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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC472139 1 SC472139

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Amegreen Children’s Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a private organisation and provides care for up to two children. The home provides care to give children the opportunity to come to terms with previous experiences of trauma, abuse, loss, rejection and poor attachments.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since July 2021.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was undertaken in response to a serious incident that occurred at the home and concerns raised in the independent person’s reports.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, the inspector was able to clarify events that led to concerns about the serious incident and the rationale for subsequent actions and decisions. Evidence from a range of sources, including from other agencies, demonstrates that overall, the new manager and staff dealt with these matters well. A police officer involved in the investigation placed on record his view that the adults involved should be commended for preventing the situation from becoming much worse.

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This monitoring visit

However, as staff did not record or pass on new information, the new manager did not make decisions to alert other agencies as quickly as was appropriate. Staff did not inform the placing authority of the incident in a timely fashion, which meant that the placing authority were not in possession of the full information as early as was appropriate. The new manager has promptly arranged safeguarding training for the team to address these issues. However, the requirement that staff should be familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies is restated.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has begun a process of reformatting individual risk assessments and the quality of care review report. These were the subject of requirements at the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC472139 2 last inspection. As these have not yet been implemented, the requirements are also restated.

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This monitoring visit

A holiday took place when some children had not been living at the home together for long. A risk assessment for this holiday did not take sufficient account of the potential impact of children being in close proximity for a lengthy period and at a significant distance from the home. The new manager has reviewed this and the incidents that occurred during the holiday, which took place before she was in post. It is evident that she has identified the weaknesses in planning that contributed to it being a difficult experience for everyone involved.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s group living assessment did not identify the potential risks that were experienced on the holiday. A recommendation by the independent person that the assessment be updated has not been acted on. This document therefore gives a false impression of the nature of risks to children and does not underpin practice in relation to how they are managed. Nevertheless, staff spoken to are well informed about current risks and report that they regularly discuss strategies to mitigate them.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has made sufficient progress regarding ensuring the continuity of staff caring for children. The previous requirement related to this is met.

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This monitoring visit

Training records produced by the provider have not been updated with recent courses staff have undertaken. It is through the new manager’s personal knowledge that she has been able to identify this and accurately monitor staff training.

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This monitoring visit

Children were generally positive about their experience of living at the home. Their views about the staff they like to have caring for them are respected and implemented as far as possible.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/07/2021 Full Good 30/10/2019 Full Outstanding 14/08/2018 Full Outstanding 04/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC472139 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day to day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— 31 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC472139 4 the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to investigate information received which suggests there may be a breach of regulations.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC472139 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Granary Court, Fair Oak Green, Stratfield Saye, Reading RG7 2DL

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Inspector

Chris Peel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC472139 6 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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