Children's Home run by Amelia’s House Limited in Brent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 1 SC448693 Registered provider: Amelia’s House Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children with complex needs, including children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, or social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in July 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2023 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built a warm and trusted relationship with the child. The care offered to the child is nurturing and individualised. Staff spend quality time with the child and understand how the child communicates.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have helped the child to make small but important progress. This is particularly true regarding the child’s ability to undertake their own personal care and develop independent living skills. Important people in the child’s life also note the progress the child is making since living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends school and is making good progress in education. Learning targets from school are shared with staff at the home to support the child’s learning at home. If there are issues with transport, leaders and managers take action to ensure that the child attends school and that it does not affect their attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to have different experiences and learning opportunities outdoors. For example, staff have taken the child to local parks, museums, swimming and ten-pin bowling. However, there are less opportunities for indoor fun and learning. The home has a sensory space but, due to refurbishment and equipment inside the room, the child is unable to use it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff capture photographic memories of the child’s time at the home and send them to family members. Additionally, leaders and managers arrange for the child to spend time with loved ones. This helps the child to maintain important relationships with their siblings and other family members.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents in the home. Staff put in place consistent boundaries and routines to support the child. Staff know how to de- escalate situations and no physical restraint has been used.

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

Staff know the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. The child’s risk assessment details the risks, triggers and actions that need to be in place to reduce the risks to the child.

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

Staff have had medication training and a medication process is in place. Following the last inspection, the registered manager introduced a new tool for recording medication. There have been no known medication errors.

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

Safeguarding practices are effective. Staff have a clear understanding of the child’s needs and vulnerabilities and know how to report safeguarding concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 4 At the previous inspection, a requirement was raised around staff recruitment checks. As no new staff have been employed since the last inspection, leaders and managers have not had to undertake recruitment checks. However, the registered manager outlined a new recruitment process, which aims to rectify previous weaknesses.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not ensured effectively that staff have the qualifications required for their role. Some staff members have not acquired the necessary qualification in line with regulation. This is a repeat requirement from the last inspection and the registered manager is addressing this with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of children’s records. Important information is missing from the child’s files such as details of their current social worker and their contact details. Additionally, the child’s risk assessment is not regularly updated. This can be confusing for staff who do not have the most up-to- date information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, some concerns about the home conditions have been addressed. Major refurbishments have taken place in key areas, such as the kitchen and bathrooms. However, there are still some outstanding repairs and areas within the home that need improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff say that they felt supported by leaders and managers. Staff said that they have regular supervision that is effective. Detailed appraisals have also taken place. However, the appraisal process does not allow staff to reflect on their practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers know the child well. They speak with warmth and commitment about the child in their care and understand the child’s individual needs. The registered manager is proud of the achievements and progress that the child is making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the relevant qualifications and that there are effective monitoring systems in place to effectively oversee children’s records and the day-to-day practice in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 1 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 6 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must repair the damage in the home and make improvements to the home environment.

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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: SC448693 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amelia’s House Limited

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Registered provider address:

Responsible individual: Christine Bakunga-Muyizzi

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Inspector

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC448693 8 and inspects 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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