Children's Home run by AMMA Childcare Services in Solihull

Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 1 Registered provider: AMMA Childcare Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who may have emotional, social or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently three children living at the home. The children are settled and are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved out of the home as staff were unable to meet his needs. The registered manager has worked with staff to reflect and implement learning from this child’s time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children currently living in the home enjoy trusting and nurturing relationships with staff. Staff know children well and understand how best to support them. As a result, children are doing well and have had a number of successes. For example, one child’s attendance at school has increased while he has lived at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s birthdays and achievements are celebrated by the staff and registered manager. As a result, children’s self-esteem and sense of belonging have improved. Children enjoy a range of activities with staff and have lots of fun times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support children to see their families and are sensitive to each child’s individual circumstances. This caring approach ensures that children feel supported when spending time with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive support to develop their independence skills. As children have not lived at the home for long, this work is at an early stage and will continue to be developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff plan well for the arrival of new children to the home, including meeting the child before they move in. One child’s social worker said, ‘[Name of child] seems really happy. I visited the home with them before admission and they have settled well.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager and staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities of children well. Risk assessments are thorough and contain pertinent information which enables staff to take effective action to keep children safe. The registered manager understands the importance of ensuring that all assessments are reviewed regularly to maintain consistency in practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have trusting relationships with the registered manager and staff. Children know they will be listened to and are able to talk openly to staff. One child is deemed to be at risk of exploitation. However, due to the progress the child has made while living at the home, the level of risk has reduced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 4 Staff use their skills and training to recognise when children are struggling, and offer help. The calm approach to managing behaviour is effective in helping children regulate their emotions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations are managed well, and the registered manager maintains clear records of actions taken to safeguard children, which demonstrates a strong understanding of safeguarding processes.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager and staff have good links with important safeguarding agencies. They regularly share information regarding incidents and safeguarding issues. Professionals have confidence in the ability of the home to keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Several communal areas have doors with locks on. The locks are not required as staff do not restrict children’s access to these communal spaces. However, having the potential to lock internal doors detracts from the otherwise homely appearance of the house. Furthermore, staff routinely lock an understairs cupboard despite there being no safeguarding reasons to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a strong leader. Her passion and drive have been instrumental in developing high standards in the home. This ensures that the standard of care children receive, particularly in relation to safeguarding, education and family relationships, is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has recruited a diverse staff team, which enriches the quality of care. Some of the staff are new and the manager is working to further embed the ethos of the home with these staff, to ensure that they provide children with consistent care. Staff enjoy their work and have confidence in the registered manager and understand the direction of the home under her leadership. The staff benefit from regular supervision, which helps them to remain focused on the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the importance of providing the team with the skills and knowledge they need. However, the workforce development plan does not reflect staff’s required training needs or identify how they will be met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager takes pride in how they and the staff team involve children in their care planning. They regularly consult with children when they can and act on what children say. Professionals recognise this, with one child’s headteacher complimenting the staff on their attention to detail when relaying information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has invested significant time and energy in the home. She is working with staff to develop and upskill them. This is beginning to be successful, with staff becoming increasingly competent and confident in their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, just as in a family home, children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s workforce development plan is updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff, including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: AMMA Childcare Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: SKN Business Centre, 1 Guildford Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B19 2HN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Clifford Faulder

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Inspector

Mark Dickinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2668686 7 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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