Children's Home run by Aria Residential Care Limited in Hertfordshire

Inspection report children's home: 2773738 1 Registered provider: Aria Residential Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024

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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 good

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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 children's home: 2773738 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home registered with Ofsted in May 2024, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved on. During this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are nurturing, patient and kind with the children. They have children’s best interests at heart. Both children speak positively about the trusting relationships that they have with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to spend time with their families. The manager and staff communicate well with parents. One parent said that staff go above and beyond for her and her child. She said that the staff make her child feel safe and well cared for. Parents feel reassured that children receive good care in a safe, family-style environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children had significant gaps in education before moving to the home. One child, who had recently moved into the home at the time of this inspection, has an education, health and care plan and is engaging with a home tutor. The child has completed a carpentry qualification. College places are being explored for courses that interest him. Another child has enrolled on a beauty course and is due to start imminently. The manager and staff hold education in high regard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff regularly consult children about their wishes. The children benefit from therapeutic key-work sessions that cover important topics such as emotions, safety, sex education and health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to develop independence skills that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. One child has had work experience in a café and is currently applying for part-time jobs. Children are encouraged to spend free time out of the home with their friends. Children are building important independence skills and friendships that help to prepare them for when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and well decorated and children’s bedrooms are personalised.

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

Children say they feel safe at the home. Children’s parents are impressed with safeguarding arrangements. The staff are appropriately trained and understand and implement safeguarding procedures.

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

Before moving to the home, both children were at significant risk, frequently going missing from home and at risk of exploitation. Since moving to the home, there has been Inspection report children's home: 2773738 3 one episode of missing from home for one child. This was managed well. The child was reassured and an independent return interview was completed.

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

There have been no physical interventions. On one occasion, the police were called in the community to help manage a child’s behaviour. This intervention was appropriate in the circumstances. The child wrote a letter of apology to the police and, consequently, the police did not press charges. The child had an educational session on the risks of substance misuse. Staff have helped the child to build positive relationships with the police.

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

Both children are consistently engaging with an external agency to understand the dangers of substance misuse. This has helped children to make safe choices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced registered manager holds a relevant qualification. Staff say that the manager is competent and has high expectations of the quality of care provided. Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular and effective supervision sessions. These help with their professional development. The manager is dedicated to helping the staff to develop and progress. The staff feel invested in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A reunification officer from the placing local authority said that the staff and manager are a wonder to work with. The staff are helping one child to prepare to move back home with their family in the future. Because the child feels at home and safe, he is making positive choices that are helping him to achieve his goal to move home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular and good-quality team meetings. The manager uses the meetings to enable to the staff to learn, reflect and develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s reports are of good quality and make appropriate recommendations. These help the manager to make improvements to the quality of care that children receive. However, parents are not consulted with and so opportunities for improvement could be missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff either have a level 3 qualification or are working towards it within the required time frame. The staff have bespoke training from nurses to enable them to deliver care to a child with complex health needs competently. A specialist nurse is impressed with how a child has been supported with their health. However, staff do not have autism training that is relevant to a child they are caring for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On one occasion, the manager failed to notify Ofsted of a significant incident without delay due to not having notification arrangements in place over a weekend. She has acted to safeguard children. However, failure to notify reduces Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home’s safeguarding arrangements effectively. Inspection report children's home: 2773738 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, ensure that staff have autism training to meet children’s needs. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring. This should include feedback from parents. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified within 24 hours to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards',

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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 children's home: 2773738 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aria Residential Care Limited

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2773738 6 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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