Children's Home run by Amelia’s House Limited in Brent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make progress in all areas of their lives. Such progress often exceeds the expectations of their parents/carers and other professionals. Staff are considerably ambitious for each child. Children make improvements in relation to their communication, independence, social skills and table manners. A placing authority and school staff commented on the fact that one child is ‘ better socialised’. A health professional described one child’s ‘developing confidence’ and stated, ‘He is happy.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have partly addressed the requirements from the last inspection. The registered person reviews the quality of care on a six-monthly basis. This ensures that children continue to receive a service which is continually evolving to meet their needs. The statement of purpose now includes most of the necessary regulatory information. To provide an accurate reflection of the service, further information is needed regarding emergency admissions and day care. The disciplinary procedure has not been updated. This means that it still fails to confirm the staff’s duty to report incidents or suspected incidents of abuse, whether past or present. Therefore this requirement is repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations from the last inspection have also been reinstated. Although the children’s guide now contains information, such as Ofsted’s details and guidance on advocacy, it still does not provide children with a clear description of the complaint procedure or the contact details of the Children’s Commissioner. The redecoration and refurbishment of the premises has provided the children with a homely domestic environment. The building requires ongoing maintenance due to the fact that paintwork is continually scuffed. This is particularly noticeable in the kitchen.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Quality assurance arrangements are adequate. Leaders and managers evaluate the quality of care within required time frames. An independent person undertakes monthly monitoring visits. Although these visits highlight the strengths of the home, they do not routinely identify areas for development. This is a missed opportunity to contribute to the continual improvement of the home. Record- keeping fails to provide a true reflection of each child’s journey. Daily logs are not completed every day. In addition, staff do not consistently record details regarding incidents. As a result, leaders and managers are not fully aware of the behavioural issues and are therefore unable to accurately monitor patterns and trends.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to lead active social lives both inside and outside of the home. They express their creativity through arts and crafts. Their artwork is on display in their bedrooms and in the sensory room. In the home, children enjoy listening to urban music, like their peers. They continue to enjoy going out for meals, to the cinema and to a youth club which caters specifically for children who have learning disabilities. Children enjoy new experiences, such as visiting museums, the civic centre, farms, the zoo, a football stadium and other places of interest. They also receive educational stimulation through going to the library, reading, numeracy sessions, and doing puzzles and word searches.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s physical and mental health is improving. Exercise provides an opportunity for them to expend their energy. They enjoy regular walks, bike riding, exercising on outdoor gym equipment and attending a local sports club. Children’s health needs are appropriately met through their registration and subsequent visits to relevant health professionals. Staff creatively use social stories to help prepare children for health appointments. Children are generally settled. The disposition and emotional well-being of each child has improved. Staff liaise effectively with relevant mental health professionals and services when necessary, in order to meet the specific needs of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that children take appropriate responsibility for their daily routines. This includes children taking their laundry to the washing machine, getting their table mats at mealtimes, making drinks, doing light cooking and going shopping. A significant achievement is the improved continence of individuals, which has been achieved through successful personal care programmes. The sharing of this information with school staff provides good continuity of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are admitted to the home in a sensitive manner. They have the opportunity to have a series of introductory visits. Former respite users also have a familiar place to reside if they require longer-term care. No children have left the service since the last inspection. Children benefit from a discharge plan which includes continued respite. Leaders and managers are currently liaising with the host authority to set up an adult service for older children. Once established this would provide a transition for children into supported accommodation with a familiar staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff safeguard children effectively. There are no issues with children going missing. There have been no incidents in which staff have needed to restrain or sanction children. They have a good understanding of children’s behavioural triggers. Staff promote socially acceptable behaviour through consistent prompting, encouragement and positive reinforcement. The latter particularly reinforces self- esteem, as children verbally repeat that they are ‘great’. Children take pride in being well behaved and in being able to follow instructions. Staff receive some guidance from risk assessments which highlight concerns and provide information on how specific behaviours can be managed. However, risk assessments do not contain information that relates to sexualised behaviour. This information is needed in order to preserve children’s dignity and protect staff and visitors.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from a stable and committed staff team. A child described the responsible individual as ‘a good man’. Staff understand young people’s needs and their non-verbal communication. The positive interactions between staff and children nurture the children’s independence and promote their choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive ongoing training which builds on their skills and knowledge. The required vocational training is in progress for all staff. Additional specialist training further increases their competence. Recruitment practices are sound, which helps to ensure that unsuitable persons do not work with children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate good partnership working with schools, placing authorities and involved professionals. They work in partnership with parents effectively. There is an overall aim of focusing on the needs and best interests of the child. When possible children can visit the family home and staff can be present to provide additional support. Families can also telephone and visit the home, which assists in maintaining the personal bonds between children and their families. Staff regularly update parents through internet communications and by sending them photographs of their children taking part in activities.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home which is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children. The home is able to cater for children who have learning disabilities. This includes children who have autistic spectrum disorder.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/08/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement of purpose which covers matters listed in Schedule 1. This particularly relates to emergency admissions and day respite. (Regulation 16 (1)) 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular, provides that the failure of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child is grounds on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation 33(2)(b)) 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that records for each child are kept up to date; this relates to daily logs and incident records. (Regulation 36 (1) (b)) 01/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the children’s guide helps children to understand how to make a complaint and how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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Recommendations

 Provide a homely domestic environment; this refers to scuffed walls in the kitchen and throughout the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child; this specifically refers to sexualised behaviour. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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 who 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 0300123 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, workbased 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

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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