Children's Home run by Mon Ami Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 1 Registered provider: MON AMI Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties. The home is managed and run by a private company. At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. These moves were planned moves due to the progress the children had made. Children moving out of the home are supported by staff to say goodbye and to experience positive endings. For example, one child was supported to create a slide show to present to staff as a thank you.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built trusting relationships with children and are responsive to their needs. A parent said their child had ‘established very good bonds [with staff]’. The environment and the approaches used by staff have supported the child currently living in the home to make positive choices and significant progress. A social work manager said that ‘over time and with dedication from staff,’ the child’s risks have ‘reduced considerably’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain family relationships and, where possible, see family members. With staff’s support, family relationships have strengthened. As a result, one child has now returned to their parent’s care. Additionally, staff support children to remain in touch with children who have moved on, where appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s views are sought regularly in several ways. Staff also celebrate children’s achievements. Photos are displayed throughout the home, including children’s first days at school. A child said, ‘You only have to look at the walls to see how much I enjoy it here.’ This gives them a sense of belonging and allows the child to feel heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has made significant progress in respect of education, having not attended for a period before living in the home. They now attend a local provision and are making academic progress. One headteacher said, ‘[Staff have] really contributed to the progress, [name of child] is a completely different child,’ and that the child has ‘come on leaps and bounds socially and emotionally’ since residing in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Extra-curricular activities are sought and encouraged by staff to support children’s social development. This includes karate, gymnastics and yoga. One staff member said they believe that one child’s ‘social skills have come on leaps and bounds’. Children are also supported to maintain friendships. Friends are invited for tea and to scheduled activities with staff, once given their parents’ consent.

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

The staff have a good understanding of children in their care. One social work manager stated, ‘They know [name of child] inside out.’ A parent said they were ‘impressed’ with how staff respond to their child. This is supported by detailed risk assessments which outline the actions and strategies for staff to use to prevent escalating behaviours. As a result, incidents are reducing in duration and frequency. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 4 Positive praise and incentive charts are used to support the children to make positive choices. Positive praise is also used to support children’s academic progress and attendance. When used, consequences are proportionate and seek to establish appropriate routines and boundaries for children.

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

The staff team members are appropriately trained in physical intervention. This is used as a last resort. However, the manager’s evaluations do not support the reduction of physical intervention holds being necessary. On one occasion, a staff member has not been spoken to by a manager following the use of physical intervention.

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

Staff work proactively with external agencies, including child adolescent mental health services, local fire services and other health professionals. One teacher said that there is ‘good multi-agency working between school and staff’. However, the regulator is not always notified of serious incidents within the specified timeframe. This limits the oversight of the regulator.

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

When a child makes an allegation against staff, this is acted on and taken seriously. The management team ensures that it seeks the appropriate advice of the local authority designated officer and that thorough investigations are carried out.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recently been promoted from the deputy manager position. Although the manager is new to the role, she has lots of experience working in residential care. One staff member describes her as ‘approachable, professional and understanding’. The manager is supported by experienced senior workers who support her with the day-to- day running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an induction programme in place for new staff members. All staff have completed the provider’s identified mandatory training. However, not all staff have completed training specific to one child’s individual needs. Additionally, the manager had not identified training in respect of a child’s health needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions are held regularly in line with the home’s statement of purpose. They are supportive in nature and provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and on how they are meeting the child’s needs. Face-to-face team meetings also take place regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team ensures that thorough employment checks are carried out during the recruitment process. This ensures that children are cared for by suitable adults. Additionally, the manager ensures that the staff team is aware of the procedures required to keep children safe if they have concerns in respect of staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that staff have received training in areas relating to children’s individual needs. 6 March 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)  The registered person should review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59) Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 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: 2685568 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 149 Albion Road, London N16 9JU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Suzanne Grocott-Waters

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Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2685568 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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