Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in West Berkshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 1 SC486479

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Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to five children with complex needs and/or special educational needs and/or disabilities. No children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2021.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 20 and 21 May 2025. At this inspection, serious and widespread concerns were identified, and the home was judged inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, the provider was issued with two compliance notices to address significant shortfalls in leadership and management and the protection of children. The provider was also issued with a notice suspending the registration of the home. This means that no children can live at the home while the suspension notice is in place. Consequently, all children have moved on from the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s response to the compliance notices issued and to consider their compliance with the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has not provided care for children since the suspension notice was issued. Therefore, the provider has complied with the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager remains absent from the home, and the responsible individual has moved on from the home and is no longer in post.

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This monitoring visit

The day-to-day running of the home is currently overseen by an interim manager, who is a registered manager from another home within the organisation. The interim manager is being supported by a responsible individual from another area of the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 2 company, who is actively involved in addressing the shortfalls identified at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have improved their oversight of the home and have devised an action plan, which they have started to implement. This is overseen by an enhanced support team, made up of the interim manager and the responsible individual and other executive leaders in the wider company. They meet weekly to review progress and coordinate learning, resulting in steady improvements across the home. However, improvements have been slower than leaders anticipated owing to the significant shortfalls identified at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are reflective and have worked hard to understand the experience of staff and children prior to the full inspection. This work is ongoing and joined-up learning sessions are yet to take place. Leaders are realistic about the work left to do to fulfil the action plan and to ensure that the required improvements are sustainable.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders now have better oversight of the skills, knowledge and experience of the staff team. In line with the improvement plan, staff are part way through completing an intensive training schedule, which covers a range of basics and child-specific topics. Managers have been present at these sessions to assist their assessment of staff competencies. There has also been a refresh of all policies and procedures that is being rolled out across the staff team. However, this process is very much ongoing and there are several training sessions yet to be carried out.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not had the opportunity to put their skills into practice, and staff supervision sessions have not yet been held for all staff. These are missed opportunities to ensure that recent learning and training have been understood and embedded.

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This monitoring visit

Gaps identified in safer recruitment checks and inductions have been addressed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have commissioned a complete refurbishment of the home. The completion of this is ongoing, meaning that the home is not yet suitable for children to live in. However, all hazards identified at the full inspection have been removed or addressed. All furniture is in the process of being replaced, locks have been removed from internal doors and there are no longer restricted areas in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Although the improvements that have been made are positive steps, there is still a significant amount of work required to ensure that children would be cared for safely should the home become operational. There has been a positive response to the actions detailed in the two compliance notices. However, they have not been fully met. Requirements have been raised to address the remaining actions that are needed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 3 As the purpose of the monitoring visit was to consider the provider’s response to the notices that were issued following the full inspection, not all requirements were considered. Therefore, these requirements are restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Inadequate 23/07/2024 Full Good 31/05/2023 Full Good 08/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 5

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must consider how the quality of care that will be given to children will impact on their progress and experiences. Additionally, leaders must ensure that the staff carry out the training that has been identified. 8 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and 8 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 6 use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who— Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 7 has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

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Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to prepare for any review of the child’s relevant plans and to make the child’s views, wishes and feelings known for the purposes of that review; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each child— 8 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 8 is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff support positive relationships between children and young people and support them to understand healthy relationships online and in person. 8 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive well- planned care from the home and have a positive experience of admission and transition processes.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the required skills and training to meet the needs of the child before they move into the home. 8 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 8 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 9 ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— 8 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 10 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that detailed and accurate records are kept for all physical intervention used and that children, young people and staff have opportunities to reflect on incidents.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 8 September 2025

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 11  The registered person should ensure that children have some level of routine and access to meaningful activities when not regularly attending an educational provision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure that a review of the quality of care of children is carried out in line with regulations and shared with Ofsted as required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 12

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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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Inspector

Becky Paradise, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC486479 13 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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