Children's home run by Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 1 Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company Full inspection 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 learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 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: 27 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Good 01/08/2022 Full Good 09/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are living at the home. They are sisters. They were living there at the time of the last inspection. The inspector spent time with them during the inspection. They have been offered stability and a sense of permanence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children very well. They have been able to build up a routine and a sense of predictability for them. Each child has a detailed communication plan that helps staff to understand what they may be trying to communicate to them. This is being adjusted over time as staff get to know them better.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s understanding and ability to express their likes and dislikes have increased. Staff now know that one child does not enjoy spicy food. Another child does not enjoy bowling. Staff use a range of communication methods, such as picture exchange systems and objects of reference, to encourage and enable communication. Staff are helping each child build their own individual identities. This had not happened before the children moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have complex health care needs. They have made significant progress with their health needs. They were worryingly underweight when they first moved to the home, and now their weight is no longer a concern. Children have progressed to be able to eat some solid foods, and they are learning to feed themselves. The looked after child health nurse gave excellent feedback about the manager and her ability to coordinate the care needs for children. The manager has been able to bring the multi-agency team together, and this has improved the services the children are receiving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend full-time education at a specialist school. Staff have built a very good relationship with the school, and school staff provided excellent feedback. Staff from the home and the school work closely together to make sure they are meeting the children’s needs and tailoring their care and support. A school staff member said that since being at the home, the children have made progress in all areas, such as ‘their alertness and happiness, including social, emotional, mental health and well-being’ and their ‘communication and physical abilities’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a wide range of activities. Staff are very proactive in arranging trips out for the children. They use buses and trains, which the children really enjoy. Children went on their first ever holiday in the summer, and they are booked to go again. There are photos around the house, showing the joy they experienced on this trip. They also enjoy swimming, trips to the zoo, visits to the local restaurant and being out in the fresh air. Staff are enhancing children’s happiness and well-being with the variety of activities they offer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support and enable family visits and keep the family regularly updated. Parents said they think their girls are ‘very well cared for’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 4

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

Children are supported by a consistent staff team. This allows them to build up positive relationships with staff who understand their needs. This familiarity also allows them to feel safe.

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

Children’s plans are written clearly. They detail the day-to-day support and care each child needs. This includes children’s health needs, personal care needs and social and emotional development needs. This clear direction enables staff to provide safe, well- informed care for each child.

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

Children are moving into a new development stage, and their personal needs are changing. The manager and staff have been very flexible in their approach. They have adapted the care they provide to ensure children are able to have some level of privacy. They are in tune with the children’s needs, and this is having a positive effect on the children’s well-being.

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

There have been very few incidents of note in the home, which is a reflection of how well the children are doing. Children never go missing from the home, but each child still has a detailed missing-from-home plan.

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

Staff do not physically intervene with children, and instead, if children are distressed, staff use a range of distraction techniques to help them. These are detailed in their plans. Staff are tactile and nurturing, and this helps children calm in moments of distress.

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

There is a strong safeguarding ethos in the home. The staff are clear about whistle- blowing, and they reflect on this in team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated and committed manager. She is completing her level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She has high aspirations for the children in her care, and she role models this to her team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have noted the improvements in the home since the manager joined. They feel supported in their roles and say that she has fostered a very positive environment. Staff morale seems high, and staff enjoy being with the children. This impacts positively on the care they are providing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has advocated on many occasions for the children in her care. She is passionate about ensuring they receive the best possible care. She has challenged other professionals, which has led to better outcomes for the children. She is also open to being challenged and is creating a culture of learning in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 5 The manager has built good multi-agency relationships, and she received very positive feedback from a range of professionals. Each professional noted positives in the care for the children at the home, the progress they have made and the communication from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a range of relevant training that helps them in their roles. Most staff are qualified or undertaking the relevant qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made during this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 6

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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: 2613488 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Compair Crescent, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0EH

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Inspector

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2613488 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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