Amber House

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people have made significant progress since the last inspection, and this is evident across all areas of their lives. For example, one young person is having more positive relationships with their family, and another has stopped self-harming. After 17 previous placements, another young person has been settled in the home for nearly four years.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people who are new to the home are helped to settle in and maintain their education. Staff ensure that they have sufficient information to help provide new arrivals to the home with immediate care and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are in tune with the children and young people’s emotional needs and this has a beneficial impact on their behaviours. Children and young people receive the support they need, including specialist services, to support and improve their emotional and psychological well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The risk-taking behaviour that children and young people initially displayed has greatly diminished. Staff support them to understand how their behaviour affects them and other people, and clear strategies are implemented to bring about change. For example, issues around bullying are quickly dealt with and staff continually monitor and address this. In addition, a young person who was assessed to be at high risk of child sexual exploitation is now not at risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children and young people present with specific medical needs these are managed by the staff team with care and discretion, ensuring that children and young people are not stigmatised and remain settled in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have responded to the wishes and feelings of children and young people to improve the quality of care they receive. For example, as a result of listening to children and young people, there is now more choice of salad with meals and a games console has been purchased.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people’s cultural needs are appropriately met. The staff consider the diversity of the children and young people and support them to become aware of their own cultural values and practices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are encouraged to participate in a range of group activities such as youth clubs, majorettes and the Children in Care Council. This provides a safe forum for them to build friendships and develop social skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are supported to move on to other provision when this is felt to be in their best interests. Such decisions are made to support children and young people to make continued progress or to safeguard them and others, enabling them to achieve better outcomes. There has been clear advancement in the admissions of children and young people. The manager carefully considers the needs of those currently living in the home, protecting their positive outcomes and progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One of the biggest improvements since the last inspection is the children’s and young people’s safety in the community. As a result of the pro-active approach of the manager and staff, there has been excellent partnership working. This has resulted in young people being safer in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Complaints are taken seriously and responded to quickly. Measures are implemented to ensure that concerns can be fully explored and appropriate outcomes achieved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another positive change since the last inspection has been the introduction of staff personal development plans. This has helped staff to identify their own learning needs to better support young people. Management are also using the quality standards to underpin supervision and team meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the majority of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. A requirement raised at the last inspection concerning the manager’s six-monthly review of the quality of care has been met, but could be improved further still by evaluating the contributions of children and young people, and seeking the views of parents and professionals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation to amend care planning documentation continues to be work in progress. This recommendation is therefore carried over to be assessed at the next inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is run by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/07/2016 Full Good

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

Specifically, define care planning objectives and set clear timescales to achieve these in order to better monitor children and young people's progress.

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Recommendations

 The registered person's review should focus on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 64 paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

This is with particular reference to evaluating consultations with children and young people and consulting with parents and professionals.

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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