Children's home run by Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

Inspection report children's home: 2613488 1 Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately-run home provides care for up to two children with learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2613488 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Good 27/02/2024 Full Good 01/08/2022 Full Good 09/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children's home: 2613488 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were two children from the same family living at the home at the time of this inspection. The children spent time with the inspector. No children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. When children face challenges or setbacks in education, the staff and manager proactively advocate for them. This means that children access education with support tailored to their needs. Staff encourage and support children to develop age-appropriate independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children extremely well. They have a good understanding of children’s health needs and work closely with external agencies to support children with health concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to try new activities, new foods and visit new places. A parent said, ‘I am very happy with the care my children receive.’ A social worker said, ‘The children are always given choices and opportunities.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are very comfortable in the company of staff and have built positive relationships with them. There are warm and nurturing interactions between children and staff. These positive relationships with the staff have contributed to the children’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care. Their bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and liking. The home is also decorated and designed to the children’s interests. This gives children a safe place to relax.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When safe and appropriate, the staff support children to maintain links with those people who are important to them. This enhances children’s sense of belonging.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children and their vulnerabilities. They are sensitive in how they approach and support children to so they can identify and understand their needs.

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

There have been no allegations made against staff, no complaints made by children, no physical interventions or missing-from-home incidents. Staff have a good understanding of working therapeutically with children. This has helped children to make positive changes to their daily routines and behaviours.

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

Staff are assisted by detailed assessments and plans. These cover a range of topics, including children’s daily routines, managing behaviour and other vulnerabilities. They Inspection report children's home: 2613488 4 are effective and help staff to understand the children’s needs. Staff consistently review the plans and follow strategies that help to keep children safe.

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

The children are protected by the organisation’s safe recruitment practices. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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

Leaders and managers have reviewed the location and premises of the home. However, they have failed to consult with relevant external agencies. This limits the scope for assessing risks to children in the wider community.

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

Staff understand their child protection responsibilities. However, some staff are not confident and familiar with the organisation’s whistle-blowing procedure, this could leave children at risk if an incident occurred requiring them to whistle-blow.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is dedicated to her role and has high aspirations for the children and staff. She has created a positive, caring culture which permeates throughout the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have a clear vision and strong desire to achieve positive outcomes for children. Staff speak highly of the registered manager’s commitment and support. Staff benefit from regular purposeful supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This gives staff the opportunity to reflect and develop their practice. One staff member said, ‘The registered manager has helped me with my confidence and helped me develop personally and professionally’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is innovative, creating opportunities for herself and staff to develop through regular team meetings and additional training. During some staff meetings, workshops take place. These workshops and additional training have developed the staff’s understanding and knowledge and enhances the care they provide to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Consultations regularly take place with the home’s allocated therapeutic practitioner. They offer insight into the children’s needs and communication methods. This has developed the staff's ability to communicate with the children and has aided them to have the tools and knowledge to provide individualised care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a rigorous auditing system in place and quickly identifies shortfalls. When shortfalls are identified, the manager uses this as an opportunity to implement improvements and shares these with the wider team. This enables the manager and staff to reflect openly and improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals and parents speak extremely positively about the manager and staff’s effective communication. The manager understands that collaborating with professionals and parents is vital to the children’s sense of security. One professional said, ‘The Inspection report children's home: 2613488 5 manager is an excellent advocate for the children, she knows their needs well. It is really nice to see how well thought of the children are.’ Inspection report children's home: 2613488 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home's location and strategies for managing these. When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home's internal whistleblowing procedures. In particular the registered person should ensure that staff regularly revisit the internal whistleblowing procedure to ensure they can confidently follow the procedure if required to. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.9)

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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 children's home: 2613488 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Achieving Aspirations Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Compair Crescent, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0EH

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2613488 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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