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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 1 SC449155

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Registered provider: The Amicus Community (Arundel) Ltd

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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 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 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 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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Inspection date: 19 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making good progress, engaging well in education and benefiting from positive relationships with staff. One child spoke positively about his experience of living in the home and said that he gets on well with staff and the other child. He is being thoughtfully supported to learn to be more independent and to develop a sense of self.

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Findings from the inspection

A social worker and a parent commented positively in relation to the progress a child is making. They said that staff provide safe care and noted that the child is being supported to do age-appropriate activities and is better able to talk through worries, which has led to a reduction in behaviour incidents. The child’s social worker said that staff communicated with her effectively; however, the parent felt that staff did not involve her as fully as she would like in relation to how behaviour incidents are managed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken steps to improve the oversight of safeguarding practice in the home. This has included commissioning external auditors to review practice, updating safeguarding policies and providing additional training and support to staff. This is a work in progress, and not all identified areas for improvement have been fully implemented, so the requirement made at the last inspection in relation to safeguarding has been restated. For example, an allegation that raised potential safeguarding concerns was not identified as a safeguarding incident. In practice, managers took appropriate steps so there was no increased risk to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand their responsibilities in relation to keeping children safe. Concerns are shared with the relevant safeguarding agencies and are investigated appropriately.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well and are supported by a therapy team to reflect on their work and to understand children’s needs. They benefit from regular therapeutic sessions and have regular line management supervision sessions.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are closely monitored and supported to help them through crisis and to steer them away from dangers. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and have clear plans in place to reduce any risk of harm. In one instance, the safety plan was not followed in response to a child in crisis. This left the child potentially exposed to risk for longer than necessary; however, in practice, no harm occurred.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has recently left to go on maternity leave. This was well planned, and care was taken to support staff and children to adjust to this change. The acting manager is also well supported by the head of residential services, and staff and children are very positive about the new arrangements. The service has Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 3 continued to develop through this transition period. Staff supervision is now taking place in line with the agreed policy. Staff are on track to complete their level 3 qualifications. The registered manager has completed a thorough review of the quality of care, and serious incidents are now being notified to Ofsted as required. The requirements made at the last inspection in relation to these areas are met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2025 Full Requires improvement 21/02/2024 Full Outstanding 01/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 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

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 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through engagement with each child’s family/carers where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 7

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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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Inspectors

Lee Kirwin, Social Care Inspector Helen Simmons, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449155 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 children looked after, 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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