Children's home run by Aspris Care Central Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 1 SC476570 Registered provider: Aspris Care Central Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company and provides care for up to 5 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgement.

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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

Date of last inspection: 23 September 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2024 Full Outstanding 20/03/2024 Full Outstanding 26/04/2022 Full Outstanding 16/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living at the home. All of the children spoke to the inspector or contributed to this inspection in another way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children have made exceptional progress from their individual starting points. This is attributed to the highly effective oversight of the manager and the unwavering support of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Planning for children to move into the home is well considered and meticulous. The manager ensures that they have all of the information needed to have a very good understanding of the individual needs of each child. This includes meetings with the placing local authority and confirmation from the local authority that they have provided all of the information needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff keep children up to date with their care planning, and this starts from before children move in. Children are sent letters prior to their move into the home that talk about what the manager has done to prepare for their move, explain what their first few days in the home might look like and contain pictures of the staff that will be working on those days. This has helped reduce children’s anxieties, and careful planning has led to smooth, well supported moves for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for children, who are supported to achieve their educational goals. Routines and expectations in the home support children’s educational engagement and attendance. Because of the help and support of staff, all of the children are making strong progress with their education. Some children are now attending mainstream school or other educational settings for the first time in a significant period of time. This is a hugely significant move forward for them. One child is studying a level 3 qualification and has plans to apply to university.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s achievements are celebrated by staff who are genuinely excited and happy for them. Staff attend all school events and fundraisers. The children know that the staff will be there to support and watch them when they participate in competitions related to their hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are ingenious at getting children out and about and enjoying activities. Children have participated in various challenges over the summer to encourage them to spend more time outdoors. Children are encouraged to get involved with their local community, such as fundraising for charity in the local bingo hall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience a wide range of activities and have enjoyed a holiday at the seaside. Staff are creative and exceptionally thoughtful about children’s experiences. Staff ensure that children have the opportunity to experience childhood events that they have not done before. For example, when staff realised most of the children had Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 4 never had a childhood birthday party, they arranged one with classic children’s party music, food and games.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff educate children sensitively about topics in relation to sexual health, consent and healthy relationships. Children trust staff to guide them. One child was able to ask for advice from staff in relation to safe sex and consent when they entered a new relationship. These are very important life skills that will support these children to remain safe as they enter adulthood.

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

Children’s risks have significantly reduced due to the attentive help and support of the staff. Risks for children around exploitation and substance misuse are promptly identified and exceptionally well understood by staff and managers. The support they have given the children means that these risks have significantly reduced and children are safer as a result.

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

The staff ensure a calm environment where children feel safe and secure. The relationships that staff have developed with the children have built a settled home where incidents are few and far between. No children have been missing from home, and there have been no incidents of restraint, since the last inspection. Staff are exceptionally committed to the children. They show unconditional support for children with very complex needs. The written narrative, and the way staff and managers talk about children, reflects this care and commitment.

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

Staff have worked closely with some children to help them gradually develop the skills to safely manage the use of smart phones, the internet and games consoles. Consequently, there are now fewer restrictions on their devices, and the children have improved safety awareness. Staff have maintained a close partnership approach with the children. This enabled one child to tell professionals when they felt that their plan to manage this was moving too quickly.

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

When there have been concerns for children, staff have ensured that good-quality help and support is quickly available. This has ensured that risks do not continue to increase. Leaders and managers ensure that the children have the support of other agencies, such as substance and smoking reduction support services and eating disorder charities. Children also receive support from the home’s therapist, who visits regularly.

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

Due to the children’s specific needs, there are some restrictions placed on their privacy, such as door alarms. All restrictions are individually assessed to consider if there are any less restrictive options. Any such restrictions are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to be needed. Children are consulted about any restrictions, and the reasons for these are clearly explained to them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 5 Suitable safer recruitment practices are in place to reduce the risk of unsuitable people gaining employment. Agency staff are suitably experienced and trained, and all safer recruitment checks are completed. The manager regularly supervises agency staff to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a highly experienced and skilled manager who maintains a thorough oversight of the home and the care that the children receive. This results in exceptional care and support being offered to children, which significantly increases their life opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children and high expectations in relation to staff practice. The manager leads by example and enthuses her team. As a result, there are few staff changes and the staff are highly committed and skilled.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager invests in, supports and leads the continued development and support for staff. All staff have completed all of the home’s mandatory and additional training. This ensures that the staff are highly skilled at meeting children’s specific needs. All staff who have worked in residential childcare for more than 2 years hold the relevant level 3 childcare qualification, and the vast majority of other staff are working towards this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are used as a reflective space to continually develop staff practice and skills. Leaders and managers regularly deliver workshops and practice learning sessions covering relevant topics. These have included various social work theories and the current contextual risks for children, such as supporting children to be safe online. These workshops support staff to be able to deliver well-informed, high-quality support and advice to children to keep them safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision, which is used as a tool to drive continuous improvement in staff practice. Supervision sessions enable staff to reflect on their work and develop innovative approaches to meet children’s needs. Children’s feedback is highly valued and contributes to staff supervision and appraisals. Children’s feedback is used to support continuous development in staff practice and to improve the quality of care in the home. As a result, children feel listened to, valued and fully involved in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains meticulous oversight of all aspects of the home. She maintains close oversight of all records. Her reviews demonstrate professional curiosity and reinforce her high expectations in relation to the quality of care provided to the children. Any issues are quickly identified and promptly resolved. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 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: SC476570 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Care Central 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Batchelor

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Inspector

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC476570 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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