Children's Home run by Amber Care Group UK Limited in Stockton-on-Tees

Inspection report children’s home: 2756862 1 Registered provider: Amber Care Group (UK) LTD Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties, and who may have learning disabilities, and with drug and alcohol dependency.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 16 October 2023. A manager was also registered in October 2023 but has since left. There has been no registered manager at the home since 18 November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection since the home was registered and was undertaken due to this newly registered home not having a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2756862 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered one child has moved in. The child’s needs are quickly understood by staff, and the child has experienced stability since moving in. Staff’s support promotes a positive beginning for the child, who is given the opportunity to personalise the home when they feel ready to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff present as being child focused, committed, and motivated. There is good staff morale, and the team provides consistency of care for the child. As a result, the child is making positive progress. The staff understand the child’s life journey and provide a home environment that is welcoming, homely and nurturing. The child has built warm relationships with the staff team, is beginning to trust staff and says he likes living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s health needs are met. When the child has faced barriers to accessing services, staff have been relentless in offering support and encouragement. As a result, the child is attending appointments with confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have worked collaboratively with external professionals to support the child’s reintegration back into education. Because of this, the child’s engagement in education has improved. The child recently achieved 100% attendance, which is great progress for this child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are motivated to create lifelong memories for the child. The staff actively encourage the child to take part in activities that they enjoy. The child’s love for ice skating and music is celebrated, and the activities experienced have been enriching for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of the child spending time with family and promote this. Staff have developed positive relationships with the child’s family members. This means that there is a joined-up support network for the child.

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

The child said that they feel safe and can identify staff in the home who can help them with their worries. The child does not wish to change anything about this home. The child said, ‘This can be the forever home.’

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

The staff have a good understanding of the needs of the child. The use of clear risk management plans and effective safe working practices promote the safety and well-being of the child. There have not been any incidents of the child going missing from the home and staff show a clear understanding of how to respond should this happen. Inspection report children’s home: 2756862 3 Professionals said that staff have provided a high level of safety for the child through their nurturing and therapeutic approach. As a result, the child is beginning to feel safe and secure.

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

Staff are creative in finding ways to have meaningful discussions with the child. Daily conversations help the child to understand their own vulnerabilities and help them to make better choices. This intervention helps to keep the child safer. The child knows how to make a complaint but has not felt the need to do so. The child said that staff always respond if they ask for things to change or improve. This enables the child to feel heard and valued.

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

Staff promote and reward the child’s positive behaviour. Staff have the skills and confidence to know how to help the child when they are upset, which includes them dealing with problems together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have acted swifty to appoint a suitable interim manager, following the resignation of the last manager. This has minimised any disruption in the home for the child and staff. The responsible individual has been instrumental in supporting the interim manager and staff team. As a result, they all feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team understands the strengths and development needs of the home. This includes knowing what progress the child is making because of the effective monitoring and review systems in place. Leaders and managers are present in the home and spend quality time with the child and staff. This ensures that they are up to date with how the staff are delivering care and what this feels like for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good training, induction, and supervision. This helps staff to continue to improve their professional development and receive valuable feedback about their practice. Added support is provided to staff through welfare checks outside of their formal supervision sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnerships with other professionals and effective communication are real strengths of the staff team. Professionals speak well of the care that the staff provide. One professional said,

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘We see [Name of child] becoming more of themselves and confident in their own skin. [Name of home] is the one place they have made progress; it is more than they have ever made before. They are appreciative of the support they are now getting. They have never felt so safe like this.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2756862 4

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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 children’s home: 2756862 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amber Care Group (UK) LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Boho Zero, 21 Gosford Street, Middlesbrough TS2 1BB

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2756862 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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