Children's home run by Amegreen Children’s Services

Inspection report for children's home: 2732319 1 Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children with physical and/or learning disabilities. There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2024

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2732319 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2024 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: 2732319 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children benefit from high-quality, nurturing care, which has a profoundly positive impact on their lives. Children love spending time with staff, who are committed to creating a homely environment where children enjoy a range of activities and have fun. Professionals say that the staff are ‘absolutely amazing’, and they help children to try activities that they have never been able to do before. This means that children benefit from new experiences that stimulate their interest, and it also fosters a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff and managers are dedicated to helping children to overcome challenges and make exceptional progress. This ambition has resulted in life-changing outcomes for children, who have exceeded expectations in their physical and emotional development. For example, one child who previously used a wheelchair is now able to walk independently. As a result, they are now able to spend time with their family overnight and are more self-reliant.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Support for children to explore and celebrate their identity is exceptional. Staff are passionate about enabling children to embrace their cultural heritage and explore opportunities for spiritual expression. For example, one child has been helped to attend their place of worship. Another child has been helped to feel more comfortable about their own identity. As a result of this support, children are proud to tell people about themselves and about how they feel part of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff have an excellent understanding of children’s communication needs. They are specialised in helping children to develop tools to meaningfully interact with others. For example, one child has been helped to expand ways to communicate non- verbally. This means that they can let people know about their wishes in more detail and more often. Another child has developed their verbal communication and is now more able to talk to people they trust. As a result, their view of the world and their understanding of others are expanding.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is beautifully decorated and has been carefully planned to ensure that essential equipment needed by children is housed discreetly. This means that the home feels welcoming, warm and like a family home. There are excellent facilities available to children that are continually being developed. For example, a wheelchair swing and a sensory playroom have been built in the garden. This means that children can enjoy everyday play experiences that might otherwise have not been available to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are enabled to enjoy time with the people who are most important to them. Managers and staff help children to enjoy positive and meaningful time with their families, both virtually and in person. When children need extra help with communication during family time, managers and staff are resourceful and work together with families to find innovative ways to help children connect with everyone they care about. Inspection report for children's home: 2732319 4

p.3

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

Staff and managers know how to keep children safe, and there is a positive safeguarding culture in the home. Staff demonstrate a child-centred approach to helping children understand how to look after themselves at a pace adapted to each child’s level of understanding. Care plans are extensive and reflect the child’s views, preferences and personal targets in every aspect of care. This helps staff to provide a consistently high- quality level of support, which involves children and encourages them to be as independent as possible.

p.4

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

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities extremely well. Staff are skilled in helping children when they show they are upset. They respond to early signs of distressed behaviour and use positive support and distraction to help the children to manage their feelings and quickly settle. For example, one child has achieved a significantly reduced level of self-injurious behaviour, and there have been no incidents where they have been hurt.

p.4

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

Staff have completed extensive training in safeguarding and meeting children’s health needs. Staff maintain their knowledge through clear and methodical care planning, which informs their expert practice. There have been a low number of incidents since the last inspection. When incidents do happen, staff respond quickly and with confidence. Staff are skilled at dynamically managing complex situations to ensure that the children are kept safe and receive the specialist care that they need. For example, one child who had an unexpected seizure received immediate care that was later commended by health professionals.

p.4

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

Medication systems are in place to ensure that children’s health needs are met. The manager liaises with the appropriate professionals to review and update care plans. The manager ensures that guidance is available, understood and followed by staff, using creative approaches such as taking photos to demonstrate best practice techniques that should be used.

p.4

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

Children who live at the home have complex health needs. Managers have been exceptionally proactive in working with professionals to review health assessments and strongly advocate for further exploration of how conditions are managed. As a result, new and innovative treatment approaches have been used to meet children’s physical health needs. In addition, children have treatment that is more effective and has been of huge benefit to them. For example, one child now needs a significantly lower level of medication, and another child has reduced how often they are unwell after food. This means that children’s health is more stable, they feel better and they can spend more time enjoying their favourite activities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a clear vision and high aspirations for the home and cares deeply about children. They see no limits for children and are committed to helping them reach their full potential and have rewarding experiences. This culture is fully embraced by the Inspection report for children's home: 2732319 5 staff team members, who share a common vision to improve children’s life experiences on every level. The manager is supported by a stable and committed staff and management team and has access to a wide range of resources to support the continuous growth and development of the service.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have regular supervision, team meetings and support from the management team members, who work alongside them through both challenges and celebrations with children. Managers value the commitment and hard work of staff, and there is high investment in helping them to progress. In addition, the manager is a member of a national research group to further develop training opportunities for managers and staff in other children’s homes.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have gone above and beyond to ensure that the training provided is bespoke and adapted for each child. For example, training now includes guidance for staff on how to use a specialist folding hoist that was bought for one child to help them to travel and enjoy more activities. As a result, staff have confidence to meet children’s unique needs and feel supported to have the best possible tools to undertake their role.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak extremely highly about the home and say that the staff support children with kindness and expertise, which helps them grow and develop. One advocate said that the team of staff have been central to helping a child understand their gender, social and medical needs and that they go ‘above and beyond to uphold the rights of children in their care’.

p.5

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: 2732319 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Corner House, 18-20 West End Road, Mortimer, Berkshire RG7 3TF

p.6

Inspector

Shirin White, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2732319 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

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 . 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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7