Children's Home run by Priory Education Services Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 1 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties, where associated moderate learning difficulties and low-risk mental health concerns may be contributors.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this monitoring visit.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is on the same site as a school and another children’s home which are all part of the same organisation. The inspector only visited the social care provision on this site. The other children’s home on the same site was not part of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since April 2024.

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This monitoring visit

The home had a full inspection on 24 April 2024. It was judged to be inadequate. This monitoring inspection was undertaken to look at the progress made in response to the requirements made at the last inspection. Children were not spoken to as part of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have met five of the nine requirements made at the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There has been improvement in the way that staff safeguard children online. Staff now monitor children’s internet usage. Systems are now in place that prevent children accessing unsafe websites. These systems alert staff if an attempt to access an unsuitable website is detected. Staff now have regular planned individual and group conversations with children about keeping safe online. Staff actions mean that children are now safer online. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 2 There were concerns about the standard of cleanliness of accommodation and how pets were cared for at the last inspection. All pets have now been rehomed. The children have moved some of these pets to their family homes. This has enabled them to maintain their attachments to their treasured pets. The staff ensure improved levels of hygiene. The home is therefore cleaner and smells fresher. New carpets and flooring are on order.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have ensured improved fire safety arrangements. They have better oversight and have implemented new monitoring systems to ensure that all fire checks are undertaken. The most recent review of the fire safety management system identifies that most remedial actions are complete. Staff have worked with children to help them better understand the importance of following fire safety instructions. Children now know what they need to do in the event of a fire. Staff have developed a personal emergency evacuation plan for one child who requires additional support to safely evacuate the building in an emergency.

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This monitoring visit

Staff encourage the children with their education. They support the children in their home or school tuition, and through the stress of sitting their exams. The staff help children think about their futures and one child has recently secured a college place. Staff encourage children to attend, and be actively involved in, their education and care reviews.

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This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that they hear children’s views, wishes and feelings both individually and as a group. Staff and leaders are responsive to children’s feedback. Children know that their voice is heard, and their views are valued.

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This monitoring visit

The report of the most recent review of the quality of care identifies areas for development. Leaders have consulted with staff, parents and children to identify strengths and what could be improved.

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This monitoring visit

There is currently no registered manager. Because of this, remaining requirements, while progressing, remain unmet. The home continues to lack adequate managerial oversight.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a small improvement in staff supervision arrangements. All staff have received one practice-based supervision since the last inspection. However, appropriate supervision arrangements have not yet had the opportunity to embed and staff have not received an annual appraisal of their practice.

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This monitoring visit

There is an improvement in staff training. Leaders and managers have ensured staff receive relevant training to meet the needs of the children. This includes training in identifying and responding to child sexual and criminal exploitation. Leaders and managers have started to enrol staff on relevant diploma courses. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 3 There continue to be gaps in children’s records. This includes the dating and signing-off of important documents. Leaders and managers are aware of this and are working towards improvement in this area. They have reviewed all children’s files and updated risk assessments, placement plans and behaviour support plans. Consequently these now reflect the current needs of the children living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2024 Full Inadequate 05/09/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 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 with the given timescales.

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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

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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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; 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)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to ensuring that suitable and appropriate management arrangements are in place to oversee the home and deliver on required outcomes for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 6 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 7

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Batchelor

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2585129 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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