Children's Home run by The Amicus Community (Arundel) Ltd in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 1 SC449155 Registered provider: The Amicus Community (Arundel) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of an independent children’s therapeutic community which is accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good 29/05/2019 Full Good 30/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 3

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outstanding

Children live in a home where they receive nurturing care, which allows them to have happy and fulfilled lives. They build secure and trusting relationships with adults, who make them feel cherished and loved.

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outstanding

Children are cared for by adults who are thoughtful in their approach to meeting their individual needs. The relationships between the children and the adults support the children to flourish. Adults speak enthusiastically about the children, and they are proud about their contribution in helping children to succeed. The therapeutic approach to providing children with high-quality and consistent care allows children to feel loved and valued.

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outstanding

Children make excellent progress and there is clear evidence of the positive impact that their time at the home has on their lives. They are given opportunities to engage in a range of activities. For example, they go swimming, visit trampoline parks, go shopping and go on holidays. One child has the opportunity to feel part of the community having joined ‘cubs’. They are so proud of this achievement and the opportunities that this has brought. They have made friends, joined in with activities such as archery and earned badges.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a welcoming and child-centred home. There is enough space for them to spend time together or be on their own if they wish. Their bedrooms are personalised. One child described their room as ‘awesome’. Another child was proud of their ‘little notes’ left by adults on their bedroom door. These notes highlight an adult’s pride about the child’s achievements and include little jokes that the child shares with other people. This helps children to build self-esteem and gives them a sense of belonging.

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outstanding

All children are proud of their achievements. They like the ‘lucky dip box’ where gift- wrapped prizes are chosen when they have achieved their targets. Furthermore, children are given additional ‘achievement stars’ which they can use at the end of each month to purchase a larger prize. For example, children have chosen a football kit of their favourite player, building bricks and toys.

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outstanding

There is a strong sense of community. Adults in the care, education and therapy teams work exceptionally well together and have a truly joined-up approach. This ensures that children’s learning and support are continual. Children’s learning journeys incorporate progress across all aspects of their waking day. Progress and activities are captured in memory books and ‘my journey’ logs.

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outstanding

Listening to children every day is a strength of the adults in this home. Children can appropriately influence the way that they are cared for through daily meetings, their Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 4 care planning and link-work sessions. These provide opportunities for children to express their emotions and to have their wishes and feelings recognised.

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outstanding

Safeguarding processes are clear and transparent. The registered manager and adults understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that they work together with other professionals. Incidents are well managed, and necessary actions are taken to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. Safeguarding records are clear and comprehensive. External consultation reviews further guard against insular practice and ensure that safeguarding children is firmly on the agenda for all adults.

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outstanding

Adults confidently understand children’s risks and manage them meticulously. They support children to understand dangers and the impact that their behaviours may have. Any concerns or worries are swiftly identified, and care plans are adapted to meet the ever-changing needs of the children. Adults anticipate children’s needs quickly. This has led to a reduction in children becoming upset and frustrated. Adults consider all aspects of children’s needs. This results in bespoke safety plans which fully consider the children’s environment, relationships, experiences and resources.

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outstanding

Adults have exceptional strategies in place to help keep children safe. These are clearly set out in individual positive behaviour plans and risk assessments, which are reviewed frequently. Furthermore, children are supported to identify and talk about things that might make them anxious or upset and to influence how adults can support them to feel safe. One child has a poster on his bedroom wall that reminds him that he can choose to go for a drive, a walk, play football or talk to adults when he feels upset or angry.

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outstanding

The registered manager and adults have highly valued relationships with other professionals, including social workers and the police. This helps them to consider children’s needs when arranging meetings of a sensitive nature carefully and thoughtfully. One professional said, ‘It is testament to the relationships that the team of adults have with [name of child], that they have felt safe enough to share their past experiences.’

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outstanding

Recruitment processes are effective. This ensures that only appropriately vetted individuals work at the home and provide care for children. Senior adults are aware of their responsibilities to ensure that effective health and safety processes are in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is passionate, enthusiastic and visible. Their presence means that children feel comfortable to seek them out and share affection and laughter with them. They model good practice, ensuring high expectations of care for the children. The ethos, aims and strategies in the statement of purpose are fully Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 5 embedded across the home. Consequently, children experience consistent and high- quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have an effective development plan which identifies actions to improve the quality of care provided to children. Furthermore, the scrutiny from the independent person allows the registered manager and the team to continually strive for excellence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly motivated team of adults are managed by leaders who have extensive skills, training and experience. This means that the care children receive is of the highest standard. Adults receive regular supervision, which is enhanced by clinical spaces where adults feel listened to and appreciated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults value the support from the registered manager, the team and the community. One adult said, ‘Every aspect of the home is supportive.’ Another said, ‘I am so impressed with the managers, they are approachable, supportive and the “togetherness” makes it amazing to work here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are cared for by a dedicated and stable team. Adults are skilled and proficient and are sensitive about the specific needs of the children who move into the home. One member of the team said, ‘I’m grateful for the experiences I have had here and would recommend the home as it is exceptional.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Careful consideration is given to children who come to live in the home. Adults also identify when they cannot keep a child safe or meet their needs. This is rare, and children do not leave without adults first trying everything possible to ensure that they can remain living in the home. Ongoing support for children who have moved on from the home is exceptional. Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 6

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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: SC449155 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Amicus Community (Arundel) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coach House, Arundel Road, Fontwell, Arundel BN18 0SX

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Inspector

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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