Children's Home run by Amelia’s House Limited in Brent

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 1 SC448693

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Registered provider: Amelia’s House Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 4 children with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, no children were living in the home. One young person was residing there.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in July 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not present for the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At the inspection, the inspector 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: SC448693 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

There is currently one young person living in the home. The young person was a child at the time of the last inspection and has continued to live in the home. The young person benefits from the care of staff who know them well and understand their needs and preferred ways of communicating.

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Findings from the inspection

No other children have lived in the home since the last inspection. Managers made a considered decision, based on an assessment of the young person’s needs, to continue to care for them in a solo placement until a suitable adult provision was identified. This has taken longer than expected. The manager is working closely with the placing authority to try and progress this and has arranged independent advocacy to support the young person through the process.

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Findings from the inspection

The young person is suitably supported by staff in relation to accessing education, family time, activities and building life-skills. They are making progress in some areas, such as cooking, but the uncertainty around their move has affected planning for their future education. Although staff carry out one-to-one sessions with the young person, these are not recorded which impacts on the ability of managers to evaluate progress and oversee the quality of support.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are trained to take a positive approach to behaviour management with an emphasis on positive relationships and de-escalation tailored to individual needs. This helps to ensure that the young person is supported to manage difficult emotions safely. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is generally safe, clean, and appropriately furnished. Pictures of the young person are displayed in communal areas, and they are supported to personalise their bedroom. However, some areas of the home require redecoration or repair. In addition, items stored in areas used by the young person detract from a homely feel and limits accessibility.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of behaviour that challenges are normally well recorded and reviewed by the manager. However, one incident was poorly recorded and lacked evidence of management oversight. The young person’s written behaviour support plan has not been reviewed for many months. Although this has not affected the young person’s care, there is a risk that staff may be unclear about expectations if written plans are not kept current.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager was out of the country during the inspection, and the responsible individual was unavailable. Despite the best efforts of the staff member facilitating the inspection, the inspector was unable to access some information. While this did not prevent the inspection from progressing, it highlights the need for Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 3 a contingency plan to ensure that key information can be accessed when managers are unavailable.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager ensures that an independent person conducts monthly visits to support monitoring of the service. However, managers have not completed a review of the quality of care within the required timescale, which represents a missed opportunity to evaluate progress and identify areas for development.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive a suitable range of training relevant to their roles, including safeguarding and first aid. The manager has improved oversight of qualifications since the last inspection and is now effectively tracking progress. One member of staff is beyond the statutory timescale for completing their level 3 diploma; the manager has extended this timescale due to mitigating circumstances.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers have good working relationships with others involved in the young person’s life. Social care professionals and a relative gave positive feedback about care, communication, and safeguarding. This supports co-ordinated care, for example through the sharing of behaviour support strategies with education colleagues.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has a small staff team which has reduced in size due to only one young person living in the home. There is no use of agency staff. The manager recognises the need to recruit more staff prior to children coming to live in the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/08/2024 Full Good 03/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2023 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 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, 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that there are effective monitoring systems in place to oversee children’s records and practice in the home and carry out a review of the quality of care in line with regulation 45.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is a robust contingency plan in place so that required information can be accessed when managers are unavailable.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 18 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 6 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

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure prompt attention to redecoration, repair, and the maintenance of a homely environment.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 18 May 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, clear recording and that they consistently record information about how they support children, including one to one sessions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Amelia’s House Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine Bakunga-Muyizzi

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Inspector

Jacob Robson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC448693 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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