Children's home run by Amelia Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 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

The home is part of a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who have experienced childhood adversity.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since 10 June 2025. The manager in post at the time of the previous inspection has now withdrawn their application to register with Ofsted and is no longer overseeing the day-to-day running of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. One child was happy to take part in the visit and to share their views.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection was completed on 28 and 29 October 2025. Serious and widespread concerns were identified relating to the help and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation and compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place on 19 November 2025. The purpose of the visit was to review the adherence to the restriction notice and to assess the progress the provider has made towards meeting the compliance notices issued at the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider had not received the compliance notices prior to the inspection. However, they were aware of the shortfalls issued at the previous inspection. As a result, progress against the shortfalls was reviewed.

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This monitoring visit

It was evident, during the visit, that the provider has not taken sufficient action to address the steps outlined in the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 2 issued at the last inspection. In addition, further shortfalls were identified, which resulted in Ofsted issuing a notice of proposal to suspend the registration of the children’s homes.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been minimal improvements. A child remains living in the home despite the provider giving notice on their placement and concerns raised during the previous inspection. There is a lack of clarity regarding the future plan for this child. Senior leaders have requested that the child remains in the home until after Christmas, while managers responsible for day-to-day operations do not appear to be aware of this decision. There is also no effective safety plan in place to manage the risks associated with the child remaining in the area, meaning that previously identified risks between children persist and are not fully acknowledged.

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This monitoring visit

Practice observed during the inspection was concerning. Inspectors observed a child who was distressed and had barricaded themselves in their bedroom. Although leaders and managers were informed of these concerns, they did not take steps to assure themselves of the child’s safety. There were significant delays before staff carried out checks to confirm the child’s safety and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Staff responses to incidents where children go missing from the home remain inconsistent. Incident records lack essential details, contain conflicting information and fail to clearly describe the actions taken by staff when children leave without permission. In one instance, a child left the home without staff being aware, partly because children know how to disable or bypass external door alarms. As a result, established protocols are not consistently followed, leaving children at increased risk of harm and reducing the home’s ability to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Allegations made by children are not consistently managed in line with safeguarding expectations. For example, a staff member continues to work in the home despite an ongoing police investigation following an allegation of harm against a child. Leaders and managers have not engaged effectively with safeguarding agencies to ensure that this decision prioritises children’s safety and well-being. Other allegations have also been handled inadequately, potentially increasing the risk of harm to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured improvements in recording and reporting. Incident documentation continues to be incomplete and to contain inconsistencies. In some cases, incidents have not been recorded at all. For example, a child reported leaving the home on two occasions, which were not documented. This lack of accurate and timely recording compromises the ability to monitor risks effectively and delays safeguarding responses.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems have not improved since the previous inspection. Management oversight of incident records failed to identify gaps in staff recording. Leaders and managers did not identify or challenge staff regarding time discrepancies, missing Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 3 information or the immediate actions taken to keep children safe. Routine monitoring arrangements also remain unclear and ineffective. For example, no audits have been completed to review the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured effectively that children’s risk assessments are updated with current information. For example, one child’s risk assessment has not been reviewed since October 2025, and another was only updated on the day of the inspection, despite multiple episodes of them going missing and incidents occurring beforehand. As a result, risk assessments still fail to provide clear, practical guidance for staff on how to manage children’s identified risks.

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This monitoring visit

Training identified as a result of the last inspection has not been completed. Key training, such as safeguarding, remains outstanding. This means that staff have not been equipped with the essential knowledge and skills needed to meet children’s needs and to contribute to their sense of safety. As a result, opportunities for learning have been missed, and practice has not improved. Staff feedback suggests that concerns are focused on recording rather than practice, indicating a lack of clarity about what improvements are required.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements issued at the last inspection were not reviewed as part of this monitoring visit and will therefore remain in place. One new requirement was issued as part of this inspection relating to the provider not informing Ofsted of serious incidents involving children that compromise their safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all risks are assessed and that children’s plans are regularly reviewed and updated and clearly guide staff in managing risks, reducing harm and promoting children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that staff and managers are skilled and competent to support children safely when they go missing from the home. Missing-from-home protocols must be reviewed and updated to provide guidance that keeps children safe.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to identify when children may be at risk of harm and take appropriate action to keep them safe. 14 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 6 *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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff are skilled and competent to meet children’s needs, provide effective training and ensure it is embedded into practice to improve the care and safety of children and review monitoring systems to ensure that they are robust and effective to support management oversight of children’s care.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should review all incidents effectively and take action to ensure that children’s safety and welfare are promoted. Staff should also have opportunities to learn and reflect.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person should ensure that staff have the necessary skills to complete accurate and 14 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 7 sufficiently detailed records. Incident records must be scrutinised by leaders to promote the safety and well-being of children.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that internal placement plans contain full and accurate information regarding each child and that all staff are familiar with the details of these plans. The manager must also ensure that plans are regularly reviewed and updated. 14 January 2026

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 14 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 8 details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 14 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 9 This requirement was not reviewed and, as a result, has been restated. The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that staff receive supervision that enables them to reflect on their practice and that all staff receive an annual appraisal. This requirement was not reviewed and, as a result, has been restated. 14 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should notify Ofsted without delay when serious incidents occur involving children that compromise their safety and well-being. 14 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 10

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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: 2822376 11

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Children’s home Registered provider: Amelia Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Lorraine Gallagher

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Inspectors

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Jenny Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2822376 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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