Children's home run by Aspris Children’s Service in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 1 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties aged between eight and 18 years old. One child currently lives at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 27 February 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Good 05/07/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. The child was spoken to during the inspection. Since the last inspection, one child has moved in and three children have moved on. When one child moved in, staff and managers ensured they received a well-planned, warm welcome. When one child recently experienced a sudden move, managers worked hard to manage this sensitively.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home is making good all-round progress and has positive experiences. They receive individualised care from staff who meet their needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to build important life skills through detailed and well- implemented plans. The child has written a curriculum vitae and applied for part-time work as a lifeguard. Staff’s previous work with children has enabled two children to successfully move on to a less supported home. This support from staff has meant that children are more prepared for adulthood.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and regular routines for the child. The child has improved attendance and is making good progress at school. They have recently been able to sit their GCSEs exams. Staff use a personalised rewards system to assist the child to set achievable goals. This has been instrumental for the child to successfully complete revision tasks to help them prepare for their recent school exams. Managers recently arranged for the child to visit a university taster day. This has encouraged the child to be ambitious about their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff link with the local and wider community to ensure that the child has fun and enjoyable experiences. The child regularly attends a local gym and has recently enjoyed a caravan holiday. The child’s views are actively sought and considered by staff to help plan their day-to-day activities. This has increased the child’s well-being and sense of community.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child knows how to complain. When there have been previous conflicts between the child and other children, staff took quick action to help resolve children’s differences. Staff’s reflective discussions with the child have helped the child move forward from their concern and has supported their social development.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Photo memorabilia and the child’s artwork is displayed throughout the home, creating a family feel. This helps the child to feel proud of their accomplishments.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home requires maintenance work. The roof guttering is full of debris and the garden contains weeds throughout the patio area. This detracts from what is otherwise a well- decorated home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 4

p.3

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

Staff understand the individual needs and risks for the child. The child’s risk management plan is detailed and is followed by staff. This has provided staff with a range of personalised strategies to support the child when they are distressed.

p.4

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

Staff speak to the child about online safety and healthy relationships. The child said that they can confidently speak to staff about their identity and their personal relationships. Staff’s monitoring of the child’s electronic devices is proportionate and is regularly reviewed with the child.

p.4

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

There have been two incidents of restraint. This was used by staff as a last resort to keep the child safe. Records are clear and managers have monitored these interventions with staff. The child has been actively encouraged to share their views following these incidents. This has assisted in identifying learning points and future support strategies for staff to use.

p.4

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

On one occasion the child left the home for two hours, staff took appropriate action to ensure their safety and welcomed them back to the home warmly. Return home interviews were arranged. Staff also encouraged the child to share their reasons for leaving the home, to ensure they can learn from the child’s experiences.

p.4

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

Staff do not always follow agreed safeguarding procedures. On one occasion, an allegation of harm raised by the child was not reported by staff immediately. Managers took prompt action to respond to this concern once they were alerted. However, this meant that protective measures for the child were delayed.

p.4

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

The manager has compiled an appropriate risk assessment to reduce the risks related to a personal relationship between two staff members. However, the staff are not all aware of this guidance. If left unaddressed, there is potential for staff to use incorrect routes to report safeguarding concerns. This does not support an open culture of honesty and disclosure with regard to practice and protocol within the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is appropriately qualified and has the skills to manage the home. She is supported by a deputy manager and a group of senior support staff. An experienced responsible individual provides oversight of the management team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff ensure that collaborative working with other professionals is strong. Social workers and a health practitioner provided positive feedback about their experiences of working with managers and the care that staff provide to children. Professionals said that managers communicate well. Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 5 Managers are proactive in advocating for children. When there have been previous barriers to children’s participation at school, managers have been proactive in organising alternative educational activities. Managers have challenged external professionals to explore children’s full reintroduction to school at the earliest opportunity.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff turnover is low. Most of the staff have completed a relevant level 3 qualification. Managers ensure that staff attend a good range of training based on the individual needs of the child. This ensures that the child receives care from a stable and qualified staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Generally, staff feel well supported by managers. Managers offer guidance through reflective team meetings and supervision sessions. Most staff receive regular supervision from the manager. However, there is a large gap in these sessions for one staff member. Additionally, some staff have not received an annual appraisal of their performance within required timescales. This means opportunities to develop these staff members’ practice could be missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff understand the arrangements for reporting safeguarding concerns without delay. 30 September 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 30 September 2024

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained. In particular, ensure that the garden, guttering and surrounding gardens are cleared of weeds and debris. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 7

p.6

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: 1234621 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Batchelor

p.8

Inspectors

Natalie Day, Social Care Inspector Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1234621 9 regulates and inspects 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.8

Inspectors

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.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9