Children's home run by Area Camden Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 1251364 1 Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to 6 children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered in May 2017, and the manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were 4 children living at the home.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1251364 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Outstanding 07/06/2023 Full Good 01/12/2022 Full Good 09/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1251364 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are provided with an exceptional level of care by a friendly and nurturing staff team. Staff have worked very hard to build and maintain trusting relationships with the children. They ensure that comprehensive assessments are carried out before any children move into the home, in conjunction with extensive consultations taking place with professionals, families, previous carers and the children already living in the home. As a result, children settle quickly and are able to develop secure relationships and trust in staff from the outset.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a well-maintained home. Both children and staff take pride in their environment, ensuring it has a homely and welcoming feel. The home is decorated with children’s photos, displaying activities, celebrations of special events and prom memories. Children’s bedrooms are thoughtfully decorated in line with their interests and sensory needs. During the inspection, children proudly demonstrated how they clean and decorate their bedrooms as part of developing their independence skills, with minimal staff support. Children said that they love living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s families and social workers highly appreciate the staff’s effort in promoting family bonding and supporting the development of positive relationships. Staff go above and beyond to ensure that well-planned family visits take place. A child’s previous foster parent stated that staff made them feel like the child’s real family and that staff travelled long distances to bring the child to them for visits. Another child’s social worker praised the staff’s immeasurable effort in caring for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive education, and the importance of education is strongly advocated by staff. Children who have not attended an educational setting in previous placements are now enrolled in suitable educational programmes. This means children attend private tutorials to help them reintegrate into full-time education, and it supports others to complete their final examinations and apply for college placements. Consequently, children enjoy their learning and understand the importance of education in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff highly value the importance of capturing children’s views. They use exceptionally well-planned approaches to ensure children’s voices are heard. Staff creatively involve children in discussions using playful and child-centred methods, such as house meetings and one-to-one key-work sessions. These protected spaces encourage children to talk about their daily experiences, feelings and wishes. This strengthens their social skills and helps them feel listened to and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children participate in a variety of activities and enjoy life-enhancing experiences in the community. They are kept positively stimulated and active through attending go-karting, the cinema, shopping, dancing, eating out in restaurants, going to the arcade to play games and experiencing holidays in different parts of the country. Staff capture these experiences in lovely, individualised and well-presented memory books. Inspection report for children's home: 1251364 4 Staff hold very high aspirations for children who feel empowered and make significant progress. Individualised independence plans are implemented and completed by children with support from staff. Staff help children learn life skills, take responsibility and develop confidence in line with their age and abilities. They help children to budget, purchase food and cook meals for everyone in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience very positive moves from the home. Some children move successfully to semi-independent homes or to live with their families. Staff visit potential new homes with children to help them view and make informed choices about where they wish to live. Farewell parties and presents are provided, where peers and staff share positive memories and enjoy time together. This brings positive closure and encourages children to maintain ongoing connections with the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff from a variety of cultural and diverse backgrounds actively encourage and help children to explore their self-identity and respect their peers. One child is being supported by staff to prepare for Ramadan. Plans to support the child to maintain healthy eating and to provide a peaceful space for prayer are in place. This means staff and children embrace and respect each other’s differences

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

Leaders and managers embed an exceptionally strong safeguarding culture. This makes children feel nurtured, safe and protected. Children’s risk assessments are clear, detailed and reviewed monthly. This ensures that they remain current, genuine, effective and child centred rather than being task-focused for the staff.

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

Staff have an unwavering commitment to keeping children safe. They work tirelessly and proactively to prevent harm. Children do not go missing from their home. On the rare occasions where a child walks out of the home, staff respond immediately by following and staying alongside the child to encourage them to return safely. Clear protocols guide staff in their response.

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

Staff respond with compassion and show consistent support for children. The trauma- informed approach staff use helps children manage their emotions safely. This enables the children to feel heard, understood, valued and safe.

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

Staff support children at times of emotional distress. This empowers children to develop strategies and resilience when they are faced with challenges. As a result, physical intervention is not used. This demonstrates an exceptional standard of care that prioritises trust and emotional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious and has high expectations of staff and the care they provide to children. Through a shared vision and valuing staff, the registered manager supports them to be highly motivated to provide outstanding care for children. Inspection report for children's home: 1251364 5 The registered manager works alongside staff and coaches and guides them to ensure consistent practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision for all staff is regular, reflective and child focused. Regular staff meetings provide space for the team to share its views on the progress made by children and how to continuously improve practice. The registered manager promotes a culture of openness in which staff confidently consult her and seek her support. Staff said they feel listened to and valued by the leaders and managers in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers value staff professional development. Staff are provided with opportunities to learn new skills and professionally develop. New staff receive extensive induction training. Further training is provided to staff in accordance with children’s current and developing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have rigorous recruitment processes in place. They ensure that thorough scrutiny takes place before staff start work. Consequently, children are cared for by staff who are suitably vetted.

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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: 1251364 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Polaris, Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspectors

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Stella Namakula, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1251364 7 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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Inspectors

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

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