Children's Home run by AMMA Childcare Services in Solihull

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 1 Registered provider: AMMA Childcare Services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care for up to 2 children with social and emotional difficulties. This is the home’s first inspection since registration in March 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified manager registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child shared their experience and views with the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 2

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Summary of findings

The child confirmed they feel safe and settled, despite living in the home for a short time. Interactions between staff and the child demonstrates positive relationships.

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Summary of findings

The staff team feel positive about working in the home and talk fondly about the child with care and respect. They have received bespoke training relating to the specific needs of the child. However, staff do not always have the relevant and update information about children they need to support children.

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Summary of findings

Monitoring and review of the service by the responsible individual is inconsistent. Furthermore, there is an absence of effective leadership by the responsible individual in supporting the registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child moved into the home they were welcomed sensitively. Leaders and managers completed robust assessments, prior to agreeing for the child to move in. This demonstrates a child centred approach to assessing their needs and ensuring that staff have the necessary skills, and experience to meet the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is provided with a positive home environment, that feels family orientated. Staff involve the child in changes to the home, so they are part of the decision-making process, this has included the arrival of two guinea pigs, who are an essential part of the household.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in building meaningful relationships with the child. They treat them with dignity and respect and spoke affectionately; about the progress they had made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Currently, the child is not accessing an education provision. The manager and staff are working hard with parents, and the placing authority to ensure that they have access to a suitable education provision, that meets their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s health needs are met. They are registered with all relevant health providers, such as the dentist and doctors and attend routine appointments. When specific health input is required, staff advocate on their behalf and ensure that the child has access to the relevant services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Meaningful family time is well understood by staff. They support the child to spend time with their family. This has included the child being supported by staff to cook for their family and enjoying fun time in the community, this promote the child’s sense of belonging to those who are important to them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 3

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

Staff receive appropriate training in child protection and safeguarding, which supports their understanding of how to keep the child safe from harm. They benefit from a range of tailored training that reflects the specific and individual needs of the child. Furthermore, managers continue to review training provision to ensure it remains relevant and supports good practice. This bespoke training helps to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills required, to respond effectively to children’s complex needs.

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

Staff use appropriate de-escalation techniques, when the child is having difficulty in managing their emotions. Strategies are informed by staff knowledge and understanding of the child and their past experiences. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort.

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

Leaders and managers take appropriate action when complaints are raised. Following a complaint regarding concerns within the home, leaders and managers responded promptly and took swift, appropriate action to address the issues identified. This response gives children and their support network confidence, that all complaints are taken seriously.

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

Staff keep the child safe by managing their complex needs. Comprehensive safety plans are in place to guide staff in how best to support them. However, managers do not always set out all specific actions, staff should take to keep the child safe. While there was no significant harm to the child, there was potential for this to occur.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for the child and staff. They are visible and accessible within the home. They listen to the child and uses their feedback to make changes, to improve the care and support they receive. She has an ambitious vision for staff to achieve positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff describe they receive ongoing support from the manager and that she is available for advice and guidance when needed. Team meetings are held regularly and used to offer staff a reflective space to discuss their practice and experiences. Staff are provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice, and to consider any areas of development to improve the quality of care the child receives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Many staff hold relevant childcare qualifications. As a result, the child benefits from the care provided by an experienced and suitably qualified core team, who demonstrate a good understanding of the child’s emotional well-being and complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite this positive progress, there has been a previous lack of effective oversight, monitoring and support. This has resulted in shortfalls in the monitoring and review of the quality of care provided. These weaknesses have been identified by leaders prior to Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 4 the inspection, and an action plan is in place to address these shortfalls. In addition, arrangements are underway to ensure a suitable individual is appointed to the role of responsible individual, following the current post holder giving notice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some staff recording requires further improvement. Children’s recorded do not always contain clear and concise information, which focuses on children’s experiences and outcomes. For example, on occasions records lack sufficient detail, or clarity to support an understanding of incidents. This has the potential to limit the effective monitoring and oversight. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 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

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that children’s plans relating to risk contain the relevant information, that staff follow all protocols in place and that plans are updated to ensure all changes to risk are clearly identified. 01 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (2)(a)(h)) 01 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 6 In particular, there has not been effective oversight and support from the responsible individual who has not effectively monitored the quality of the care provided since the home has opened, whilst this shortfall had been identified prior to inspection, the action plan is in the process of being embedded.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person has a key role in seeking to develop the home’s effective working relationships with each child’s placing authority and with other relevant persons which may include services, individuals, including parents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)

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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: 2873822 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: AMMA Childcare Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 507b Jq Modern, 120 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6NF

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Inspectors

Kate Savage, Social Care Inspector Nile Blanchard, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2873822 8 and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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