Children's Home run by The Amicus Community (Arundel) Ltd in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 1 SC449155 Registered provider: The Amicus Community (Arundel) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of an independent children’s therapeutic community called The Amicus Community, which is accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious safeguarding concerns were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate concerns of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to these concerns were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspection started on 18 September 2025. The inspector returned on 6 November 2025 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted’s inspections and visits: gathering additional evidence policy.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 6 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 2 Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2025 Full Outstanding 21/02/2024 Full Outstanding 01/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 4

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improvement to be good

This area requires improvement, primarily because of senior leaders’ poor decision making and failure to take timely and appropriate steps in response to significant concerns that could impact on children's safety and well-being.’

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improvement to be good

Children live in a warm and nurturing home. There are child-led artworks and photos of children engaging in activities on walls in the home, and children’s bedrooms reflect each child’s interests and achievements. This promotes children’s sense of belonging and emotional security.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children engage with learning and make progress with their education. All the children are going to school full time at the organisation’s school. One child who was not attending school before moving in is now going regularly.

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improvement to be good

Children live in a supportive atmosphere that helps them feel safe and valued. They have positive relationships with staff. Children who have recently moved in are settling in well and speak positively about staff. Children and staff laugh and joke together, and it is evident that they enjoy each other’s company.

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improvement to be good

Children are given regular opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings through daily meetings. Staff carefully consider the children’s daily moods and experiences to ensure that these meetings are supportive and helpful. This highlights a thoughtful approach to promoting emotional well-being and encourages open communication.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to participate in activities they enjoy and that align with their interests. This includes reading, swimming, soft play, trampolining and attending clubs. Over the summer, children went on a caravan holiday, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

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improvement to be good

When children move on from the home, staff communicate clearly with them so they understand what will happen and when. Child-friendly plans are shared to help explain the process in a way that makes sense to them. This supports children’s emotional readiness and reduces their anxiety about change.

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improvement to be good

The responsible individual initially failed to take appropriate steps in response to a significant concern that had the potential to affect children’s safety. The information was not shared with the local authority designated officer (LADO) or Ofsted, as required by regulations. Opportunities were missed to fully investigate the concerns, and the wider Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 5 safeguarding systems in the provision were not effective. This meant that, for a period, children were unnecessarily exposed to a potential risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

When further concerns were raised in relation to this matter, the responsible individual did take appropriate steps and effective action that was in the best interests of children. Information was shared with the LADO and Ofsted, and all reasonable steps were taken to investigate the concerns and take action to prioritise children’s safety. The registered manager was not aware of these concerns and so was not involved in the decision- making regarding this matter.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities, and leaders and managers, apart from the matter referred to above, ensure that they collaborate with other professionals. Safeguarding records are clear and comprehensive, and senior leaders have oversight of incidents.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been a high number of physical interventions, mostly linked to one child, who has now moved on. The manager and senior leaders closely monitored and reviewed all incidents. Senior leaders frequently visited the home during this period to provide support to the staff and ensure adherence to safe practices. Additional clinical support and therapy were also offered to staff and children. However, in one instance, an investigation of a physical intervention highlighted some practice issues; the learning from this has yet to be fully addressed in a timely manner.

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improvement to be good

In relation to children’s daily care in the home, leaders and managers investigate carefully in response to staff practice concerns. The registered manager addresses any practice concerns as they arise. Areas of improvement are identified and addressed.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are used fairly, in line with each child’s understanding, and they are recorded consistently. The registered manager reviews them to ensure that they remain appropriate. Reflective discussions help children understand their actions, and as a result, children are learning, and the use of consequences is reducing.

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improvement to be good

Staff know the children well and offer support tailored to their needs. This helps children feel safe, build confidence and handle challenges better.

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improvement to be good

Staff receive regular training to meet the children’s needs. However, one staff member has not yet completed their level 3 diploma for residential childcare within the required time frame.

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improvement to be good

The home follows safer recruitment practices to help keep children safe, ensuring that only suitable staff are employed. This careful approach helps create a secure and trusted environment where children can feel protected and well cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

This area requires improvement, primarily because of senior leaders’ poor decision- making and failure to take timely and appropriate steps in response to significant Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 6 concerns that could impact on children’s safety and wellbeing. Although effective action has now been taken to ensure children’s safety and the appropriate agencies involved, this was a concerning shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior leaders have recognised vulnerabilities in the wider safeguarding systems and inconsistencies in the safeguarding policy. They are taking steps to make improvements to address these areas of vulnerability and to provide better independent scrutiny, challenge and oversight of how concerns are managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is led by a registered manager who builds trusting relationships with the children and wants the best for them. The manager speaks warmly about children. She spoke about a child who had recently moved on, showing genuine care and emotional connection. Such leadership helps children feel valued, understood and emotionally secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. They speak highly of the registered manager, describing her support as ‘helpful’. The organisation offers ample opportunities for staff to reflect on practice and provides clinical supervision to staff. However, line management supervision is not taking place regularly for staff or the registered manager. This means that there are missed opportunities for managers to further support staff development and performance management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A review of the quality of care provided for children was not carried out and shared with Ofsted within the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior leaders provide practical support to staff and the registered manager, contributing to a well-led and caring environment. Their knowledge of the children allows them to make informed decisions about their care. Managers spend time with children, developing trusting relationships and demonstrating a clear commitment to their well- being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Feedback from parents is variable. One parent is pleased with the support their child is receiving and the progress they are making but feels communication with staff could be better. However, they said senior leaders had been receptive to their feedback, and parents hope for this to translate to staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 7

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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 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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that line management supervision for staff and the manager takes place in line with the organisation’s policy and statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that they consistently promote practice in the home that promotes children’s welfare. 18 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)) 18 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 18 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 8 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a))

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e)) 18 December 2025

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 18 December 2025

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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: SC449155 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Amicus Community (Arundel) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coach House, Arundel Road, Fontwell, Arundel BN18 0SX

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Inspector

Lee Kirwin, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 10 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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