Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Southampton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 1 SC407790

p.1

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Service

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned by a large national organisation. It is one of several homes owned by the provider in the local area and is linked to an independent school that is operated by the same organisation. The home provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 13 January 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/01/2025 Full Good 14/02/2024 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children continue to make significant progress from their starting points. Staff have created a loving and supportive environment where children flourish. The staff take time to listen to children, showing a genuine interest in their lives. Staff are attuned to children’s needs. They respond with nurture in their daily interactions. Children often seek out hugs from staff and said they are happy living at the home. One child said, ‘The carers are nice; they take you out and do nice things. The staff here are all amazing.’ This care helps children develop a strong sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children are currently living at the home and were spoken to during the inspection. One child has recently moved back home to live with their family. When children move on from the home, staff ensure that endings are positive. Staff held a leaving celebration for the child and keep in regular contact with them. The child made excellent progress with their education and is now attending college.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff value education and support children to attend school. All children have maintained high levels of attendance and are making excellent progress. There have been some barriers to attendance for one child. The staff worked collaboratively with education to support the child to overcome these. The staff support children to aspire for their future. They have taken children to local college open days to explore their options.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage a wide range of activities tailored to children’s individual interests. One child has enjoyed a trip to London and watched musicals at local theatres. They also participated in Ten Tors and attended a scout’s group. Another child enjoys trips to the beach and visiting arcades. One child prefers to stay at home and has a passion for gaming. Staff build on their interests, such as playing with plastic construction toys, to encourage engagement and inclusion.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respect and support children’s cultural needs. One child attends church and is learning about different faiths. Another child has chosen not to explore their culture currently. Staff respect this. All children enjoy celebrating Christian festivities. They have recently decorated the home for Halloween. One child planned to make Halloween cookies and staff booked children into a pumpkin smashing event.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of children’s relationships with family and friends. They support children to spend time with those who are important to them. The staff understand the risks and ensure these well managed. There has been positive progress with this over time. One child has regular sleepovers with friends, which supports their sense of identity.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of equipping children with independent living skills. Independence is encouraged through age-appropriate responsibilities. Children clean their bedrooms, do their laundry and assist with weekly food shopping. One child will Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 4 soon be moving to an adult home. Plans currently in place to develop independence do not reflect the child’s progress or what is still to be learned and achieved. It is also unclear how staff can support this progress.

p.3

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

The home is a stable and supportive environment where children say that they feel safe. The staff know the children well and understand the impact of their previous experiences. Children living at the home can identify several trusted adults who they can go to for support.

p.4

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

The staff help children to understand the risks associated with the use of technology. They educate children on how to safely navigate the digital world. Children have access to mobile phones and online devices. Robust monitoring of devices ensures that children’s online activity remains safe. Where concerns are identified, appropriate action is taken to safeguard children.

p.4

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

There have only been a few recorded incidents in the home. Children have not gone missing, and restraint has not been used. Managers have good oversight of incidents. Conversations take place with staff and children to identify important learning. Approaches by staff when responding to risk consider children’s individual needs. However, for one child who requires clear and structured communication, the plan is not written in a way that is accessible for them to understand. Furthermore, the strategies are not individualised to the child’s specific needs.

p.4

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

When children make disclosures, staff share these promptly with all relevant professionals. This ensures that safeguarding concerns are responded to without delay. On one occasion, staff did not fully consider the child’s emotional needs. This caused a short delay in support being offered. The manager addressed this matter on their return to the home. Reflective discussions helped staff to strengthen their understanding and improve practice. The child was subsequently given the opportunity to discuss their feelings. They received emotional support and reassurance from staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There have been recent changes to management of the home. A new manager has been successfully appointed. Effective introductions to children have taken place. One child said, ‘He seems really nice; I like him.’ These changes have been sensitively managed, with the previous manager maintaining strong oversight. She has continued to support the team and children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The previous manager is both inspirational and highly respected by the staff. She fostered a culture of high aspiration and positivity, which is consistently role modelled throughout the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers provide a supportive, empowering and aspirational environment for staff. An experienced and committed team of staff provide consistency and stability Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 5 for children. Staff benefit from quality supervisions and informative team meetings. The manager completes coaching sessions to support staff development and practice improvements. The staff reported high morale and are proud to work in the home. One staff member said, ‘We are like one big family; it feels like home from home.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a strong advocate for children. She has challenged other professionals to ensure children’s needs are met. One example was when a child moved on from the home without a confirmed education placement. The manager escalated a complaint to the placing authority to ensure that this is sorted. As a result, the child now attends college.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate a thorough understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. There is robust management oversight, and effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care. Managers and staff recognise the significant progress children make from living at the home. They proactively seek ways to enhance their experiences further.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A strength of the home is their professional relationships. Professionals are highly complementary about the care children receive. One professional said, ‘I would give [the home] and the manager a glowing testimony on what they have done for my child and how they have supported them.’ Families commented on the progress that their children have made. One parent said, ‘It’s amazing - it always has been amazing. It’s the carers; They look after my child as if they were their own. It’s not just a job. They go above and beyond with all children; they are like one big family.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are prepared for moves from the home. In particular, the registered person should ensure that targets for independence are clear and measurable and that plans reflect each child’s progress and what is still to be learned and achieved. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27).  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, records should include individualised strategies that are effective to support children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  The registered person should ensure that staff have the skills to be able to identify signs that a child may be at risk, and support children to reduce any risks. In

p.6

Recommendations

particular, the staff should recognise the impact on the child and ensure that they provide emotional support and support the child to understand how to ask for help and stay safe. This support should be offered in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10).

p.6

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: SC407790 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Service

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Carly Parry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC407790 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8