Children's Home run by Amelia Care Limited in Cheshire East

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 1 Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private company. The home is registered to care for up to three children between the ages of eight and 18 years, who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in September 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were three children living in this home. Inspectors spoke to all three children.

p.1

Inspection date: 10 February 2025

Date of last inspection: 10 December 2024

p.1

Inspection date: 10 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 10 February 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

An assurance inspection was carried out on 10 February 2025 following a complaint received by Ofsted that raised concerns about the care of the children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

p.2

Findings from the inspection

 Management oversight of incidents and records is poor. Managers do not identify or address shortfalls in staff practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

 The manager and staff do not have daily structure and routines in place for children who are not in education.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

 Children’s plans do not reflect the level of risk that they experience, and do not include clear steps for staff to follow to keep children safe.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

 Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff have the skills to de-escalate children’s behaviours effectively.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Shortfalls in the leadership and management of this home have resulted in children not being safeguarded effectively. Children’s experiences of living in the home are not consistently positive.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not always review incident records or identify serious shortfalls in staff practice. In addition, children and staff are not always offered debriefs following incidents. This means risks for children are not fully understood and ways to reduce risks are not identified.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When children are not accessing formal education, managers and staff do not provide them with educational activities throughout the day. Staff do not support children to engage in learning in the home. Managers and staff do not provide clear structure and routine for children. As a result, children are not making progress.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children are not given clear guidance about expectations and rules. Behaviour management strategies are not effective. Staff have failed to support children appropriately to develop strategies to help them understand their emotions. There has been significant damage caused to the home and the police attended due to disruption at the home. This has caused distress to the children and placed them at risk of being criminalised.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments do not accurately reflect their known risks and the guidance for staff to follow to keep children safe is unclear. Leaders and managers do not regularly review assessments and plans. Consequently, staff do not understand what actions to take to reduce risks for children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 3 When children are missing from home, staff do not follow the missing-from-home protocol. In addition, staff do not show professional curiosity about where children are spending their time in the community, and who with. As a result, children are not located and brought home safely at the earliest opportunity.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff do not provide care that is consistent with the children’s care plans and individual needs. Leader and managers oversight of practice is poor and fails to identify shortfalls in staff practice. As result children’s needs are not consistently met, and their lived experiences are poor.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The requirements from the previous inspection were not explored during the visit and therefore remain in place. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/01/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that risk management plans for each child are based on individual children’s circumstances and contain clear strategies that set out what action staff should take to manage the risks.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all new and updated risk management plans are subjected to a thorough quality assurance process by a capable and knowledgeable manager. 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 6 Leaders and managers must ensure that staff undertake training that is relevant to the safeguarding of children and their individual needs. Specifically, managers must ensure that staff undertake training for behaviour management, online safety, substance misuse, going missing from home and exploitation.

p.5

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; and

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff work collaboratively to provide consistent care that is in line with children’s individual needs and their agreed plans.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that managers and staff understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child. 30 March 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

*The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training, or employment and to prepare for future care, education, or employment; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(viii)(x))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that managers and staff advocate for children to receive education.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand the barriers to engaging in education and that there are clear plans in place support children to overcome these.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that when there are barriers and children do not attend or engage with education, staff must ensure they promote opportunities for children to learn informally. Additionally, the manager and staff must ensure that there is clear structure and routines in place for children and that staff understand the importance of this and how this will benefit the overall experiences and progress for children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 8 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

p.8

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that children are always supported to have positive and well- planned moves into and out of the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered during this inspection and is restated.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.8

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 9 ensure that staff—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.9

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.9

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.9

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(c)(i))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that children’s bedrooms are personalised, well maintained, and contain all the furniture they need.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make sure that staff understand children’s individual needs and provide them with personalised care and support.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered during this inspection and is restated.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.9

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline, or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 10 the name of the child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the date, time, and location of the use of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.10

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.10

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

p.10

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (1)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered during this inspection and is restated.

p.10

Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 11 ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation. (Regulation (33)(1)(a)

p.10

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered during this inspection and is restated.

p.11

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.11

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.11

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.11

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.11

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.11

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.11

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.11

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.11

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies, or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.11

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 30 March 2025

p.11

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— 30 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 12 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.12

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.12

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.12

Requirement Due date

The registered person must also make sure that when complaints are received, they are reviewed openly and honestly, and that any response sent to the complainant is factual.

p.12

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not considered during this inspection and is restated.

p.12

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 13

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 41 High Street, Sandbach CW11 1AL

p.13

Inspectors

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2743870 14 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.

p.13

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.14

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.14