Children's Home run by Amegreen Children’s Services in West Berkshire

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help protection and care.

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 The young people make excellent progress in a safe environment.  Planning is extensive and ensures that young people have the best opportunities for success.   Young people are listened to and treated with respect and dignity, resulting in their excellent relationships with staff.  Newly admitted young people are quickly made to feel comfortable through precise planning.  Meticulous planning allows young people to become self-sufficient and to develop age-appropriate independence skills.  Young people achieve academically as a result of staff encouraging and supporting them with their education. They engage in therapeutic services and progress emotionally.  Proactive behaviour management and risk assessments have kept young people consistently safe.  New staff are safely recruited and their performance monitored; this ensures that young people are cared for by safe adults.  There is an experienced management team in place that provides extensive

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

support to the stable staff team.  Internal and external monitoring systems are robust and support the development of the service.  Professionals speak very positively of their relationship with staff on behalf of the young people.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  All children’s care records must be kept up to date (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.3). This is in relation to documenting the process of admitting new young people to the home.  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.3)

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home accommodates up to four young people, irrespective of gender, who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

21/05/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Outstanding

The young people are making exceptional progress. They live in a family atmosphere that provides them with opportunities to grow and develop without any concerns for their safety. The young people eagerly expressed how much they enjoy living in the home. Planning for the young people is meticulous; they benefit from comprehensive care plans that are reviewed regularly. They are actively involved in their care, and their wishes are commonly known. Young people were seen engaging in a house meeting and expressing their views and opinions. Highly valued relationships have developed between the young people and the staff. Their open and honest discussions lead to natural and positive interactions. A professional wrote, ‘Since moving into the home, [X] has developed a close and supportive relationship with her key worker that has helped [X] to feel more emotionally secure, evidenced by fewer emotional outbursts and less challenging

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Outstanding

behaviour.’ Young people receive a warm welcome when new to the home. A young person arrived for their first day during the inspection. Despite the staff having only a week to facilitate the move, creative planning allowed her to settle quickly. They arranged for the young person to have several visits, including an overnight stay in advance of moving in. The mother of the young person said, ‘The process made me feel comfortable that my child will be looked after well.’ The young person said that the young people and staff were ‘very friendly and made me feel comfortable’. The process for admission, despite being thorough, had yet to be recorded. The manager agreed that records need to be updated. Staff successfully encourage independence, resulting in the young people becoming increasingly self-sufficient. They successfully cook and shop for themselves, take up part-time jobs and travel independently to visit friends in other areas. The

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Outstanding

young people all have structure to their time, guided by a weekly plan that staff review with them in key working sessions. Young people understand the importance of education. Young people have a high attendance rate and have developed appropriate friendships. There is excellent communication between staff and school staff in the form of face-to-face meetings, telephone calls and emails. An acting headteacher in an email to the manager wrote, ‘We really appreciate the open and responsive communication we have with you and your team members. It is so refreshing to work with a group of dedicated professionals who have the future of their young people at the heart of what they do.’ Young people are fit and healthy; any health needs are met with a robust response by staff. Young people are supported to attend medical appointments when these are needed. Some young people are receiving and engaging in purposeful

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Outstanding

therapeutic support, which is furthering their emotional development. The therapist for the young person said, ‘Staff have done well supporting [X]’s therapy. Their communication is good, and I feel that they keep me up to date about changes in [X]’s life.’ Young people freely participate in activities and these have a positive impact on their lives. They develop self-confidence and establish age-appropriate relationships outside the home. A young person was observed making plans with staff to travel independently to town to participate in a weekly games group. He made sure that he contacted staff when he reached his destination and confirmed his return time. There is a considerable amount of contact and communication with parents when this is practical and permitted. The staff consult with parents at least weekly and keep them informed of key developments. The staff offer parents advice if they are

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Outstanding

struggling to accept decisions made by the local authority. In addition, staff ensure that young people and their parents safely spend time together by facilitating the arrangements necessary to achieve this.

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Outstanding

The positive relationships that staff share with the young people have been the key component of their continuously feeling safe and being well protected. The young people said that they trust the staff and understand why certain rules and procedures must be adhered to. One young person said, ‘I feel extremely safe living here. Staff understand us kids.’ Staff are confident in their knowledge and ability to respond to potential safeguarding risks, such as child sexual exploitation, missing from care and radicalisation The staff follow the policies and procedures meticulously when issues of safeguarding arise. There have been a small number of incidents in which young people were reported missing. The majority of the incidents are attributed to young people returning late from free time in the community. There is a robust response by staff to these episodes, which follows the missing from care policy and is particular to the young

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Outstanding

person. However, young people are not consistently having return interviews after incidents of missing. The manager is in the process of securing an independent agency to carry out the interviews when the placing authority is slow to respond. Risk assessments for the young people are meticulous. All risks associated with them are thoroughly evaluated, and corresponding preventive measures are put in place. Staff assess information, promptly updating each document when needed. They also discuss with the young people why the level of risk has been changed and what it means for their care. The staff receive good-quality training in behaviour management, which they apply. Young people are treated with respect and this has resulted in no physical interventions. The young people are able to talk through issues that may have a negative impact on their mindsets. A head of year for a young person confirmed staff’s effectiveness in managing negative behaviours, saying, ‘A young person who

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Outstanding

was anxious about his future exhibited some inappropriate behaviour, but after speaking with the staff and receiving guidance and direction he was able to reflect and return to a more positive frame of mind.’ Thorough recruitment practices help to ensure that only safe and appropriate adults care for the young people. A new member of staff with significant relevant experience has been recruited and joined the team. Safe recruitment practices were followed, consisting of verifying references and thoroughly checking background information. The atmosphere of the home contributes to the security of the young people. The home is maintained to a high standard. Staff keep the environment risk free by completing regular health and safety checks.

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Outstanding

The leadership and management are a central strength of the home. The registered manager is well qualified and has managed this children’s home for several years. The recent decision to close the other home he managed alongside this now allows him to dedicate his full attention to this home. The staff and young people are excited about the manager being more available to them and believe that they are seeing the benefits already. Management is able to reassess the dynamics of the home and make informed decisions to end placements when young people disrupt the dynamics of the home. A young person transitioned to the home from another within the organisation and was unable to adjust and bond with the other young people, resulting in the home being briefly unsettled. After careful consideration, the young person returned to their original placement and is reported to be doing well. Managers are quick to challenge any decisions of the local authority if they think

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Outstanding

that they are not in the best interests of the young people. They not only challenge, but alternative solutions are offered. Their effective partnership working has enabled managers to influence care effectively. The staff group is experienced and stable, and the majority of staff are qualified to level 3 in caring for young people. The addition of experienced staff from another home has further strengthened the strong team in place. The staff consistently provide young people with positive role models. Staff are committed and supportive of each other. They work extremely well together and are consistent in their practice. They receive purposeful supervision, appraisal and training to aid in their development. A member of staff said, ‘While supervision is important, it’s the informal conversations and interactions that occur on a daily basis that [allow] the staff to function to such a high level.’ The independent visitor undertakes extensive monitoring, which includes talking to

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Outstanding

the young people about their views and experiences. The monthly reports that are produced provide valuable insight into the functioning of the home. Group supervision is provided to the staff on a fortnightly basis by a clinical psychologist. Over the past year, he has been working with the staff, developing their awareness of developmental trauma and examining how being in the care system impacts on young people. Substantial internal monitoring by management ensures that the strengths and areas of improvement are correctly identified. Managers consider all information available, including the feedback from the young people, professionals and the independent visitor. A proactive plan of development is in place. A current area of development is for the manager to research databases that will enable staff to keep records of young people electronically. The statement of purpose clearly lays out the services and support available to

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Outstanding

young people, along with all the policies and staff information. Managers are currently reviewing and adjusting the statement of purpose to accommodate the best interests of young people that need to remain in the home post-18 years of age. This is another example of the determination that management has to help to secure positive futures for young people. A wide range of professionals provided positive comments regarding the staff’s ability to meet the needs of the young people and communicate on their behalf. They praised them for their impact on young people. One wrote, ‘Through our joined-up working and the openness we share with one another, the young people have felt safe [and] secure and have gone on to live positive lives as young adults.’

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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