Children's home run by Aspiration House Limited

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Aspiration House 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 is owned and operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 8 children who have learning difficulties, physical disabilities or a sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection and spoke to the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

Education is provided on site. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since October 2025.

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Inspection date: 7 January 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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: 2816793 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

 The physical conditions of the home are a concern, with some areas unhygienic and not maintained to a satisfactory condition.  Poor risk assessments do not set out how children will be supported, especially when the use of equipment is required to support them.  Weak oversight from leaders and managers, meaning that concerns have not been identified and action taken quickly.  Medication management procedures are not sufficiently strong or effective.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good level of knowledge and understanding about the children. They know each of the children’s unique way of communicating and how they let staff know their wishes and feelings. Staff are proactive in taking children into the community to participate in their favourite activities.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environment is not welcoming or inviting for the children. Conditions in the home continue to be a concern. Some rooms have been redecorated, and new furniture has been bought. However, bathrooms are unhygienic and fixtures and fittings are not secured. Some children’s bedding and curtains were not clean, and where repainting has been done, the rooms have not been decorated to a good standard. Outside spaces were not well maintained and children’s toys had been left outside so they have become dirty and wet.

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Findings from the inspection

The heating system in one area of the home has recently broken. As a temporary solution before the heating is repaired, fan heaters were purchased. The interim manager completed a risk assessment for the use of fan heaters. However, staff did not follow the guidance outlined in the assessment. Furthermore, the manager failed to carry out any checks to ensure that the heaters were being used safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Children living in the home have a range of needs that require close supervision from staff. During community outings, children wear harnesses to help them remain safe. Risk assessments did not adequately detail how and when a harness needs to be used or provide staff with suitable guidance on safe and appropriate use.

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Findings from the inspection

Medication procedures are not yet strong or effective. Leaders and managers have failed to compile and implement a medication protocol that is needed for one child. Furthermore, they have not explored the different doses of medication the child has in the home and when they go home. Staff have reported that the dose in the home is ineffective and therefore the wellbeing of the child is not being promoted.

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Findings from the inspection

There is no registered manager leading the home, or a suitable responsible individual. An interim manager started work in November 2025 but was due to leave imminently. The senior leadership team has been visiting the home on a weekly Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

basis. However, concerns remain regarding the management arrangements. The senior leadership team placed trust in the interim manager to carry out their role in accordance with regulations. However, they have not verified with the interim manager that actions have been completed.

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Findings from the inspection

There is no established system that supports the interim manager with their oversight of the home to ensure all tasks are completed. When additional training has been identified for staff, there have been no checks to ensure it has been completed. The interim manager has reflected on lessons learned from incidents but does not consider the impact on children.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager has completed one audit since the last inspection. The audit focused primarily on checking whether tasks had been completed. There was no reflection or evaluation of documents, and the process appeared to be more of a checklist rather than a meaningful review.

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Findings from the inspection

At the full inspection in October 2025, several statutory requirements were set. The requirements have not been met and are restated. Additionally, given the concerns identified at this assurance inspection, Ofsted has issued a restriction of accommodation notice, meaning that no further children can be admitted to the home while the notice is in force.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring that any potential risks in the home are identified and action is taken to reduce the risks. 20 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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; 20 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring the staff are suitably trained and qualified to carry out physical intervention.

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit to carry on the home; and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is financially fit to carry on the home. A responsible individual must—

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (5)(a)(b)(c)(d) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to leaders and managers carrying out their role in accordance with regulations. 20 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c)) 20 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring that children are administered the appropriate medication in line with their plan and staff complete the administration requirements.

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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

there is any [other] incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring that Ofsted is notified of incidents that meet the criteria of this regulation. 20 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspiration House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, 9 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Louise Copping, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2816793 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspectors

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

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

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