Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 1 Aspris Children’s Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to care for up to 6 children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is operated by a private provider. At the time of this visit, there were 4 children living in the home and the inspector spent time with them.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in May 2026. At the time of the inspection, the registered manager was absent, so the responsible individual supported the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

At the inspection on 4 and 5 August 2026, the inspector found serious and widespread shortfalls in safeguarding practices and leadership and management. The home was judged inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

Two compliance notices were issued following this inspection to address the concerns around the safety of children and shortfalls in leadership and management. This monitoring visit was to review the action taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector spent time with children. They enjoy positive relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff care about children and speak about them with warmth. Dynamics between the children continue to be complex and there are incidents between some children where they try to harm each other. While incidents are recorded, there is little management oversight of what has happened. There are missed opportunities for learning about both children’s needs and staff practice. Because leaders do not fully understand staff practice, they cannot know that staff provide the support children need. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 2 Leaders have increased their presence in the home to better understand staff practice and areas for development. Staff say this has been helpful. In the absence of the registered manager, senior leaders have provided support but recognise this is

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This monitoring visit

not a long-term solution, and they are now seeking interim support. Leaders provide staff with supervision that sets out clear expectations for their role and offers them the opportunity to share worries or concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have created a plan for learning and development. There is a focus on upskilling staff and embedding learning and practice changes. Leaders recognise that to do this properly takes time, and this is done at a pace to ensure that staff can take on learning. This learning has begun with safeguarding skills. Leaders recognise the changes required in staff culture, and their approach reflects the aspiration of positive improvements. However, changes are in their infancy.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have improved their oversight of staffing arrangements. As a result, they are confident that children receive support from a consistent group of staff. They have made arrangements to further strengthen the staff team, with experienced staff from other homes supporting as an interim measure.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice under Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’, was met at this visit. The compliance notice under Regulation 12, ‘The leadership and management standard’, has been reissued. The other requirements made at the full inspection were not reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/08/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff appropriately and safely supervise children in line with their care plans so that they are not at risk of harm. This is particularly important regarding doors and exits from the property.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff, including managers, have the skills, knowledge and understanding to recognise when a child is at risk of harm 9 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 5 and take prompt and appropriate action to protect children. It is vital that all staff complete safeguarding training so they understand risk and can take effective action to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff record all incidents involving children and staff so that there is oversight of these and so that effective action and learning can be taken. This includes where children harm each other or staff.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to prepare for any review of the child’s relevant plans and to make the child’s views, wishes and feelings known for the purposes of that review; and 9 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 6 ensure that each child—

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff support children who cannot verbally communicate by using alterative communication methods so that they can express their views, wishes and feelings.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. 9 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 7 (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff create opportunities for the children to spend time together and build positive relationships that support their social and emotional development.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all incidents of restraint are necessary and proportionate. Restraint records must provide a clear narrative of events so that the registered person can monitor and review the appropriateness and effectiveness of staff interventions. 9 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Garstang

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Inspector

Clare Nixson, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2871421 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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