Children's Home run by Aspire House Ltd in Brent

Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 1 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to five children with emotional and/or social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 14 May 2018.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2022 Full Good 25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/08/2019 Full Good 22/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 3

p.2

outstanding

Children have positive experiences in this home. Staff’s commitment to children is a strength of this home.

p.3

outstanding

Children who live at this home feel safe and settled and part of a family. The sense of family relationships extends to children who have left the home. Staff keep in touch with children who have left. This promotes strong relationships where children stay in contact with staff and know they can rely on staff for ongoing practical support. The support continues many years after children have left the home. On occasion, young people return with their own families and celebrate the progress they have made.

p.3

outstanding

Staff support children to spend quality time with their families. On one occasion, staff held birthday celebrations for family members and children whose birthdays were within the same month. This helps children to feel their families are respected and welcomed in the home.

p.3

outstanding

Another strength of this home is the positive relationships with external professionals. Social workers, schools and health professionals report that the support that staff offer to children is exceptional and children’s lives have been transformed because of the care they receive. One professional said, ‘ This has been the best success story of all the children I have worked with. The transformation is huge, and I put this down to the support.’

p.3

outstanding

Staff ensure children’s health needs are promoted. For example, the registered manager meets with the GP every month to discuss and advocate for children’s health needs. This has led to the GP replicating this way of working to benefit children living in other homes. The GP reported that they are able to track the children’s progress due to this arrangement, and it has improved their practice. As a result, children receive healthcare which is individualised and regularly reviewed with health professionals who know them well. This promotes good health outcomes for the children.

p.3

outstanding

Managers and staff advocate strongly for children to attend the right educational provision. They work in partnership with teachers and the virtual school to ensure that children’s educational needs are met. The arrangements for children’s education are a high priority for staff and are discussed with professionals when planning for children to move into the home. This ensures children receive educational support and that their aspirations are considered and supported. When children experience barriers to education, staff support and encourage them to access education at a pace which is manageable for them.

p.3

outstanding

Children feel welcomed into the home. Managers ensure that they fully understand children’s needs before they move in. They consider the needs of all children to Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 4 make sure that they can live safely together. As a result, children have positive experiences and live in the home for a long time. The children’s guide is accessible and includes stories from children who have previously lived in the home. This helps children to feel they are understood and to develop a sense of hope for their futures.

p.3

outstanding

Children’s induction to the home is thoughtful and well considered. For example, staff find out children’s favourite colours and items of crockery are purchased in that colour and placed in children’s own cupboards. Welcome cards and chocolates are bought for children, and their rooms reflect their personalities. Great care and attention are given to the home environment, with pleasant aromas, furnishings and decor. There is an abundance of games and books, which children are encouraged to use. As a result, children settle in this home and they make exceptional progress. This stability gives children a sense of belonging and the home environment shows them how much they are valued. Children say that when they walk into the home, they like the calm atmosphere.

p.4

outstanding

Children take part in various activities and social events. Activities are tailored to the children’s wishes and feelings and are used to raise their aspirations.

p.4

outstanding

Children are encouraged to express themselves, and their likes and dislikes are well known. Children’s complaints are taken seriously and managers ensure that children know the outcome of complaints. Staff use children’s feedback to improve the care they offer to children. As a result, children are confident in expressing their views.

p.4

outstanding

Leaders and staff focus on building trusting relationships with children. Staff are child-focused, prioritising the needs and views of children. For example, children are supported to contribute to their care plans, and the plans clearly highlight the children’s views. All care plans are signed off by children and this gives them a sense of ownership of their care.

p.4

outstanding

Staff and children jointly complete risk management plans. This enables the children to contribute to their safety planning, while giving staff insight into the children’s views on potential risks. Risk management plans contain practical strategies to keep children safe. This ensures all members of staff can follow these plans and provide consistent support to children. Consequently, children are safeguarded and well supported. Staff are responsive and they place children at the centre of their practice, supporting children to develop the skills needed to keep themselves safe.

p.4

outstanding

Staff are professionally curious and constantly vigilant about any new or emerging risks. They are confident in challenging external professionals and advocate for the children’s safety and well-being when risks increase. For example, when it was apparent that additional health support was required for a child with complex needs, staff advocated for the child to be moved to a more appropriate home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 5 Staff use support plans effectively to identify and monitor behaviours that indicate children need additional support. Staff discuss children’s changing needs and plans are updated accordingly. This ensures staff have the information needed to use interventions that help children.

p.4

outstanding

Key-worker sessions are planned and cover a wide range of topics, including how children can stay safe, domestic violence and mental illness. Children use these sessions well and receive support from staff to explore issues which concern them. Staff make a record of when children do not want to engage with formal key-worker sessions and use creative ways to engage them. Children lead in shaping the support offered to them by staff. Managers have recently reviewed key-worker sessions after receiving feedback from the children. This led to a change in the format of planned discussions, to make them more attuned to children’s needs.

p.5

outstanding

When incidents occur, staff respond well, ensuring children are supported to express their feelings in a safe way. Staff use de-escalation techniques and restraint is rarely used. Leaders have recently implemented a review of incidents to ensure learning is used to improve practice, and to identify training needs of staff. This has led to an increase in the support offered to staff and improved their practice. Children benefit from well-trained staff who are confident in their ability to respond to children when they are distressed.

p.5

outstanding

Missing-from-home incidents have significantly reduced. Staff maintain contact when children are away from the home and follow the Philomena protocol. Children are also supported to understand the risks and how to keep themselves safe.

p.5

outstanding

Staff treat children with dignity and respect. Children’s positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded by staff. Children thrive in this home and know staff are always available to support them.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home. The manager uses a range of review and monitoring systems, including monthly and weekly audits. This ensures that systems are in place to support good practice which benefits children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are responsive to feedback from children and professionals. They use this information to ensure standards of care continually improve. For example, the registered manager recently recruited a new independent person to provide more professional challenge for the home. This has resulted in an improvement in the management of the home and the day-to-day experiences of the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have a workforce development plan that demonstrates how staff are supported, developed and trained to work effectively with children. The staff team contribute to this vision to support further improvements in the care children receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 6 Training provided to staff is comprehensive and in line with the needs of the children. Staff receive a thorough induction and training is regularly updated. This ensures staff are confident in supporting children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from informal and formal supervision. Staff feel they are well supported and morale is high among the staff team. Supervision is child-focused and training needs are supported by the registered manager to ensure staff are skilled in supporting children with complex needs.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are therapeutically trained and support staff in understanding the needs of children. Empathy is at the core of their therapeutic model and this is seen in the care given to the children and how children are responded to when they are upset.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers know children well. Careful thought is put into developing individualised plans which help staff support children. The manager has developed excellent relationships with partner agencies, which ensures that children’s needs are met effectively.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers recognise the importance of relationships. The manager works tirelessly to build trusting relationships with children and to provide them with a sense of security. The staff team is stable, which supports the development of trusting relationships between staff and children.

p.6

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: 1278959 7

p.6

Inspector

Angela Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1278959 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8