Equipping young people with a brighter future - Chessington House wins award for outstanding turnaround

In another instalment of Aspris people stories, we’re celebrating the remarkable achievements of one of our teams – Chessington House, a residential home.

They’ve recently won the Through Hardship to the Stars Aspris Award and here’s why. 

The story of Chessington House has been one of resilience, dedication, and transformation, turning a once-closed facility into a safe, nurturing home for children in need.

New beginnings for Chessington House

In 2021, Chessington House faced significant challenges and was temporarily closed. However, in December 2022, a bold plan was set in motion to re-open and revitalise the home. Employing Anneka as Interim Manager marked the start of this transformation. Within just four months, Anneka had assembled a dedicated team, redecorated the home, and put robust systems and processes in place to ensure it was inspection ready.

By March, an Ofsted visit confirmed what we already knew: Chessington House was ready to re-open its doors and welcome children into a safe, supportive environment again.

Supporting and reuniting siblings

Shortly after re-opening, Chessington House received a unique referral: a sibling group, aged 5 to 14, with a history of trauma and challenging experiences. Despite the daunting nature of this placement, Anneka and her team were determined to provide a stable and loving home for the children. They worked closely with the social worker, even spending time in court to support the group through the emotional placement process.

The Registered Manager tells us more. “Once the children arrived, we used our needs-led approach to make sure they felt secure and gave them freedom to make choices about their new home. The positive impact was almost instant. Within 48 hours, their social worker contacted us. They asked if their youngest sibling—who’d been struggling without their siblings—could be reunited with them. Of course, we said yes.”

Home is where the heart is

The success of Chessington House is down to how the team equip young people with a brighter future through a compassionate, family-oriented approach. The children have thrived since moving in, saying that apart from returning to their biological home, there’s no place they’d rather be. Chessington House has become a true haven for them, where they feel safe, secure, and supported.

The Chessington House team has shown incredible dedication, working tirelessly to ensure the siblings feel valued and cared for. Their efforts haven’t only made a significant difference in the lives of the children but have also positively impacted their father, who can see how well taken care of they are.

Strong foundations for continued success

The incredible turnaround of Chessington House wouldn’t have been possible without the strong foundation laid by Anneka. Although she’s since moved on to a new challenge, her legacy continues under the leadership of Kerry, the new Registered Manager. 

The future looks bright for Chessington House

The story of Chessington House is a testament to what can be achieved when our teams embrace innovation, compassion, and focus on the individual needs of young people. Aspris is incredibly proud of the progress made and the nurturing environment that’s been created. Chessington House is a shining example of our commitment to providing specialist care and support, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive and prepare for their future.

Thank you, team, for truly living the Aspris values. You thoroughly deserve your award.