Children's Home run by Aone Children’s Services LTD in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 1 Registered provider: Aone Children's Services Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities, autism and associated needs. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The registered manager has been in post since the home’s registration on 8 March 2024. This is the home’s first full inspection since registration. The registered manager was not present during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 2

p.1

improvement to be good

This is the home’s first inspection since it was registered as a children’s home. The child who is currently living at the home is happy there. They feel safe and well cared for by the staff team. A second child lived in the home for two weeks after it opened. Leaders and managers gave immediate notice on this child’s placement as staff were unable to meet their needs and keep them safe. Leaders and managers reviewed this placement, but no clear lessons were learned, or actions identified to prevent this happening again in the future.

p.2

improvement to be good

The current child is making progress in the short time they have lived in the home. This is especially true regarding the development of their independence skills. For example, the child has secured an offer to attend a further education college in September and is being supported by staff to travel there independently by train. At college, the child is enrolled on a mechanics course, which he explained is the first step in him achieving his dream job as a train driver.

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff are building their relationships with the child effectively. Staff talk about the child with warmth and care and want the best outcomes for him. Staff support the child to take part in a range of different activities. They are also proud of his achievements and celebrate these.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child benefits from living in a spacious, welcoming and well-furnished home. There is evidence of the child’s interests being reflected in the books, games and other items in the home. For example, the child is very interested in trains and has been able to use the home’s cellar to lay out a complex model train system. However, despite there being some photos of the child around the home, there are a significant number of photos of people with no connection to the home. When asked about this, staff said that these were the photos in the frames when they were purchased. This detracts from the work that staff have done to personalise the home.

p.2

improvement to be good

Generally, the child’s plans are current and reflect most of their needs. However, the guidance for staff about how to support the child is of variable quality and is contradictory in some areas. This needs to be improved as it does not promote or support consistency of care. For example, the child has been identified as vulnerable and at risk of being influenced or coerced by peers when at the local skate park. There is no clear guidance for staff on how they will support the child at these times. In addition, there is a lot of repetition in the child’s plans, and they are written in the first person, but the child’s input in to these plans is limited.

p.2

improvement to be good

The assessment of potential new children moving into the home requires improvement. Currently, there is no clear assessment of the child's needs against the skills and ability Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 3 of the staff team to meet these needs or of the potential risks each child poses to the other.

p.2

improvement to be good

The child said that they feel safe at the home. Staff demonstrated an appropriate understanding of safeguarding practices, including their role and responsibilities. When safeguarding events occur, appropriate actions are taken in a timely manner.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s behaviour is generally appropriately managed and there have been no incidents of restraint .

p.3

improvement to be good

The management of risk is variable. Some risk assessments are very detailed and provide clear guidance for staff, while others are not. An example of this is the risk assessment for the child using the skatepark, as it does not clearly identify the potential risks that are present from other skatepark users. Currently, the child has a ‘find my phone’ app on their mobile phone, which staff use to monitor the child. The use of this app has not been effectively assessed and impinges on the child’s right to privacy.

p.3

improvement to be good

Actions taken and records maintained when a child goes missing are not of a consistently good quality. Staff are not clearly recording all actions taken or ensuring that return home interviews are taking place. This does not provide an opportunity for the child to talk about the event with a professional who is independent of the home or enable leaders and managers to identify risks and strategies to keep the child safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

The new responsible individual has identified that improvements are required regarding safer recruitment practices for both substantive and agency staff. There were a lack of overseas police checks for two members of staff which has now been addressed. However, there is a lack of information obtained about the skills, experience and relevant training of agency staff to enable leaders and managers to determine their suitability to care for the child. Leaders and managers do not assure themselves that disclosure and barring checks carried out on agency staff are at the required level, nor do they confirm the status of the check.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

This is the home’s first inspection since registration as a children’s home on 8 March 2024.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has a registered manager in post, but they are currently not present at the home. The home is currently being managed on a day-to-day basis by another manager who is in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted. This person is a strong Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 4 advocate for the children and the staff team. Since the home was registered, there has also been a change in the home’s responsible individual.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Monitoring by leaders and managers has been inconsistent which reduces its effectiveness in the development of the home and the staff team. The new responsible individual and the manager are aware of these weaknesses and are currently carrying out a review of the setting. They are implementing new approaches, but these are not yet embedded in practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the work currently being undertaken at the home. It refers more to the work that the home aspires to undertake. For example, leaders and managers are not currently doing Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, staff have not been trained in therapeutic parenting, there is no designated person who oversees the leisure time and activities programme for group and individual activities, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is not an activity the child can access.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Feedback from staff on the management of the home is mixed. They are very positive about the current manager and the support they provide, but they expressed that they did not feel supported or valued by previous leaders and managers.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff supervision is not of a consistently good quality and does not effectively provide a forum for staff to reflect on and develop their practice. Actions set at supervision sessions are not followed up at the next session. In addition, there is a lack of clear action being identified where concerns have been raised.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place, but records of these are limited. Records do not reflect the discussions between the team or reflection on events. These records are more focused on directions and messages being delivered by leaders and managers.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The management of complaints requires improvement. Currently, there is no clear record of all the actions taken or evidence of the complainant’s response to the outcome of the complaint investigation. Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that children’s plans provide sufficient guidance for staff to ensure they provide children with consistent care. 14 October 2024

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 14 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 6 promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.6

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)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.6

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose accurately reflect the services provided by the home. 14 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and the staff ability to meet these needs. In addition, leaders and managers should fully consider and assess the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children and vice versa. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of staff supervision sessions are of a consistently good quality, reflecting the discussions held and agreed actions to be taken. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of complaints clearly state all actions taken and the complainant’s response to the outcome of the complaint investigation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 8

p.7

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: 2774120 9

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: Aone Children's Services Ltd

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1, Oatley Trading Estate, Seymour Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1SD

p.9

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Choules

p.9

Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2774120 10 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.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10