel of the home.

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

Children’s plans reflect their needs. Staff are trained to provide trauma-informed care. The managers and staff are proactive and curious about children’s changing behaviours. Consequences are very rarely used. Staff have meaningful conversations with children about risks. As a result, children’s needs, risks, strengths and vulnerabilities are well understood.

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

Staff are trained in physical intervention; however, this is rarely used. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff are aware of the missing- from-home policy and what action to take should such incidents occur.

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

Incidents are managed well. When there are incidents of concern, staff respond effectively and the incident record is overseen by the registered manager. Children’s social workers are involved when necessary. Following incidents, staff and children are spoken to by the registered manager. Together, they reflect on how things could be managed differently in the future.

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

Staff receive a broad range of safeguarding training. Their learning is supported through regular supervision and discussions in team meetings. Staff know how to recognise, report and act on any safeguarding concerns that may arise.

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

The management and staff teams work closely with allocated social workers, health services and other professionals working with children.

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

Recruitment procedures are safe. This provides assurance that the staff who are caring for the children are suitably vetted.

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

Risk assessments are unclear. They are not consistently recorded in a way that makes it easy to track progress and understand the child’s views. Although incidents are carefully monitored, plans are not always updated if circumstances change. This is partly due to difficulties with the recording system. Furthermore, children’s care plans would benefit from clearly stating how information will be shared and reviewed by health, social care and education professionals to ensure there is multidisciplinary oversight. These shortfalls have not impacted on the care or safety of children and the registered manager is taking steps to improve this. Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A permanent, suitably qualified and experienced manager manages the home. They are supported by a ‘home manager’ and an experienced deputy manager. Staff and children benefit from a committed leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is child-focused, empathetic and committed to children. He, the home manager and staff know the children well. They work hard to support children and ensure that they feel cared for and valued. The management and leadership teams are aspirational and positive. They want to help improve children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has worked hard to recruit a stable and committed staff team. The ratio of staff to children is sufficient and ensures that children receive the individual care that they need. A mental health practitioner said, ‘The thoughtful and gentle persistent practice by staff means we are now seeing the beginnings of change.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff’s well-being is a priority. There are monthly operational team meetings as well as a monthly therapeutic team meeting with an in-house therapist. The team meets in person at a venue away from the home. This provides opportunities for wider learning and reflection. One member of staff said that they had moved on from forming a team to focusing on strengthening their knowledge about the children they care for and continuously striving to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have regular and effective supervision. They discuss the children’s needs and plans, as well as their own development, well-being and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to a wide range of face-to-face training, including in trauma- informed practice. Staff are also enrolled on regular refresher courses. There is an embedded culture of reflection among staff and managers. Staff morale is positive. Staff feel supported by the registered manager and management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team is working hard to embed an effective process of quality assurance. This includes carrying out audits of records, holding team reflection sessions, spending time with staff, undertaking activities with children and seeking feedback from professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from external professionals about the care provided to the children is positive. Professionals consider the manager and staff to be skilled and knowledgeable, caring and empathetic. Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the use of door alarms in the home is assessed and reviewed and that consent is obtained as required. 15 April 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the specific responsibilities of the home towards supporting the health and well-being of each child are agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.7)  The registered person should ensure that case records are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 6

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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: 2720370 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 150 Station Road, Sidcup DA15 7AB

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 8 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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