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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 1 SC449155

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Registered provider: The Amicus Community (Arundel) Ltd

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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 that 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. The staff in the home are known as ‘adults’ and this terminology is used throughout the report.

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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

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2024

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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: SC449155 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2024 Full Outstanding 01/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good 29/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 3

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outstanding

Children are proud of their home and happily express this. One child eagerly volunteered to show the inspector around the home and proudly did this, showcasing the home very well. Children are keen to take part in the daily upkeep of the home, and they are supported to do so by adults. This supports children to develop a positive sense of self and responsibility towards their own surroundings as well as real-life skills.

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outstanding

Children report that they feel happy and safe. They can clearly articulate their wishes and feelings. Adults carefully listen and support children to articulate their feelings and emotions. This is in line with the home’s therapeutic model and way of working. This has led to children being able to confidently share their feelings when happy or anxious. Adults understand and acknowledge the individuality of each child, and staff are creative in the way that they engage with children to understand their individual needs and how best to support them.

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outstanding

Adults know and talk knowledgeably about the children. This is because they take time to understand the children’s needs and behaviours. As a result, children receive high-quality support that contributes to their progress. Adults have regular opportunities to discuss and reflect on children’s needs, which helps them to tailor the right support for each child.

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outstanding

Children lead healthy lifestyles and are supported to access healthcare when they need it. It is a particular strength of this home that it provides excellent support to children in terms of their emotional and social development. Children who have suffered significant trauma as a result of past experiences are starting to heal and feel safe due to the way adults expertly hold them in mind and care for them. As a result, all children present as being happy, feeling safe and enjoying living with each other.

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outstanding

Children have positive relationships with adults. The adults are nurturing and playful, which has developed these relationships. Children enjoy their time with the adults and have adults that they trust. Adults invest quality time with children. One child said that they liked the cuddles from adults and could not identify anything they did not like about the home.

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outstanding

The children engage in a range of activities within the home and in the community. This includes trampolining, swimming, going to the park and attending clubs, and in the summer, they have months of taking advantage of the home’s location near the sea front. Adults work hard to support group activities to improve and maintain peer relationships. Children engage in Lego sessions and puzzles together, which they enjoy. The children are proud to share their achievements of completing the more Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 4 difficult ones. Through this, the children learn how to communicate with one another, expressing their thoughts, wants and needs and listening to others as well as their responses.

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outstanding

All the children attend school and have high attendance. They enjoy going to school and sharing their achievements. For one child, who is currently struggling at school, a therapeutically alternative support is in place. Adults are in regular discussions internally and externally to ensure that the support is tailored to their current needs.

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outstanding

Adult’s practice relating to protecting children is highly effective. Detailed records are kept of all actions taken in response to safeguarding incidents. Swift and thorough action taken by the adults and managers reduces the potential for the children to come to harm. All the adults are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities, which creates a culture of transparency. When there are allegations against adults, these are taken seriously, and the children’s safety and welfare are a priority for the home.

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outstanding

Physical interventions are used as a last resort. The home is continually reviewing and analysing the data to help understand any trends that aid the reduction of using physical interventions. The reports identify clear actions and plans to further enhance practice. Managers and senior leaders have keen oversight of physical interventions to ensure safe practice. Their analysis provides detail and insight to help understand the children’s behaviour and areas of vulnerability. Adults reflect on successful de- escalation methods used to help prevent the use of physical interventions.

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outstanding

When consequences are used, they are used appropriately. Children are spoken to to ensure that they understand the reasons why these have been implemented. Children are supported to reflect on their behaviour following incidents, and there is a clear culture to provide learning to children by reflecting when things go wrong and developing emotional resilience to manage feelings.

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outstanding

The home maintains robust safe recruitment practices to ensure that children’s safety is prioritised. Suitable candidates are recruited with relevant skills and experience. Children are involved in the recruitment process, and their views are valued in the decision-making. As part of the recruitment process, candidates are invited to the home to meet the children and the other adults working in the home. This means that the home recruits the right candidates whose values match the home and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by an effective registered manager who leads by example. She values the adults and cares for the children as if they were her own by building positive relationships among the adults and the children. The manager’s decision- Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 5 making is child-focused and places priority on the needs of the children. The manager is forward thinking and can adapt to the changing needs of the children. Adults speak highly of the manager, with one adult describing her as the ‘best’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults feel supported by managers and senior leaders. They are provided with ample regular opportunities to reflect on practice, for example in group process meetings, clinical supervisions and daily reflections. Reflective practice is a key strength of the home and organisation and is the golden thread of all positive practice. This means that the care provided to children is thoughtful and well informed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is available to adults and children, and adults have access to senior leaders if needed. The ‘open-door’ policy adopted within the home allows adults and children to speak freely to the manager, which highlights the availability of the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults complete the mandatory training available and are supported to learn and understand the children’s needs through formal training, reflection and high-quality supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

When home operations meetings take place, key areas that impact on children are discussed. Matters relating to safeguarding and making improvements are reviewed and addressed. This promotes a team understanding of what is expected and ensures that children experience consistency in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works well with the wider professional network. Feedback from external professionals was extremely positive about the communication between them and the adults. This has helped to create a protective network of support for children, ensuring a well-informed and coordinated response to meet their needs. The adults advocate for children to ensure that their needs are met and understood, and they challenge professionals when necessary. To describe the support, one social worker said, ‘I cannot fault them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made following this inspection. 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) Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Chido Mangava, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 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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Inspector

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