Children's Home run by Aspire Pathway Limited in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 1 Registered provider: Aspire Pathway 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

This children’s home is registered for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and was present for this inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 2

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Summary of findings

This is the first inspection since the home opened in October 2025.

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Summary of findings

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home who contributed to the inspection. The manager is suitably experienced and registered with Ofsted.

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Summary of findings

In this home, ‘adults’ is the term used to describe staff who work at the home.

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Summary of findings

The child told inspectors that they felt safe and listened to. This sense of being heard and listened to is contributing to a settled and safe environment for the child. Since arriving, the child is making positive progress, attends education regularly and their health needs are being met.

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Summary of findings

The manager and adults speak with knowledge and understanding about the child. They are committed to ensuring the child has the best chances and possible outcomes.

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Summary of findings

The adults have a trauma-informed approach to the care of the child and focus on the child’s strengths and abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child recently moved into the home in a planned and sensitive way, with the manager and adults ensuring thorough preparation, plans and tailored support. The plans support to help reduce and manage any worries or anxieties the child may have. For example, adults created a sensory pack to help the child in settling at nighttime. This assists the child to quickly receive the appropriate care and nurture from the outset. . The child is at the heart of this home. Adults provide a warm and nurturing home environment. Adults speak about the child with enthusiasm, warmth and compassion. The child spent time and engaged with the inspectors. The child told inspectors that they are treated ‘like a princess’. There was a constant warm, friendly atmosphere, with fun and laughter shared between the child and the adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experiences clear and predictable routines and structure, with kindness and playfulness embedded into their day . The child is supported to express their views and actively take part in decisions about their home. The adults help the child to develop their interests, and achievements are celebrated. For example, the child has begun dancing classes and has attended church. This helps to encourage confidence and personal growth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is well prepared for the school day and attends daily. Adults support in transportation to school to ensure the child is ready for the day. The adults work closely Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 3 alongside education colleagues and work creatively to make sure the child has positive education experiences that build on their learning and talents. This supports the child to engage with school and maintain high levels of attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is actively supported to understand their cultural identity and background. The adults promote a strong sense of belonging, stability and identity. For example, the adults created a personalised picture storybook that reflected the child’s culture. This supports the child to develop a positive and secure sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with the appropriate health professionals and are actively encouraged to eat nutritious foods and engage in regular physical activity. Emotional wellbeing is openly discussed and supported, fostering an environment where the child feels confident to talk about their feelings. This holistic approach contributes to the child developing a positive attitude toward both their emotional and physical health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s environment is homely and welcoming. They can personalise their bedroom with pictures, photos and toys. There are photos around the house of some of the activities that the child has already been involved in and enjoyed. The home is furnished well and has a homely feel. The garden needs further upkeep and development, so that the child can gain the most from this space.

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

The child enjoys the trusting relationships that are being built with the adults who care for them. These relationships are built on consistency, continuity and provide a strong routine, which the child benefits from. This has been critical in enabling the child to begin to build secure and meaningful relationships with a team of adults who they know, trust and can rely on.

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

The child has clear plans and risk assessments in place. These plans are regularly updated. This supports the adults to keep the child safe. Managers and adults go to great lengths to understand how best to protect and support the child to grow and develop, and there is constant reflection and adaptation to support and safeguard them. This approach helps ensure continuous improvement of the care and support in understanding and managing the child’s lived experiences.

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

The manager and adults have a therapeutic approach to the care provided. They have received child-specific training to understand that children’s behaviour can be a way of communicating feelings and emotions. The adults provide a patient and empathetic approach to their care while understanding potential triggers to the behaviour. This further enhances the nurturing relationships the adults have with the child.

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

The child’s complex needs mean that there are times of upset, distress and behaviour that are challenging. The adults are skilled at promoting positive behaviour and are embedding a consistent response on these occasions. When incidents occur, these are being managed effectively, and the records of these incidents are completed in full, for Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 4 example post-incident information learnings and discussions are completed following such incidents.

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

Safeguarding training is robust and adults have a good working knowledge of their roles and responsibilities. The child’s safety is a priority for the adults. The adults are attuned and responsive to the risks that are present for the child. Effective safeguarding practice is creating a safe and supportive home, where the child feels secure. The manager is fostering an open culture that prioritises transparency and continuous improvement. This assists to create an environment where children are protected from harm and supported to thrive and feel safe.

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

When recruiting new members of the team, the manager has a robust system in place that follows safer recruitment processes. This ensures that only those adults who are vetted and assessed as being safe to work with vulnerable children are allowed to work in the home. This reduces the risk of unsuitable adults working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and dedicated to the child and team in her care. She is clearly child focused and can detail the progress and experience of the child. She is an integral part of the home and strives to improve progress and outcomes for the child. She communicates effectively, ensuring a team-around-the-child approach. When necessary, the manager escalates her concerns within the wider system to ensure that decisions made are in the child’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults receive regular one-to-one sessions that provide meaningful opportunities to reflect on their practice, seek guidance and discuss any questions or concerns. These sessions support effectively the development of the adults’ skills and confidence, ensuring they have a clear understanding of their roles, duties and responsibilities, while strengthening their ongoing professional development and knowledge. Adults could benefit from further discussions in their one-to-one meetings on safeguarding issues, which allow them to reflect on their practice and the needs and external risks of children assigned to their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is building a stable diverse team of adults who are committed to their roles. Adults have positive supportive relationships with each other, providing the child with stability and consistency of care. The adults speak with pride about the home and enjoy their work. They express pleasure in spending time with the child and enhancing their experiences. Adults commented on the high support and development from the manager, and that she goes above and beyond.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults have regular team meetings, which include reflective practice, safeguarding and training. These offer appropriate time and space for adults to discuss the trauma- informed care they provide, while not losing focus on their learning and development. It also provides opportunities for the adults to be reflective and develop their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 5 Adults also receive daily support and guidance from the manager and each other. This supports the personalised care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The teams training is tailored to the needs of the child. The manager, through her reflections and learning, has devised further support plans that enable adults to adapt their practice to meet the individual needs of the child. A therapeutic approach is beginning to be embedded, which supports adults to enhance and adopt a more restorative nurturing approach while caring for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has robust quality assurance processes and systems in place. She is highly effective in promoting positive practice and continuous improvement. The adults remain responsive to the child’s evolving and changing needs. There is a strong culture of nurture and thoughtful adaptation, with revised practices introduced to better support the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the content and/or outcomes of one-to-one meetings reflect discussion on safeguarding issues, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs and external risks of children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)  The registered manager should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. This is with particular reference to the external garden areas. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 for children’s home: 2863661 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspire Pathway Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Aspire Pathway Group, College Business Centre, The College, Uttoxeter New Road, Derby DE22 3WZ

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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Dan Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2863661 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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