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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 1 SC473329 Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties linked to past trauma they have experienced.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

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

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2022 Full Outstanding 17/11/2021 Full Outstanding 03/03/2020 Full Good 03/09/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 3

p.2

outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from dedicated staff. The skilled staff are mindful that children have experienced past trauma and care for them in a nurturing way. They have created an environment for the children in which they feel safe and secure. Staff also ensure that they regularly provide children with a wide variety of positive experiences and support them to see the people who are important to them.

p.3

outstanding

Children have positive, trusting relationships with staff. These relationships help the children to develop the confidence to speak to staff about their worries and share past experiences. One child has grown in confidence and now actively participates in activities with the other children. Interactions between the children and staff are playful and engaging. Children freely approach staff for support and are keen to spend time speaking with them.

p.3

outstanding

Staff work effectively with other professionals. This ensures that the children’s needs, in all areas, are well met. The staff are actively involved in contributing to local authority care planning for children. Social care professionals speak highly of the care provided by staff, particularly highlighting the commitment that staff have shown to ensuring consistency and stability for the children. Due to the outstanding care and support provided, the placing authority for one child has changed their long-term plan and enable them to stay until they are 18.

p.3

outstanding

The high-quality support from staff has helped children to make excellent progress from their starting points. Staff are aspirational for the children and have skilfully supported them to overcome challenges and to excel in different areas of their lives. One child has improved their ability to manage their health and personal care needs. Another child developed good independence skills. This has subsequently helped them to have a successful move to a supported living placement.

p.3

outstanding

Staff use every opportunity, including mealtimes, activities and meetings, to encourage the children’s involvement in the home. Planned conversations are used to encourage reflection following incidents and to allow children to speak about any issues that they would like to. Staff value the children’s views and act on them. Consequently, the children feel heard.

p.3

outstanding

Respect for diversity and equality is embedded in all areas of staff practice. Children are well supported to explore their identity and develop a positive self-image. The diverse staff team introduces children to different cultures. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 4

p.3

outstanding

Staff care for the children through a non-blaming, nurturing approach. They have a sound understanding of the children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Staff ensure that children’s well-being and safety are always prioritised. Good-quality safeguarding training and working practices ensure that staff fully understand the processes for reporting and escalating concerns.

p.4

outstanding

Comprehensive care plans and risk assessments provide clear guidance for staff about how to care for the children. These are regularly reviewed and updated. Input from therapists enables staff to better understand the impact of trauma on children’s behaviours. Reflective group discussions ensure that staff remain aware of, and attuned to, children’s changing needs and vulnerabilities.

p.4

outstanding

Staff are understanding and patient when children encounter difficulties. They are aware that children’s complex behaviours at times stem from past traumatic experiences. Staff allow children the time and space that they need during difficult periods. They reassure them that they care and are there to support them. There is great focus from staff on supporting children to better manage their emotions and to express themselves positively. This has led to children becoming safer and more confident in expressing their feelings. Children can take accountability for their actions and reflect with staff about how to better keep themselves safe.

p.4

outstanding

The children are strongly encouraged to build their confidence and voice their opinions. They are supported to do so in different ways, including actively participating in their review meetings. Staff listen to the children and advocate on their behalf. They help others to hear the children’s views when this is needed.

p.4

outstanding

Children are happy living in this home and rarely go missing. On the rare occasion when a child has gone missing from the home, staff have taken prompt action to ensure that they returned home quickly and safely. Staff help children to understand risks relating to going missing. Consequently, children have an improved understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

p.4

outstanding

Staff consistently use de-escalation techniques to support children during crises. They are sensitive and only physically intervene when needed to ensure the safety of children or others. Incidents are consistently well recorded. The manager reviews all incidents to ensure that the care provided to children is of high quality and continues to meet their needs.

p.4

outstanding

Staff work very closely with the professional network to understand and reduce risk. Other social care professionals are confident that staff manage challenging situations very well. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This is a well-managed home. The experienced manager has high aspirations for the children and staff. This permeates throughout the staff team. Staff have also formed positive relationships with other senior leaders, who also extend support to them.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and senior leaders consistently prioritise meeting children’s needs. As a result, the children are the central focus and receive high-quality individualised care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager places great emphasis on the importance of staff. They ensure that the home is well resourced and that staff take time to get to know the children well and to form secure relationships with them. Senior leaders have commissioned therapists to facilitate regular child-focussed discussions to help staff to reflect on the children’s needs and their own practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well supported by the manager and senior leaders through regular supervision and team meetings. Staff feel valued by leaders. They are encouraged to share their views, experiences and any challenges that they face. The actions of the leadership team ensure high staff morale.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager empowers staff through involving them in dealing with complex matters, such as challenging decisions made by external professionals in children’s best interests. This has contributed to the development of skilled, competent staff who proactively advocate on the children’s behalf.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads by example. She reinforces the importance of effective partnership working with all professionals involved in children’s care. Staff follow suit and ensure that important information about children is appropriately shared with their parents and the professional network. The manager is committed to ongoing development and welcomes the views of others. The manager is beginning to explore how to further develop communication with parents, for example exploring any additional information that they would like shared regarding their children’s care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Diversity is embraced by the manager and senior leaders. Children share positive experiences with staff from different cultural backgrounds, who encourage them to be accepting of difference and to embrace their own unique identities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 6

p.5

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: SC473329 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Corner House, West End Road, Mortimer, Berkshire RG7 3TF

p.7

Inspector

Sasha Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC473329 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8