Children's Home run by Priory Education Services Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 1 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services 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

This is a privately owned home. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties, where associated moderate learning difficulties and low- risk mental health concerns may be contributors.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

This home is on the same site as a school and another children’s home, which are all part of the same organisation. The inspector only visited the social care provision on this site. The other children’s home on the same site was not part of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since April 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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2024 Full Good 24/04/2024 Full Inadequate 05/09/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, staff have made significant improvements to the home’s physical environment. Children now live in a safe, well-decorated home that feels warm and inviting. Children are actively involved in personalising and decorating their bedrooms, allowing their individual interests to be reflected. As a result, children experience a stronger sense of security, belonging and self-expression.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education. Staff provide support and encouragement, which enables children to engage positively with their learning. As a result, school attendance is good. During the inspection, one child successfully passed a test, and this achievement was recognised and celebrated by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff who speak positively about them and demonstrate a commitment to their well-being and success. Staff know the children well, which enables them to build trusting and respectful relationships. Children respond positively to this and speak warmly about the staff team. A child who recently moved into the home has already begun to form positive relationships with staff and is settling in well, highlighting the home’s welcoming environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual interests are actively encouraged and supported by staff. For example, one child expressed an interest in going to the gym and is now regularly supported by staff to do so, which has helped boost their self-confidence. Additionally, the child’s keen interest in birds has been nurtured by providing items in the garden to attract wildlife.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, this is well managed and child focused. Staff support children to visit prospective placements and help them settle into new environments. After children move on, staff maintain contact, which reassures them that staff still care and can offer support. A family member praised the support offered by staff to a child that recently moved on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped and supported to gain independence, and this enhances their confidence and life skills. For example, one child can cook their own meals and wash their clothes independently.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. When there have been concerns about other staff members’ practice, staff have highlighted this to managers. Leaders and managers have taken appropriate actions to investigate any concerns about staff practice to ensure that the children’s safety remains a priority. Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 4 Children who have previously struggled with misusing substances have been well supported. Staff have ensured that there is a consistent approach and clear boundaries in place to help safeguard the child. Staff have worked collaboratively with relevant professionals in providing support. As a result, there has been a noticeable reduction in the child’s substance misuse.

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

Leaders have completed safeguarding audits to ensure that safeguarding practice within the home is safe and to provide additional support when needed. This led to additional safeguarding training being offered to enhance aspects of the staff knowledge that was identified as needing to be improved.

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good

The interim manager was on leave during the inspection, and therefore, the inspection was facilitated by the responsible individual and the deputy manager, with additional support from other managers from the organisation.

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good

The home has not had a registered manager in post since April 2024. The interim manager has been in post since September 2024, and the organisation is taking steps to ensure that they register with Ofsted.

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good

Leaders and managers have not supported staff effectively in completing their Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within the required timescales. This was highlighted at the previous inspection but remains unaddressed. One staff member reported experiencing changes of tutor and not receiving adequate support to complete the diploma. The responsible individual explained that support had been provided by an external organisation, but going forward, the organisation would offer support internally.

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good

The interim manager does not have timely oversight of key records for children. For example, there is a delay in the manager recording oversight when necessary. When management oversight is then recorded, it does not provide guidance and direction. As a result, this left staff without clear guidance to ensure consistent practice.

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good

Children’s documents contain outdated information. Information is not consistently captured in records to reflect actions taken by staff. For example, on one occasion, while staff had responded to a child’s wishes and feelings, the actions taken were not fully documented. Further clarification from staff was needed to understand some entries. The responsible individual acknowledged that recording and record-keeping for children’s files was an area in need of improvement.

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good

Staff feel supported by managers and said that managers are approachable. However, supervision and appraisals are not taking place in line with the organisation’s policy. One staff member said they had only received one supervision in the past three months, and recordings of some supervisions for some staff members could not be found. Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 5 The supervision and training monitoring systems were unclear, making it hard to track what had been completed.

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good

The statement of purpose of the home has not been updated and shared with Ofsted to reflect staff and management changes.

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good

Feedback from parents and professionals was mixed. A social worker praised staff for their effective communication and support in helping a child settle into the home. However, a parent reported that while their child was happy and thriving, staff were at times not consistent in how they engaged with the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 6

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should oversee the home effectively to deliver on required outcomes for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last full inspection and is restated. 24 October

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that staff are supported to complete their level 3 diplomas within the required timescales.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last full inspection and is restated. 24 October

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 24 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 7 are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff receive regular supervision and appraisals to provide guidance and support and aid professional development. 24 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that a copy of the updated version of the statement of purpose is sent to Ofsted when there are changes made to staff and management arrangements. 24 July 2025

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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: 2585129 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Garstang

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Inspector

Chido Mangava, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2585129 9 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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