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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 1 Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

An interim manager has been appointed to manage the home. She has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the Regulations 8 and 12 compliance notices that were issued following the assurance inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a reduction in serious incidents taking place in the home since the last visit. Children are building trusting relationships with adults who are caring for them. Staff engage children in a range of activities and positive experiences which have led to an improvement in the quality of relationships between children and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Both children are accessing education. The manager has worked alongside external professionals such as the virtual school to implement suitable plans that enable children to have daily structure and routine, as well as experience social opportunities with peers.

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This monitoring visit

One child is attending school full time and is now considering further studies in animal management. Another child who has been out of education for some time is Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 2 accessing tutoring in the home three times a week. The child’s tutor said, ‘The manager and the staff team have been so supportive of [name of child]’s education plan.’

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This monitoring visit

Children are engaging in more activities with staff. One child has recently visited a sensory activity centre and a farm. Another child has obtained a gym membership. Staff have developed skills through training around the needs of children with additional vulnerabilities and have been proactive at organising activities for children that encourage learning and improve children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have implemented monitoring and review systems that enable them to have clear oversight of safeguarding practices, record-keeping and the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has completed an audit of record-keeping and has implemented an audit tracker to enable her to track incidents and identify any tasks that require action. The manager has arranged a team meeting, and supervision sessions are taking place with all staff. One member of staff said that the management team is understanding and is taking on board feedback from the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, home improvements have been maintained. The fridge freezer broke recently, and a new one was purchased and replaced the following day. One child’s bedroom was seen during the visit. This was clean and tidy and personalised to the child’s specific taste. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Statutory requirements

The care planning standard is that children—

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Statutory requirements

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Statutory requirements

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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;

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Statutory requirements

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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;

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Statutory requirements

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Statutory requirements

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. 2 June 2025

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Statutory requirements

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out— 2 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 5 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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—

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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")—

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Statutory requirements

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Statutory requirements

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Statutory requirements

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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 6 measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

A notification made under this regulation—

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 2 June 2025

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Statutory requirements

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and 2 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 7 ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation. (Regulation (33) (1)(a)(b))

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Statutory requirements

The remaining requirements set at the last monitoring visit have been met.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2743870 9 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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Inspector

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