Children's Home run by Amicus Residential Care Ltd in Reading

Unique reference number SC059221 Inspection date 13/01/2014 Inspector Brian Mcquoid Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is privately run and provides emergency as well as long-term placements for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress .

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Progress

The service was last inspected during August 2013 when the overall effectiveness was judged to be good. Outcomes for young people, quality of care, safeguarding, and leadership and management were all also judged to be good. There was one statutory requirement and two recommendations arising from the inspection. All of these have now been satisfactorily addressed. Written records of sanctions now meet the requirements of the regulations, there is evidence of young people being involved in the care planning process, and records of recruitment now include all the required information in accord with the national minimum standards. Regulation 33 reports are being submitted to Ofsted as required and reflect positively on how the home is operating. A newly adopted format for the visits is extremely good and the reports being produced by a recently appointed visitor are very thorough. No formal complaints have been received from young people since the last inspection while

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Progress

three received from neighbours in relation to the behaviour of some young people have all been satisfactorily resolved. There have been no child protection concerns at the home since the previous inspection. However, there have been six notifications of significant events submitted to Ofsted, all of which relate to the behaviour of young people and the police being called to the home. The home continues to provide a good quality of care, and to actively promote positive outcomes for young people who have complex needs and who display challenging behaviour. Young people are very happy living at the home and feel safe there. Parents and young people's social workers have a positive regard for the service and the care that is being provided for young people who arrived at the home with significantly disrupted histories of being looked after. 'Fantastic care' and 'the home is doing really well under the circumstances', were comments from two

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Progress

parents contacted during the inspection, while ' the care provided is good', 'there is very good communication', and 'there is lots of effort put in by staff', were comments received from two social workers also contacted during the inspection. Incidents of young people being reported as missing are at a low level and staff are doing all they can to reduce the incidence of risk taking behaviour by young people. There are established and very positive relationships with external agencies which include the youth offending service and the police. 'We have a fantastic working relationship with the home' was a comment received from a local police officer who works closely with the home and visited during the course of the inspection.

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Progress

The home is being well managed with young people receiving individualised care supported by detailed plans which are up to date and being regularly reviewed. Improved family relationships, engaging with education and much improved behaviour since arriving at the home, are all areas where young people have made real progress since the last inspection. There is a clear commitment to continuing improvement from the manager of the home. She keeps up to date with developments within the children's homes sector and is regularly reviewing and implementing a development plan for the service. Focussing and reporting on a specific national minimum standard during regulation 33 visits is one example of a recent positive development. The home has maintained the quality of care and the outcomes for young people, and so is judged to have made satisfactory progress since the last inspection. There are no statutory requirements or recommendations

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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