Children's Home run by Aasra Care Limited in Greenwich

Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 1 Registered provider: Aasra Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 11 May 2023. The manager registered with Ofsted on 5 September 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. Both were spoken to.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in the home. High-quality care provided by managers and staff leads to sustained improvements to children’s lives. Children who have not been in education for long periods of time return to full-time education. The team works well with external professionals, who say that children are provided with a high quality of care and staff are consistent in their efforts to achieve the best outcomes for children. One parent said, ‘All the work and support for school and peer groups is just phenomenal.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children settle very well into the home. They benefit from the team’s therapeutic approach, which is grounded in providing consistent and safe boundaries that are negotiated with children. There is an ethos of inclusion in the home and children’s needs related to diversity and identity are respected and supported. For example, children and staff eat at restaurants that serve cuisine from the child’s country of origin. This contributes to building children’s understanding of their heritage and their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide excellent support for children to develop their independence skills. As a result, children who previously required help travelling to and from school are now making these journeys independently. Staff are proactive and engage children to develop their skills in household tasks, and incentives are used effectively to encourage this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views are central to how the home is run. Regular house meetings take place that give children opportunities to share their wishes and feelings about the home, as well as covering important updates and plans for future events. When children raise a concern, it is taken on board fully by the registered manager, who completes a detailed investigation and sets helpful actions that address the issue raised. Children are also regularly reminded of their right to advocacy should they want it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of supporting children’s time with their families and make significant efforts to facilitate it. Sometimes, this includes travelling a long distance and staying overnight near to the family home. The registered manager provides frequent updates to family members when appropriate and ensures that reports are translated for those who do not speak English as a first language.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff offer children a wide range of enjoyable activities, both inside and outside the home. They ensure that children have what they need to pursue their hobbies and interests. For example, crafting materials are purchased for children who are skilled and enjoy creative activities. Children have opportunities to go skateboarding, roller skating, to the cinema, gym and attend cadets. One child’s social worker said, ‘They have a very large variety of activities. They don’t go without anything.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 4 Children live in a clean, tidy, and well-decorated home. Their bedrooms are highly personalised and feature their own artwork on the walls. They have the benefit of their own bathrooms. Children are allowed to have their own small pets, which gives them the opportunity to develop responsibility for their care. When keeping their bedrooms tidy is a challenge, staff work proactively with children to address this.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is exceptional. The therapeutic approach to care is effective and children are well supported to process traumatic life experiences. This significantly reduces the number of incidents of children being in situations of risk and leads to overall improvement to their well-being.

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

Children said that they feel safe and settled living in the home. Leaders and managers carefully assess children’s needs to ensure that their needs can be met and that they experience positive relationships with other children in the home. As a result, children settle into the home quickly and form strong relationships with staff and other children. This calm and supportive environment helps them to stay safer in the home and in the wider community.

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

Children’s records are detailed and include their views. Their needs are well understood, and key documents contain up-to-date information about children and are kept under regular review. When risks emerge, staff take quick action and are proactive at putting safety plans in place. Children are engaged in agreeing actions to reduce their risks and staff have clear guidance on risk-reduction methods.

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

Children participate in regular and meaningful key-work sessions. These meetings give children a good opportunity to share their worries and enable staff to provide good emotional support. Key-work sessions are guided by children’s needs and staff thoughtfully plan them to ensure that children are comfortable. For example, one child often has key-work conversations in the car, where they find it easier to talk. As children develop relationships with staff, they are able to safely explore their feelings and life experiences.

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place. When new staff are employed, the required checks are undertaken and if there are any concerns, a risk assessment is put in place. However, on one occasion, a risk assessment for a member of staff did not adequately set out the arrangements for management oversight and review. While this did not impact on children’s safety and well-being on this occasion, and the home took immediate and effective action to improve their practice, oversight in this instance was not up to the home’s normal high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager brings extensive experience and enthusiasm to her role and is ambitious for children. She has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of children’s complex experiences and their needs. The registered manager has developed open Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 5 working relationships with staff. She actively encourages staff to raise any concerns they may have. These leadership qualities inspire confidence and trust among the staff. Staff said that they receive good guidance and encouragement from an approachable management team. This has created a positive and supportive working environment in which there is effective teamwork.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

New staff receive a comprehensive induction and staff training needs are well met. This includes specialist training related to the specific needs of the children in the home. Staff are trained in the home’s therapeutic approach. If additional training needs are identified, the registered manager ensures that training is provided, including bespoke in-house training in team meetings. As a result, children experience positive care from staff who understand their needs. In addition, this has helped to further improve the quality of case records made by staff, which are sensitive and reflect children’s day-to- day experiences. There is a calm atmosphere in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff know the children very well and understand their needs and risks. Communication is a particular strength within the staff team and feedback from professionals is that information-sharing about children is timely and accurate. One social worker noted that even when the registered manager is away, communication is good and alternative arrangements are made with staff to ensure that the social worker can contact them. This approach has promoted positive working relationships with partner agencies and contributed towards children being provided with a very high standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings take place regularly and are effective. They include focused discussions about the children, which enables a shared understanding across the staff team of children’s needs and risks. Children’s feedback on their experiences of the quality of care in the home is considered in the meetings and used to develop staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Annual appraisals and regular staff supervisions take place. These cover a comprehensive agenda and focus on professional development and staff well-being. Safeguarding is addressed in every supervision and managers actively promote learning in this area by talking through case scenarios as well as live issues. As a result, safeguarding practice is robust, and prompt action is taken when issues arise. Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practices are maintained, and risk assessments of staff are comprehensive and reviewed regularly to minimise the potential risks to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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 for children's home: 2720370 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 150 Station Road, Sidcup DA15 7AB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephen Stylianou

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Inspector

Jo Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2720370 8 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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