Children's home run by Amegreen Children’s Services

Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 1 Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care and support for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At this home, the children refer to the staff who work there as ‘adults’. This terminology is reflected in the report.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 21 October 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/10/2024 Full Outstanding 21/11/2023 Full Outstanding 29/03/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress because of the longstanding and stable relationships that they have with adults who are attuned to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a nurturing and homely environment, with leaders, managers and adults who are committed to children’s welfare. As a result, the children like to spend time with them. Children enjoy holidays together and are confident to explore new experiences outside of the home, including horse riding, learning a new language and volunteering.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children help to develop the communal spaces of the home. With support from adults, children have enhanced the environment by creating wildlife spaces in the garden. They have also prepared for the arrival of two pets, contributing to their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Well-planned key-work sessions help the children to understand their lived experiences, emotions and behaviour. As a result, children feel safe to explore their feelings and thoughts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults organise activities that are based on the children’s interests, such as arts, crafts and attending local village activities. In doing so, they have enriched the opportunities for the children to gain new experiences and, in some cases, develop their knowledge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children succeed in education because adults provide purposeful and practical support. Adults communicate well with school staff, ensuring that the children’s specific needs are met through continuous planning. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were at a school residential experience. This was a proud moment for the adults at the home, as it reflects the progress made in relation to children’s confidence and personal development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Adults ensure that children have stability in their lives. They describe themselves as a ‘family around the children’. One professional said that the adults and children appear to be a family unit and not distinguishable from other families that they interact with. Another spoke of the ‘tremendous progress’ made by a child.

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

Children receive help and support to manage their behaviours and feelings safely. Adults use their training, knowledge and strong relationships with children to understand their behaviours. Therefore, the children receive swift and coordinated responses from adults to keep them safe. Adults follow missing-from-care plans effectively, resulting in children returning at the earliest opportunity. Adults also provide thoughtful follow-up support to children so they can settle back home.

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

A well-informed safeguarding culture is embedded. Risk assessments are thorough and ensure that adults are familiar with all the risks associated with the children in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 4 However, there was one occasion when adults did not immediately seek advice from a medical practitioner after a self-harm incident. While the relevant advice was obtained the following day at a planned health appointment and the child did not sustain major injuries, medical assessment of a head injury was delayed.

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

Adults physically hold children as a last resort to keep the children and others safe. The least restrictive measure is always used. All incidents are reviewed by the manager, with reflection and debrief discussions informing future practice. Adults speak to children following the use of any measure. They use a restorative approach with children after an incident, which enables relationships to thrive.

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

Regular and effective communication with external professionals means that the management of risk is a collective responsibility. One professional described that safeguarding concerns are always heard and taken seriously. Reports are written in a timely manner and shared with the relevant professionals.

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

Adults have completed a range of training, including safeguarding. Specialist training is available for adults to complete, so that they can respond to risks dynamically. Adults speak positively about the programme of training that is in place. This training enables them to understand the needs of the children and support them effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed exceptionally well by a dedicated registered manager. She leads by example, showing authentic warmth and care for the children. This authenticity permeates the home’s overall culture. She has excellent relationships with partner agencies. Consequently, the children benefit from living in a well-run home that is strongly led and has a network of professionals to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has excellent oversight of the home. She uses a comprehensive safeguarding log to monitor incidents and formulate plans that have meaningful impact. Her strong understanding of risk management is conveyed to adults so that they understand their role in improving safeguarding practice and the experiences of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults speak highly of the support that is provided, including that the manager shows compassion towards everyone and provides a high level of support to the team. This creates a positive culture in the home where adults perform their roles at an exceptional standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team has high expectations of adults in the home. It provides excellent management oversight, supporting adults to be equally ambitious for the care provided to the children. However, the manager has not worked effectively with the independent person to ensure that they are consistently gaining feedback from children, parents and professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 5 Adults feel well supported by the leadership team and are committed to continuous learning in the interests of children. During team meetings, adults discuss a broad range of learning topics and ways of developing positive links with wider organisations. Adults also develop their learning through input from partners and other professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All adults receive regular practice-related supervision, together with team reflection sessions, which helps to clarify the strengths and areas for development in the team. This enables adults to feel confident in their roles and gives them a sound understanding of the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of the children in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that reports from the independent person include regular feedback from the children, parents, relatives and relevant professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that each child’s day-to-day health and wellbeing needs are met, including obtaining timely medical advice when necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, Page 33, paragraph 7.3)

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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: 2689713 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amegreen Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Corner House, West End Road, Mortimer, Berks RG7 3TF

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Patrycja Soroczynska

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Inspector

Maria Calway-Kennedy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2689713 8 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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