Children's Home run by Amelia Care Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 1 Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This new home is operated by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children between the ages of eight and 18 years.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children resident at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2023.

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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 for children’s home: 2743870 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm relationships with staff. They identify staff who they would talk to about any worries they might have. They said that all staff treated them with respect and kindness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have not received education for a significant amount of time have started to show an interest and engage. Staff and children talk about their aspirations. For some children, this is the first time they have been able to have future plans and goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff and taking part in activities at home and in the local area. One child is excelling in ice hockey, and another attends a local youth club. These activities help children to develop their confidence, self-esteem, and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are resilient, caring and they are therapeutic practitioners. Staff use their skills and experiences to help children to learn. The staff are solution-focused; they explore new ways of working to meet children’s needs. This results in children beginning to look at their own futures and consider options.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff do not give up on children. Their continued efforts are appreciated by the children who live in the home. This encourages children to give people a chance. It supports them to overcome fears.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making steady progress. Staff ensure that children have a structured routine that includes education and their interests and hobbies. Children are in good health. Good and specialist support is sought when required.

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

Children are safe. Staff understand children’s risks and know how to manage these. Staff understand children’s behaviours and how changes within the home affect them. Staff acknowledge children’s feelings and support them to manage difficult times.

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

Staff hold discussions with children to help them to understand their emotions. Staff help children to explore coping strategies that might help. Children understand expectations and are beginning to accept the consistency of rules. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff explore the reasons why. Staff show understanding and discuss alternative solutions. When children return home, staff explain why they worry and reiterate the dangers. Staff show children that they care and want them to be safe at home with them. Children have not gone missing from the home this year. Inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 3 Physical interventions are proportionate and necessary. Staff understand children’s behaviour and offer support and reassurance during difficult times. The manager and staff help children to discuss their feelings and emotions. The staff use incident records to support reflective practice. The manager acknowledges the importance of staff receiving debriefs following every incident.

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

Investigations into allegations are thorough and managed in line with statutory guidance. Information is shared with appropriate agencies. This results in an improved response and ensures transparency. Staff complete direct work with children following complaints and grumbles.

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

Managers check serious incidents, allegations, and complaints. If relationships between staff and children become fractured, support strategies are put in place to help.

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

Records of room searches reflect staff concerns. However, children are not always notified or given the opportunity to remain present. When a child’s room or possessions are searched, staff must uphold the child’s dignity, as far as reasonably possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is working with the staff team to develop a culture of mutual respect and kindness. The manager has a solid understanding of staff’s skills and experiences. These are used to enhance a cohesive home environment. The manager understands staff’s development needs. There are clear plans in place to improve the understanding of attachment and trauma.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inductions, training, and the new staff team having the space to get to know one another have been valuable. Staff sufficiency levels are good. The staff team has a good working relationship. They support each other and the children by undertaking extra working hours. This helps children to build trusting relationships, and maintains consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the management team. Staff are valued and involved in the day-to-day decision-making within the home. The dedication and support from the manager is reflected in staff’s commitment. Staff said that the managers go above and beyond to enhance the lives of children. An ethos of togetherness has supported staff’s resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works collaboratively with professionals and children’s families. This supports children’s needs and wishes. Professionals said that communication and information-sharing from the manager is excellent. One professional said, ‘They have worked miracles with the progress children have made in such a short space of time.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 4

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Statutory requirement

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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

In particularly child’s bedroom should not generally be entered without their permission. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, bedrooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. 15 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 5

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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: 2743870 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 41 High Street, Sandbach CW11 1AL

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Inspector

Sally Hallwood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 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 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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