Children's home run by Aspris Care North West Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 1 Registered provider: Aspris Care North West Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2020 and is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, no children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 27 and 28 January 2026. This was due to serious and widespread safeguarding failures and poor leadership and management of the home. Following the inspection, two compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

p.1

This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 23 February 2026 to review the actions taken by the provider to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notices. The inspector found that the provider had not taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. A condition was imposed on the home’s registration to give the provider time to address the shortfalls.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider informed Ofsted of their intention to move children into the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

During the visit, the manager shared the improvements put in place in response to the requirements made at a previous inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There is now a full staff team in place, which includes a dedicated team of bank staff to ensure that children receive consistent care. Staff are working in some of the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 2 provider’s other homes. The manager acknowledges that when he had previously completed shifts in the home, this impacted on his ability to maintain effective oversight of this home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager is reflective about the previous inspection outcome. However, leaders and managers have not completed a review of the previous placement, which would outline their learning or further opportunities for improvement.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have received further training in safeguarding and in subjects relevant to the risks children may experience. This has been supported by input from a psychotherapist who works with the manager and staff team.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider’s quality improvement team completed workshops with staff to consider the quality of risk management plans and the use of effective strategies.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff receive regular supervision from the manager and attend team meetings on a consistent basis. The manager has scheduled both supervision sessions and team meetings for the remainder of the year. In these meetings, the manager has identified specific topics to assess staff knowledge, understanding and practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There is now an external independent visitor in place. They have worked with the manager to put processes in place to support more effective monitoring and oversight of the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home has been thoughtfully improved to provide more areas for children to relax. The decoration is calming and provides opportunities for children to personalise their environment. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/01/2026 Full Inadequate 05/02/2025 Full Good 16/05/2023 Full Good 05/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

p.4

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)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(b)(d))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff are adequately trained, know and understand children’s risk management plans, and are confident to use identified strategies to reduce risks. 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 5 Additionally, the registered person must ensure that all staff and the manager respond to allegations and disclosures in a timely manner, in line with safeguarding procedures. Allegations must be reported to the local authority designated officer in a timely manner, and the placing authority must be informed.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that actions raised by the fire service regarding the home’s fire risk assessment are addressed.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 6 research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.6

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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered must ensure that children receive care from a consistent staff team.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place for the registered manager and responsible individual to have effective oversight of staff practice.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 7 provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

relates to the child’s development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the registered person keeps the child’s general medical practitioner informed, as necessary, about the progress of the care throughout its duration. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vii)(c)(i)(ii)(d)(i) (3)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 8 children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.8

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well being;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 9 that arrangements are in place to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.9

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iii)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.9

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 31 August 2026

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.9

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 10 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

p.9

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

p.10

Requirement Due date

Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

p.10

Requirement Due date

any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b) (5) (6)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.10

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.10

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.10

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)) 31 August 2026

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”).

p.10

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.10

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 11 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.11

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.11

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.11

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that consequences given to children are recorded in line with regulations.

p.11

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children who make complaints or raise issues about their care are responded to in accordance with the provider’s complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. In addition, when neighbours make complaints, these should be responded to in accordance with the complaint’s procedure. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)

p.11

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.11

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Care North West Limited

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

p.12

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Penelope Rafferty

p.12

Inspector

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2596541 13 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.12

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.13

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.13

Inspector

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

p.13