Children's Home run by Amber Care Group UK Limited in Stockton-on-Tees

Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 1 Registered provider: Amber Care Group (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties, substance misuse and/or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since May 2025. A manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2024 Full Good 07/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop positive and meaningful relationships with the child. The team is stable, and this provides the child with consistency and the opportunity to build trust. The child has identified staff as being among the most important people in their life. This shows that the child feels safe and secure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming, with the child’s artwork and photos on display. There is outside space that is used well to enable the child to get involved in gardening and growing vegetables. The child has input into their bedroom decor, and they have an abundance of personal items, including items they like to collect and display. This helps the child to feel a sense of belonging at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making progress with their education, and their attendance is good. The manager has received feedback from the school that the child is making good academic progress and working beyond their expected level. This shows the child is settled in education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend time with their family, which is important to the child. The manager is responsive to the changes in the child’s needs and consults with the relevant agencies, and strategies are put in place to ensure that the child’s best interests are prioritised. This means that there can be an increase in family time when this is appropriate. This helps the child to maintain important relationships outside of the home. One family member said, ‘[Name of child] loves the home,’ and they are confident that the child is safe and well cared for.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to take part in a range of activities outside of education. This includes holidays, leisure activities and themed nights in the home. The child is a keen cook and is supported by staff to source ingredients and cook meals in the home. This helps the child to develop their independence.

p.3

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

Risk assessments and care plans are clear and individual to the child. The risks are documented, and plans include ways in which staff can support the child to manage difficulties when they arise. Care plans are updated to ensure that staff have access to the most recent information to meet the child’s needs. The information contained in care plans aligns with the information from partner agencies.

p.3

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

A rewards chart has been introduced for the child. This helps them to work towards goals such as learning new skills and managing their emotions and behaviours. This helps the child to follow rules and boundaries while developing their skills. Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 4 The child is making good progress from their starting points, and there has been a reduction in the number of incidents occurring in the home. The child is developing the skills to manage their feelings better. This is because staff have clear boundaries in place and are being consistent in their guidance and expectations.

p.3

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

When the child is at risk of harm, the manager and staff take appropriate action to protect the child. The manager also ensures that staff have the knowledge and understanding they require to keep the child safe. This includes additional training and support being provided to all staff. The child is able to access additional support from external agencies. This ensures that there is a multi-agency approach to safeguarding the child.

p.4

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

On one occasion, staff did not follow the child’s plan when the child became distressed, resulting in an escalation in their behaviour. The staff response on this occasion fell short in ensuring that the child was supported appropriately. The previous manager’s oversight did not identify this shortfall in staff practice, and consequently, no action was taken to address this. The new manager understands this is an area for learning and development for the staff team to ensure that the child receives a consistent response in the future.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has experienced a change in management during this inspection period. The home is currently without a registered manager and a responsible individual. However, there is a proposed manager and a responsible individual in post awaiting an assessment of their suitability. Staff say that the new management team is making positive changes that are helping the home and children to make progress.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported in their role and receive regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This enables the manager to maintain oversight of the staff’s strengths and their development needs. Supervision sessions are reflective in nature and enable staff to share their views while remaining focused on the needs of the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed the organisation’s mandatory training and additional training where required. Some staff members have completed their required qualification, and another is due to complete this year. The remaining staff members are enrolled on the relevant course. The manager is supporting staff to complete their qualification through protected time. This will help to ensure that all staff have the appropriate skills and knowledge to support the child’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff develop positive working relationships with partner agencies. The manager maintains regular communication with other professionals and provides regular updates on the child’s progress. The manager attends all meetings for the child and shares relevant information in a multi-agency forum. Feedback from professionals is positive, and one professional said, ‘The home is really good, and [name of child] is really settled and making good progress.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 5 The independent visitor does not consult with the children or other professionals when they complete their monthly visit to the home. As a result, there is no independent feedback to inform an accurate evaluation of the standard of care provided to the child. Furthermore, on one occasion, the visitor conducted a ‘virtual’ visit and did not attend the home in person. Consequently, the manager does not benefit from effective external

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

scrutiny of the performance of staff, the progress of the child or their experiences of living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)) 23 July 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 23 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 7

p.6

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: 2756862 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amber Care Group (UK) Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Boho Zero, 21 Gosford Street, Middlesbrough TS2 1BB

p.8

Inspector

Kerry Chater, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2756862 9 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.

p.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9