Children's Home run by Aspiration House Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 1 Registered provider: Aspiration House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated and provides care for up to 8 children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, autism and/or atypical autism.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home, and they contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager has been in post since March 2026 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/05/2024 Full Good 02/05/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making progress while living at this home and are having positive experiences. Systems for keeping children safe are effective. However, there are some areas that require improvement. There has been a change in leadership in the home. Some concerns and shortfalls have been identified by the new leadership team and are being addressed. Home maintenance concerns identified at the last inspection have been resolved. Several professionals and family members were spoken to. The inspector spent time with children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the last inspection, concerns were raised about the home’s environment. The areas of the home that were damaged or unfit for use have been renovated and improved. There are some ongoing concerns with leaks from the roof, but these are being addressed. Children are not using the areas of the home that are still affected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Spaces that children are using are homely and personalised. Children like their bedrooms, and they reflect their interests and characters. The manager has a broad vision for the layout of the home to be more communal. Children are currently living in isolated areas of the home, and the manager wants to bring them together more.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are all attending education full time. They attend a school on the same site as the home. This is a positive experience for the children, with adults working collaboratively with education staff. The school produces reports at the end of each term. They showcase the progress children are making and review and monitor target areas. Regular meetings take place to review children’s education plans and discuss areas where they are struggling to engage. Adults make regular adjustments to how children are supported to enhance their learning experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults have developed warm and genuine relationships with the children. Children trust the adults who care for them. Children are supported in accessing a range of activities they enjoy. The manager is working on improved experiences for children in the community. The adults look at ways to overcome any barriers children face to participating in activities they enjoy. For instance, one child loves swimming but struggles in busy environments. Therefore, specialised options for children with additional needs are being explored to ensure that they do not miss out on something they love.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children see their families regularly. Adults support children in travelling to spend time with their families or welcome them into the home. Adults understand that families can struggle if children’s behaviours become heightened. Support during these times is always close by and tailored to the situation. For example, one child stays overnight with Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 4 family. The adults from the home stay in accommodation close by to provide support if required. This means families are reassured and experiences are more positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s voices, feelings and choices are continually explored. Children are encouraged to express their opinions using specialised communication methods. The manager is developing adults’ skills in understanding children’s behaviours and responses. This is so adults can further explore what is important to children about where and how they live. Sometimes, changes to children’s routines or living arrangements are necessary. Adults help children understand changes with careful planning and the use of social stories. This familiarises children with adjustments and helps reduce anxiety.

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

Adults in the home understand and support the risks disabled children face in processing their environment. Children’s vulnerability in the community outside of the home is managed with comprehensive safety plans and appropriate supervision. This ensures that barriers to children’s experiences are minimised. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the care of adults. There are clear and detailed protocols in place for adults to follow should children go missing. Plans clearly reflect children’s additional needs.

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

Children receive positive and effective support when they struggle to communicate emotions or feelings. An improved culture is being developed to ensure that new behaviours are shared and discussed. This ensures that adults provide a consistent approach to behaviour support. Adults recognise and respond to cues in children’s behaviours that indicate they may be struggling. Adults then adapt their support or how they intervene to reduce anxiety and the likelihood of an incident. Children have detailed support plans to help adults manage their behaviours and build trust.

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

The number of incidents involving the use of restraint is low. Physical intervention is used as a last resort to manage behaviours and keep children safe. Staff are trained in its safe use. There are strong review processes after an intervention, and staff are encouraged to debrief and reflect on their practice. Managers ensure robust oversight and reflection. Children are helped to discuss incidents in a way that they can process and understand. This is an effective and transparent method of checking in on children’s wellbeing after they have been held.

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

There has been an allegation of abuse to a child made by one staff member about another staff member. The response to the allegation was swift and effective, with safeguarding procedures followed in a timely manner. The child’s family was understandably concerned about the nature of the incident. However, they have been reassured by the response and communication provided by leaders. They said they continue to feel that their child is being kept safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A new manager has been recruited. At the time of this inspection, they had only been in post for a short period. The manager is experienced and committed to ensuring that children make progress and are happy. They have applied to register with Ofsted. They have a clear vision of improvement for the home environment and the culture of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been improvements to the presence and support of senior leaders in the organisation. Although roles have yet to be established clearly with Ofsted, leaders are having a positive effect on improvement and consistency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are currently several vacancies for various roles in the team. Adults from a sister home are being deployed to ensure that children receive safe care in line with their plans. A significant number of staff lack the required qualification, with several having passed the deadline for achieving it. Leaders acknowledge this concern, and a plan to address the issue is in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager identified a significant medication error during checks and an audit. It has emerged that systems for monitoring children’s medication were ineffective. It has also been established that systems for staff questioning accuracy had failed to see shared information escalated and acted on. The manager has implemented improved checks in response to these issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has focused on getting to know children. They have developed good oversight of children’s needs in a short length of time. They have developed a thorough understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders have failed to carry out the required 6-monthly review of the quality of care. It is acknowledged that there have been changes in leadership; however, the reports have not been identified as a priority and have therefore lapsed. The new manager is demonstrating good oversight and reflection in other areas of children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Adults feel supported in their roles. Opportunities for group reflection and learning are starting to improve. There are gaps in staff receiving one-to-one supervision, but these are being addressed. The manager has identified a need to improve the culture of the team. They see the importance of open and honest reflection when discussing shortfalls and improving skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Professionals speak positively about the care children receive. They feel that the adults communicate positively and in a timely manner when concerns arise. Professionals believe previous shortfalls are being addressed and say that the new manager has been a positive addition to the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 6

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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 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—

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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

Ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(c)(d)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that sufficient staff are recruited to manage children’s assessed risks and are suitably experienced and trained to meet their identified needs. It also relates to ensuring that systems of monitoring and oversight are regular and effective in identifying shortfalls in practice. 30 September 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— 31 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 7 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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that medication systems are robust and that systems for auditing and monitoring are regular and effective in identifying errors.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff are enrolled in the diploma and are working towards it within the necessary timescales. 31 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 8 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there is a suitable monitoring system in place and that reports are produced at least every 6 months and sent to HMCI within 28 days.

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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: 2555505 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspiration House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester, Greater Manchester M3 3HF

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2555505 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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