Children's home run by Aspire Child Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: SC403464 1 SC403464 Registered provider: Aspire Child Care 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

The children’s home is run by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. The child was spoken too during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 19 November 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: SC403464 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/11/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 07/12/2022 Full Good 01/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC403464 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength of the home is the positive relationships between staff and the child, which are warm, affectionate and loving. Staff speak warmly and affectionately about the child. They focus on the importance of open and honest communication and how this is the cornerstone of strong and effective relationships. This equips the child with the skills to develop positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see their loved ones. This allows them to remain connected to their family. One family member said, ‘The staff are amazing at helping me to see my child and maintain our relationship.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives personalised care. Their bedroom is decorated to their taste, and they are asked about the decoration of the home. There are photos of staff and the child around the home, creating a warm and homely feel.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to develop their independence skills. They are encouraged to cook, go shopping, clean their own bedroom and socialise with friends in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. Staff support and encourage the child to engage in education and advocate for them when necessary. One teacher spoke positively about how the manager supported the child to engage in alternative education after finding it difficult in a mainstream provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has experienced a variety of fun activities, such as going to a golf driving range, the cinema, football matches and an animal sanctuary. However, the staff have not completed work to capture the child’s experiences for when they leave the home. This means that the child will not have tangible memories they can look back on when they leave home.

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

Staff support the child to manage their own emotions effectively. They consistently demonstrate emotional understanding towards the child. The child knows that they can approach staff when they need help or support.

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

A strength of this home is the quality and frequency of key work sessions which focus on the child’s individual needs and areas of vulnerability. Staff use key-work sessions as an informal educational opportunity, which supports the child to learn and reflect.

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

The staff team is stable and consistent. Positive behaviour is promoted, and the child responds well to rewards, praise and incentives. Staff are calm and nurturing in their approach. Inspection report for children’s home: SC403464 4 Staff understand the importance of good routines and strong boundaries, which helps the child to feel safe and secure. The child said that staff keep them safe, and that they feel safe.

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

Staff help the child to keep safe online. They educate the child about the dangers presented online, using resources which are educational and informative. Staff are vigilant when the child is gaming or using other online devices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is reflective and driven to ensure that the child receives the best outcomes possible. He is focused on positive experiences for both the staff and the child. When plans are not right for the child, this is challenged appropriately, with the child at heart. The manager has good relationships with professionals. One professional said, ‘The manager goes above and beyond.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When external professionals are involved in decision-making forums, the manager does not always obtain the minutes from these important meetings. This makes it difficult for staff to determine the outcomes of these meetings and any actions required. This could result in plans not being followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have not ensured that risk assessments and care plans are kept up to date. They do not provide clear and consistent information or guidance for staff to follow. Although this has not had a direct impact on the child, unchecked it has the potential to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities and demonstrate a good knowledge of whistle-blowing, complaints and safeguarding processes. Staff are very positive about the role they play in the care and progress of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive monthly supervision sessions, which are child focused. Staff speak positively about their supervision experience and the support they receive from the manager. They say that this is a safe space to reflect on their practice and explore their learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings have been adapted to help staff to feel comfortable to share and reflect on the care provided to the child. The team meetings are focused, supportive and well attended. Inspection report for children’s home: SC403464 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that information about children’s learning needs and academic levels are on their files. Staff must understand each child’s individual learning needs and how best to support them by having an up-to-date personal education plan for the child. 8 October 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they continually and actively assess the risk to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Risk assessments should be kept up to date and include details of the steps staff will take to manage any assessed risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered manager should ensure that they capture photographs and memories of children’s experiences for their memory book. The importance of understanding who we are and where we come from is recognised in good social work practice, for example through undertaking life-story work or other direct work. Staff in children’s homes should play a full role in work of this kind. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  ‘The registered person should ensure that relevant plans, such as care plans and risk

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Recommendations

assessments, are up to date and clear. Relevant plans are defined in the interpretation section of the regulations (regulation 2) as: any placement plan; any care plan; any Inspection report for children’s home: SC403464 6 statement of special educational needs; and any education, health and care plan ("EHC plan") (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 10, paragraph, 2.1)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC403464 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspire Child Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine MacKay

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Inspector

Rachael Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC403464 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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