Children's home run by Aspris Children’s Service

Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 1 Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Service Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a large national organisation that operates children’s homes across the country. It provides care for up to six children with complex needs, which may include learning difficulties, autism and other complex associated difficulties. The home is closely linked to a local special school and operates a 38-week annual provision that aligns with academic holidays.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home’s registration on 10 November 2024. Before the home opened, the manager and many staff worked in the residential provision at the local school.

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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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are overwhelmingly positive about living at the home, describing it as ‘life- changing’ and a place where they have made and continue to make remarkable progress. They commended the staff’s dedication and commitment to ‘each and every child’. Children identify the progress they have made while living at the home. They say they are more confident and better able to understand their emotions, and they are positive about their future. One child, who has recently left the home, described the feelings of ‘warmth, peacefulness and love’ when you walk through the door.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are cared for by a well-trained and highly stable staff team. Many team members worked at the former residential special school and so have supported some of the children prior to this home opening. This continuity contributes to the quality of relationships and the consistently high standard of care provided to the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A key strength of the provision is the staff’s in-depth knowledge of the children they support. Their dedication is evident in the way they speak about the children with genuine affection and in how they proudly celebrate each child’s achievements. Staff provide children with genuine warmth, care and nurturing support, and the children feel this. Many of the children view the staff as a second family. The voice of the child is central to the care provided. Children feel listened to and that staff welcome their views. One child said their involvement throughout the home and their care is real and not just talk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide excellent support to prepare children for adulthood and for moving on to the next part of their journey. Staff assist children in developing important life skills and provide them with opportunities to celebrate their independence. Children who have recently left the home, and their parents, praised the staff for all their help and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children create and review their own plans, alongside staff. This gives them ownership, develops their understanding of their needs, and helps them work with staff to create effective coping and management strategies for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work cohesively with children’s education providers to ensure continuity of care for the children while also supporting their education and social and emotional development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Professionals say that children make remarkable progress and that staff can ‘do no more’ and regularly go ‘above and beyond’. They commend the nurturing environment and the team’s unwavering commitment and dedication. Professionals highlighted that the foundation of the staff’s work lies in the strong, trusting relationships they have built with the children and their families. Parents consistently praise the staff for the high- quality care provided to the children and the nurturing environment created in the home. Many also spoke of the remarkable progress their children have made, including their child achieving milestones they once believed were out of reach. Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 4

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

Behaviour management at the home is a strength. Staff promote a relationship-based approach. They skilfully support children in developing an understanding of how their actions can affect themselves and others. This approach helps children develop self- management strategies. One child said that staff do not give up trying to support them. Due to staff’s skills and their knowledge of the children they care for, they can identify changes in a child’s demeanour, however small, and proactively support them before incidents occur. This has led to a decrease in the number of incidents. Restraint has not been used since the previous inspection.

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

Children feel safe in the home. Staff identify and respond to safeguarding concerns and understand their responsibilities. The manager undertakes robust monitoring to ensure that swift action is taken to protect children. Leaders and managers use learning from incidents and events in the wider community to continue to develop staff’s safeguarding practice.

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

Staff are not risk averse. They support children in developing an understanding of risk and how to manage it as a necessary life skill.

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

The recruitment of staff robustly and consistently follows safer recruitment guidance, helping to ensure that children are protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are highly skilled and experienced, with a clear and shared vision for the home that is embraced by the entire staff team. They and the team serve as inspirational role models for the children and each other, consistently demonstrating high aspirations for the children and working collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for each child. The team are exceptional advocates for the children and their families. This is especially true of the manager, whose tenacity in advocating for the children, their parents, and the home is widely recognised. This view is supported by current and former children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive understanding of the home and demonstrates in- depth knowledge of the children, the progress they have made, the staff team, and the developments since the previous inspection. This insight is informed by the manager’s robust monitoring of all aspects of the home. The manager uses this information in a reflective way to drive continuous improvement in practice. The manager reflects on practice, involving the wider staff team to support their professional development and to help them recognise the profound impact their care has had on the child’s life and future prospects. Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 5 Leaders, managers and staff understand that their duty of care extends beyond the boundaries of the home. This is linked to their commitment to the children and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel valued, listened to and appreciated by leaders, managers and their peers. A significant number of staff have worked for the organisation for many years and remain dedicated and enthusiastic about their roles. Staff feel well trained for and supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff supervision is of excellent quality, with children placed at the centre of these sessions. Supervision provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and develop their skills. Supervisors also prioritise staff well-being, recognising that the team is the home’s strongest asset. These sessions are used to reflect on recent training, explore what staff have learned, and discuss how they will apply this knowledge in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 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: 2745136 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Service

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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

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2745136 8 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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