Children's Home run by Aspire House Ltd in Brent

Inspection report for children's home: 1278959 1 Registered provider: Aspire House Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to five children with emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 14 May 2018.

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1278959 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Outstanding 10/05/2022 Full Good 25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1278959 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a warm and welcoming home. Staff maintain the home to a high standard, and it is cosy and comfortable. Personal touches, such as getting children bedding and plates in colours they like, show staff’s commitment to helping children know they are valued. This helps children have a sense of belonging. One parent described the home as ‘lovely’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are happy and want to stay at the home. They have very good day-to-day experiences and staff are child-focused and proactive when giving support and advice. Children’s voices are heard, and staff make child-centred decisions that are central to their quality of care. One external professional described the home as a ‘wonderful place’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are flourishing in their own way. Leaders and managers recognise that not all children’s progress is linear. As such, staff show tenacity and creativity, identifying specific areas and ways in which children can make progress in areas that make sense to them. For example, there has been a significant reduction in episodes of children going missing and one child has achieved top grade GCSEs. A professional said that one child’s progress is ‘incredible’ due to the experienced and effective management oversight in the home. Another professional said they had never seen such a high quality of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive support in developing life skills. Staff know the children exceptionally well and tailor their support to help them meet their goals. One child can now read a menu and successfully buy the correct ingredients they need to cook a meal of their choice. Another child is working with set targets to help support their steady move to semi-independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive continuous educational support. Staff are persistent in finding creative ways for children to engage with education, through strong partnership working. When children experience barriers to education, staff encourage them to engage at their own pace. Incentives, for example driving lessons, are offered to encourage attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are also rewarded for their achievements. This includes a high level of praise and other more tangible rewards for academic success. Staff also offer activities to meet the specific interests of children, for example, going to the gym and going out for meals. Staff support children to spend quality time with their families. Staff welcome families to visit the home to celebrate birthdays and festive occasions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff keep parents well informed about their child’s progress. One parent said that staff communication is consistent and thorough, and they feel confident their child is being kept safe. Inspection report for children's home: 1278959 4 Staff are proactive in supporting children to understand their own health needs. When children do not want to attend health appointments, staff have focused discussions with them to educate them on their medical needs and the importance of maintaining good health. This helps children to understand this essential area of life.

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

Staff are dedicated to building trusting relationships with children. Staff have a therapeutic approach and encourage open communication in their relationships. They manage children’s behaviour positively and understand what might cause them upset or distress. This has contributed to children feeling comfortable to engage with staff and be more open about their feelings.

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

Staff respect the views and opinions of children. One child said, ‘I appreciate them as they listen.’ Children are fully involved in contributing towards their individualised care plans and risk assessments. This gives them a sense of responsibility and ownership of their aspirations and safety. Plans are detailed and written in a child-friendly way.

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

Risks to children are well managed. Staff are diligent and responsive when managing the safety of children. Risk levels are kept under regular review and inform effective strategies to mitigate risk factors. For example, a child at risk of child criminal exploitation attended a specific High Court youth programme to increase their awareness of this concern.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home have significantly reduced. Staff are curious and vigilant about any risks. Staff use the Philomena protocol effectively and episodes of children going missing are reported promptly. Staff maintain contact with children when they are absent from their care and diligently update parents so they can be fully involved. When children return home, staff talk to them about being missing from the home soon after they are back. Staff have discussions with children to help them understand the risks and how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff are forward thinking and show creativity in engaging with children. Key-worker sessions are regular and tailored to the needs of children. Discussions cover a wide range of areas, such as online safety and maintaining good health. Children participate well, having open discussions around their understanding and completing worksheets. Staff record these sessions in detail, and this helps to capture children’s journeys in developing understanding of themselves and the challenges of independent life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children. They meticulously ensure that staff have the knowledge they need to care for children. Developing this depth of knowledge is a crucial element for staff to take up a permanent role in the home. The induction process is thorough and child-focused. One staff member said compared to other homes they have been in the induction is excellent and the operation of the home is well structured, with clear expectations of staff. Inspection report for children's home: 1278959 5 Children receive individualised care. This personalisation is a thread that runs through team meeting minutes, training records and staff supervision records. Discussions are child-focused, with effective management support to staff to further develop their practice. One professional described the home as knowing the children very well and being exceptionally organised in delivering a high quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have regular supervision which provides a space to discuss their personal progression at work and raise any concerns around their own well-being. Staff set their agenda for discussion, which includes the progress of children, and agree and sign off the record. Supervision records show partnership working between management and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive comprehensive training. Training records are regularly updated and staff have access to a wide range of learning opportunities to enhance their confidence to meet children’s needs. Staff are either suitably qualified or are working towards recognised qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home. Managers use weekly and monthly audits which contribute to comprehensive reviewing and monitoring systems. This ensures that there is only high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers show innovative thinking around children’s engagement in education. For example, leaders are seeking professional support to deliver academic functional skills learning in the home so this can be fully tailored to children’s needs. In addition, leaders are liaising with a leading mental health organisation to gain further ideas about how to engage children when they face complex challenges to education.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations made.

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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: 1278959 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 32 Byron Hill Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 0HY

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Inspector

Natalie Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1278959 7 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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