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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 1 SC472139 Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services 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 a private organisation and provides care for up to three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 17 January 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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Outstanding 27/06/2022 Full Good 21/07/2021 Full Good 30/10/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported by a dedicated and enthusiastic staff team that helps them to develop secure and trusting relationships. There is a family-style atmosphere in the home and relationships are warm and nurturing. Children build warm, compassionate relationships with each other and benefit from care and loving interactions from adults who know them well. One parent said, ‘They love and care for [name of child] as much as I do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children take part in activities and holidays that support them to develop their self- esteem and to expand their horizons. Staff inspire children to have new experiences and develop new skills. Children are encouraged to use their hobbies and interests to make a difference for others, and staff support children to be positive members of their local community. For example, children have created gift baskets for elderly neighbours and have taken part in fundraising and charity runs. One child has been using their passion for horse riding to teach equine care and riding skills to local children with disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make remarkable progress in all areas of their lives. Staff support children to reflect on their achievements and experiences. Records are kept in a child-friendly format so that children can access and contribute to them. They keep memory books to capture their positive activities and certificates to celebrate their successes. Children were able to proudly reflect on their progress with inspectors. Staff’s approaches to supporting children to make progress result in elevated levels of self-motivation for children. Children are committed to doing well at school, in their hobbies and in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s care plans are well informed by research-led models of care and assessment. Meticulous attention to detail ensures that children consistently get the care and support they need to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children do well in education. Staff have an exceptional understanding of children’s educational needs. Barriers to learning are identified and removed. Staff advocate for children to ensure that they access the provision best suited to their needs. Children not previously attending education are now attending full time. Professional challenge has supported external professionals to review their own practice. One external professional said, ‘We have been challenged by the home, when we were considering reducing [name of child’s] timetable. The home advocated and helped us understand why this wasn’t the right thing for him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are well understood. There are a wide range of opportunities presented to children for them to share their views. These include one-to- one work, conversations with managers and children’s meetings. Children know how to Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 4 make a complaint. When needed, children have been supported to share their views with external professionals. Children feel heard by the adults caring for them.

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

Safeguarding is a priority for the home. Staff and managers are trained to identify and respond to risks. Staff are aware of how to raise concerns, and levels of incidents in the home are low.

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

Proactive and responsive planning contributes to the management of risk in the home. Comprehensive risk assessments and support plans support staff to care for children and keep them safe. Plans are reviewed regularly. External professionals and parents are consulted when new risks emerge.

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

Well-informed guidance supplements positive relationships, role modelling and practical support. Positive relationship-based practice is at the forefront of keeping children safe. The relationships between children and staff support early identification of new risks. Staff know the children well and are inquisitive when there are changes to their behaviour. Children receive prompt responses when concerns are identified. Children report feeling safe.

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

There has been no physical restraint in the home for five months prior to this inspection. When physical restraint has been used, this is only when necessary and as a last resort to keep children safe.

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

Children and staff are supported following physical intervention. Managers maintain robust oversight arrangements over the use and recording of physical interventions. Reflections with staff inform future practice and identify learning for the home. Conversations with children support them to identify their own strategies for managing behaviour. As a result, incidents are now resolved.

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

Children learn the skills needed to progress towards independence. Managers and staff carefully consider opportunities for children’s learning and growth. There is a proportionate balance of risk management and age-appropriate life experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for all children and staff at the home. A passionate and professional culture filters from leaders and managers through to staff. A conscientious registered manager ensures children receive a high quality of care. Multiple layers of management provide a positive presence in the home. A homes manager provides additional support to the registered manager and has a detailed knowledge and understanding of each child. Staff and children feel able to access support when it is needed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 5 Staff receive purposeful supervisions and appraisals. Supervisions support staff to reflect critically on their experiences. Discussions are child-centred and strive to continuously improve the support children receive. Regular appraisals help each staff member’s ongoing personal and professional development. Support from leaders and managers has resulted in a stable and committed staff team. Staff feel valued and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and children benefit from a learning culture that strives for continuous improvement. Leaders support staff on a continuous journey of professional development. New staff receive a robust mandatory training package. Staff’s skills are enhanced by a range of specialist child-focused training. Additional training for managers and lead staff deepens organisational understanding of therapeutic support. This multifaceted approach ensures that well-informed therapeutic support remains at the core of the practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals feel confident that children living at the home are safe and well cared for. There is an open and honest culture created by leaders and managers. Managers consult and work closely with other professionals to meet children’s complex needs. Leaders and managers in the home receive high levels of praise. Professionals commended their child-focused approach and their willingness to challenge other professionals. One professional said, ‘They are my number one home, and I would be banging on the door to place any of the children on my case load at the home.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 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: SC472139 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Shirin White, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472139 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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