Children's Home run by Aspire Children Services Limited in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 1 Registered provider: Aspire Children Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and is registered to care for up to 2 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home may provide care for children who experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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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 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 3

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Summary of findings

One child lives at this home. They have lived at the home for over a year, providing them with stability and a sense of belonging. Staff are attuned to the child’s needs and provide safe and nurturing care. Safeguarding practice is effective. The home is led by a knowledgeable and suitably qualified manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys positive relationships with staff who know them well. They are provided with new and exciting opportunities and are encouraged to stay active. For example, the child attends adventure parks and has experienced a holiday abroad. The child enjoys playing football and is part of a local team. These experiences support children to have fun and develop their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff talk to the child about their wishes and feelings. Sensitive topics, including personal relationships and sexual health are discussed confidently by staff. The child is provided with opportunities to share their views about the progress they are making and the care they receive. This helps children to feel respected and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to develop their independence skills. For example, the child regularly completes their own laundry and is learning how to manage their money. These informal learning opportunities help children prepare to live independently in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child spends time with people who are important to them. Staff support the child to spend time with a sibling who lives some distance away. Managers regularly share important information about the child’s wellbeing with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The importance of education is recognised by managers and staff. Managers supported the child to access independent advocacy when progress in identifying a suitable school was slow. The child attends school regularly and is making progress. One professional said, ‘staff have worked well with school to support [name of child] to settle and engage.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are understood by staff. They are supported to attend routine health appointments. Staff understand the child’s specific vulnerabilities linked to a health condition. A commissioned therapist spends time in the home and is available to the child when they require emotional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and has a family feel. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their individual taste. Photos of special occasions are captured, displayed in the home and kept in memory books. This supports children to feel valued and secure. Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 4

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

Managers and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Risk assessments and support plans reflect the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Plans clearly set out actions for staff to take if risks increase. Plans are updated regularly and after any incidents.

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

Staff support the child to spend time with friends. They recognise the child’s vulnerability when spending time outside of the home and complete frequent checks to ensure that they are safe. Staff talk to the child about internet safety and regularly check devices to ensure that the child is not exposed to online risks.

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

Clear plans set out what actions staff should take if the child is missing. Staff promptly notify safeguarding professionals, including police. Staff search for the child and maintain regular contact with professionals and family members. The child is welcomed home, and independent return home interviews take place. Managers and staff speak with the child to understand their reasons for going missing and reduce the risk of future incidents.

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

Staff help the child to manage difficult feelings and develop the skills needed to de- escalate situations. As a result, there have been no incidents requiring physical intervention. Staff regularly provide the child with praise and rewards. Consequences are used to help the child understand the impact of the behaviour, and the effectiveness is reviewed.

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

Since the last inspection, some new staff are working at the home. Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment practices. This ensures that only suitable adults are employed to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of events in the home. Effective audit and monitoring systems help her to have a clear understanding of the quality of care. She is proactive in ensuring that staff receive guidance and support and takes prompt action when shortfalls in staff practice are identified. This supports staff to improve and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive a thorough induction to the home. Staff performance is reviewed through robust probation and appraisal processes. Staff receive regular reflective supervision that is focused on the child’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback. This helps staff to understand their roles and responsibilities and feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are motivated and committed to ensuring that the child receives consistent care. Training and guidance from a commissioned therapist support staff to understand the child’s needs and how they should respond.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are used to share important information about the child’s plans. Staff knowledge about safeguarding practices is regularly tested out. Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 5 Actions are shared amongst the staff team which creates a sense of shared ownership about how the home operates.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work well with professionals and family members. Professionals speak highly of the home and the progress the child is making. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] has progressed so well since living at the home. Staff show warmth and make them feel valued.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high expectations of the staff team to support the child to achieve their full potential. The manager has a visible presence in the home and staff speak highly of the support she provides. The manager is supported to develop in her role. However, records of the managers supervision are not consistently kept. Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 6

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Recommendations

 The registered persons should ensure that records of supervision are kept for staff, including the manager. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: 2805938 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspire Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Flat, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE

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Inspector

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2805938 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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