Children's Home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 1 Registered provider: Aspris Care North West Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2021 and is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

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

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual and the registered manager do not ensure that there is sufficient oversight of staff practice. They do not address poor manager and staff practice. This means that children are exposed to significant risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual and registered manager do not provide staff with regular, reflective supervision or adequate training to support them in their roles to meet the complex needs of the children in their care.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual and registered manager do not ensure that there are robust reviewing, monitoring and recording systems in place. This means that children's social workers are not kept up to date with all relevant information.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been missed opportunities by the responsible individual and registered manager to inform the local authority designated officer (LADO) in a timely manner about an allegation against an agency member of staff. This is due to the registered manager not reading reports that shared the concerns. Furthermore, staff spoken to do not know how to manage an allegation in line with safeguarding protocols and procedures. This leaves children further exposed to risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

There was a further delay in notifying the LADO about the allegation. This was due to leaders and managers not undertaking safer recruitment checks of the agency worker. Therefore, they did not have all relevant information required for the LADO referral and they needed to seek basic information from the employment agency. This leaves children living in the home and other children and vulnerable people at potential risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans are not up to do date, nor do they contain the relevant information and details. For example, during a risk management plan meeting with a placing authority and the police, it was decided that specific information should be included in risk management plans to aid reporting if the child goes missing from home. However, this was not updated. This means that staff may miss sharing necessary information with the police to support the child's safe return home.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff do not have the knowledge and skills to act on allegations made by the children. On one occasion, a child was left without medical attention or advice for two days. This was after they suffered an injury when they were missing from home. Managers and staff did not recognise that the child was not at the age to give consent and did not notify the police of the concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual and registered manager do not ensure that staff are equipped with the skills and confidence to manage children's complex behaviours. A Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 3 child with known risks, including substance misuse and going missing from home, moved into the home without sufficient preparation or training for staff. This left staff unable to respond effectively and placed children at further risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted in a timely manner. On one occasion, the registered manager did not notify Ofsted about a serious incident. This does not allow the regulator to have sufficient oversight and scrutiny in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children are accessing education by attending private tutoring and one child is also attending a specialist provision part time to sit functional skills and GCSEs. However, the registered manager could not sufficiently evidence the children being supported to learn informally and develop their independence skills. It remains unclear if a child who recently moved out of the home was supported to develop the necessary skills required to live independently.

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Findings from the inspection

A case review took place following this inspection. The outcome of the case review was that serious and widespread concerns had been identified. Therefore, compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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Findings from the inspection

One requirement raised at the last inspection was raised under a compliance notice. One recommendation was raised as a requirement and one recommendation was considered to be met.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/03/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 4

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 8 February 2026

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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— 8 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 5 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and 8 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 6 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that full and satisfactory information is available for agency workers.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child's relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iii)(c)) 8 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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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.

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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 staff help each child to— 8 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 7 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) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that if a child makes a disclosure of harm, appropriate health advise is sought immediately.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4) (a)(b)(c)(e)) 8 February 2026

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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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to develop life skills in preparation for adulthood. 8 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 8 *These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home's care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child's cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 22, paragraph 4.11) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Aspris Care North West 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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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Karen Andrews, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2605512 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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