Children's Home run by AA&J Supporting Services Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 1 Registered provider: AA&J Supporting 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 27 January 2026

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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: 2828709 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/01/2026 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 3

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Summary of findings

Since the last full inspection, one child has remained at the home. They are making progress towards independence and moving to an independent annex on the same site of this home.

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Summary of findings

The leadership and management of this home remain unstable. There have been changes and both the manager and responsible individual are leaving. However, the provider has taken steps to recruit a new manager.

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Summary of findings

The staff team, although becoming established and new, are enthusiastic and aspirational for the child. This has meant that the child has developed trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is cared for by a staff team, whose members bring varied experiences, and who want the very best for them. Because staff love their work, they are bringing a calm and caring attitude to the home. The child responds to a consistent and predictable level of care. They gravitate towards staff because they know they will get their needs met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has regular opportunities to speak with staff about any worries or concerns, and to seek their advice and guidance. All members of the team ensure that they celebrate all the child’s successes and have developed a scheme of positive reinforcement. This builds self-esteem and bolsters the child’s confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff team work closely with external professionals. The child is actively involved in their care planning and reviews. This has meant that there is a consistent and shared understanding of the child’s plans. Due to this shared understanding, the child has a clear direction of travel in terms of immediate and long- term goals when at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is being encouraged to develop their independent living skills and is moving to an annex building on the grounds of this home. This is part of a wider plan for eventual independent living, and staff are helping the child to be more confident using public transport and learning how to budget.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend time with their family. The staff understand the child’s experiences and that family time is important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. Staff have worked in collaboration with the child in making the home a nurturing and homely environment. There is lots of evidence of Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 4 age-appropriate activities. There are current plans to improve and update the sensory room. The manager and staff take pride in the home and help the child to maintain a lovely environment to live in.

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

The child has opportunities to make a complaint and to make suggestions on how to enhance their care. Complaints and allegations are escalated and investigated appropriately. Managers ensure that they promptly inform the local authority designated officer following any allegation. This collaboration enables the sharing of best practice to keep children safe. Safeguarding protocols are consistently followed.

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

Children have individualised risk assessments. These assessments are completed in detail and capture the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the child. These are continually reviewed and updated by a manager. Staff are proactive in reading any updates, so they are always equipped with the best knowledge regarding the child.

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

The child has formed strong relationships with staff. The bonds between the child and staff reinforce their sense of feeling safe. Staff do not shy away from difficult conversations with the child if their safety is jeopardised. Rather, staff take a proactive approach and explore any issues in an open and honest manner. This also allows the child to feel safe and approach staff when they have their own worries.

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

Staff understand the risks of children using mobile phones that have access to social media and the internet. Staff undertake individual sessions with the child and talk about the dangers of being online and how they can keep themselves safe. The child allows staff to check their phones, and this shows how much they trust the staff.

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

There have been no physical interventions. All staff have training in how to help the child with their anxieties. Over time, staff have effectively used their positive relationships with the child to negate the need for any physical interventions. Staff know to use all other positive behaviour support techniques and that physical intervention is the absolute last resort for keeping the child safe.

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

Managers have ensured that there is a clear medication process in place that staff must follow. Staff have medication administration training and are observed administering medication before they can take the lead in this process. The number of medication errors has been low since the last inspection. When errors have occurred, the manager took action to improve staff competence.

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

There have been changes in the leadership and management of the home. The registered manager left several months ago. The new acting manager and the responsible individual have worked at the home for a short period of time and have now decided to leave. The provider has ensured that there has been some continuity and Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 5 leadership oversight, and this has maintained some stability in the home for the staff and the child.

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

The manager works in close collaboration with external professional agencies. They keep professionals continually updated regarding the child and their needs and progress. The manager has advocated for the child to ensure that their wishes are heard and acted on when required.

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

Staff feel supported by the manager and enjoy working in the home. There is a strong ethos of teamwork and supporting each other to meet the needs of the child. However, the members of staff team are not yet established and there are newer and less experienced staff.

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

The staff have regular opportunities to reflect on their development. The manager provides staff with regular supervision and team meetings. This process allows for staff’s competence and knowledge of the child to be reviewed. In addition, staff are provided with guidance and support that contributes to their professional development.

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

Staff have not yet received all elements of essential training to meet the needs of the child. Although staff have undertaken online training in the safeguarding of children and autism, the staff team would benefit from an enhanced package of training to better understand and meet the specific care needs of the child.

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

Leaders and managers have not ensured that they have informed the regulator of a significant incident about a child. This would have provided assurance to the regulator of the actions that the manager and leaders are taking to promote the child’s health, wellbeing and safety. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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(e))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to a child being admitted to the hospital without the provider notifying the regulator. 28 August 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; 28 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 7 ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to there being no consistent leadership and management.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the Quality Standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)

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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: 2828709 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: AA&J Supporting Services Limited

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2828709 9 regulates and inspects 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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