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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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SC486479 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 and provides care for up to five children with complex needs and learning disabilities. No children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

There has been no registered manager since 14 October 2025.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out at this home on 20 and 21 May 2025. At that inspection, serious and widespread concerns were identified, and the home was judged inadequate. Following this inspection, the provider was issued with a notice suspending the registration. On 22 July 2025, a monitoring visit was carried out at the home. Although some improvements were identified, there was still a significant amount of work needed to make the necessary improvements. As a result, the home remained suspended.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous monitoring visit, there have been significant improvements. The home is now immaculately presented and all building works have been completed. The home has been redecorated throughout and is homely. New furniture is in place and soft furnishings make the home a warm and welcoming environment. All issues with the bathrooms have been resolved and there are no restricted areas in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders have fully embraced the learning opportunities following the judgement of inadequate. For instance, they have carried out a wide-ranging learning review. The review is frank and senior leaders and managers have recognised their failings. They have identified where things went wrong and have raised meaningful actions. These actions are not only to address what they found, but to put things in place to avoid a reoccurrence. For example, they are part-way Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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This monitoring visit

through launching an early warning monitoring system to ensure improved oversight of the home. This includes having clear expectations for independent visitors and the introduction of ‘Ask me anything sessions’ to aid communication channels between staff, managers and leaders. They are also planning to carry out a new ‘closed culture’ audit each year.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have held a debrief session with staff, focusing on what happened prior to and following the full inspection in May 2025. This session gave staff the opportunity to share their experiences with senior leaders. In return, leaders were open about the learning that they have identified regarding themselves and how they want to continue to work with the team to make continual improvements.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have now completed training in the physical intervention model that is used in the home. They have been involved with bespoke workshops, such as understanding professional boundaries, and their safeguarding knowledge and understanding have been assessed. Staff say that the training has been helpful, with the training relating to therapeutic models and approaches being a highlight.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been redeployed to other homes within the organisation. This has enabled them to start to embed some of their learning from the updated training. This has also given them the opportunity to work with other staff and to observe practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have raised some issues around communication from senior leaders and managers within the organisation. This relates to the time of the inadequate judgement and the immediate aftermath. However, staff also say that communication has since improved and that they now feel more confident to raise matters, believing that leaders and managers will listen and respond when required.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous monitoring visit, some staff, including the registered manager, have left. Consequently, there are several vacancies that are being recruited to. Staff supervision is taking place. This is undertaken by the registered managers of the homes to which the remaining staff have been deployed. Details of these supervision sessions are shared with managers in the home, to ensure oversight and consistency.

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This monitoring visit

Plans regarding the reopening of the home are realistic. For instance, the priority for leaders is to ensure that a new registered manager and sufficiently trained staff are in place. Leaders also plan to bring the team back together so that they feel fully prepared for when children move in. Leaders plan to move children into the home at a slow rate and to implement enhanced monitoring of the home, with oversight of admission decisions.

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This monitoring visit

All allegations that have been raised prior to and since the full inspection have been investigated and finalised. Appropriate disciplinary processes have been followed and oversight from external safeguarding partners has been sought. There are currently no live allegations that are subject to investigation. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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This monitoring visit

No new requirements or recommendations were identified at this visit. The requirements raised at the full inspection remain untested due to there being no children living in the home. Therefore, these requirements and recommendations are restated. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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. 2 January 2026

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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

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Requirement Due date

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— 2 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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)) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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

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)) 2 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 8 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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. 2 January 2026

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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. 2 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)) 2 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 9 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

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. 2 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— 2 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 10 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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))

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Recommendations

 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) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 11 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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: Aspris, 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Inspector

Kelly Marchmont, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC486479 13 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspector

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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