Children's Home run by Amegreen Children’s Services in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 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 provides care for 4 children with learning disabilities aged between 4 and 18 years. At the time of the inspection, there were 4 children living in the home. All the children participated in the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2026 and manages another setting.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in March 2026. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 2

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Summary of findings

The children receive excellent care from staff. All the children have recently moved into the home, benefiting from well-thought-out, individually planned moves, which have helped them settle successfully. Each child has made significant progress in a short period of time, and this is due to the exceptional relationships that staff have developed with them.

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Summary of findings

Staff use high levels of skill and professional curiosity to understand each child as an individual. They provide highly effective care that is making a significant difference to the children’s lives. The home is exceptionally well managed by an inspirational and highly supportive registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children have fantastic relationships with staff. These relationships were established before the children came to live at the home. Staff are attentive, and the children seek them out for play and comfort. These interactions have developed into trusting relationships, helping the children to settle quickly and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children have made considerable progress in multiple ways since moving into the home. One child has significantly complex needs, including self-injurious behaviours, which had previously limited their life experiences. Their parent said that they have been to multiple specialists and experts over the years, but the staff have made the biggest difference in just a few weeks. Another child has made significant progress developing more verbal language and is using the toilet independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children have had some excellent early experiences with staff and each other. They have been on trips to London, shopping centres, the cinema, animal parks and, more recently, a holiday. This has been exceptional for some of the children, who had been unable to access activities away from home for a significant period before moving in. The children lead fulfilled and stimulating lives. One child’s former foster carer described the home as ‘phenomenal’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move into the home, managers and staff consider how to make the experience positive for children. Professionals, carers and family members are involved in the planning and support children to visit the home. Some children made multiple visits and began to build strong relationships with staff, which enabled them to move in successfully and settle well. There is a high level of attention to detail and effective multi-agency working involved in each child’s move. One child’s social worker said, ‘I am so pleased with how well [the child] has settled into [the home] and really impressed with the care, attention and support staff offer her.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 3 The staff create an atmosphere of fun and exploration. They are child-led in their approach and highly attentive to the children. The home environment is welcoming and thoughtfully designed to meet the children’s needs. Each child has a highly personalised

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

bedroom, decorated by the deputy manager with their favourite interests painted on the walls. The children enjoy freedom around the house, playing both indoors and outdoors. It is a loving family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise children’s education. They promote informal learning opportunities and work closely with education professionals to prepare children for moving in. When children do not yet have an education placement, the manager works closely with the virtual school and the local authority to advocate on their behalf.

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

Staff use creative and innovative approaches to reduce risks for the children. One child experiences significant risk with self-harm, which initially needed high levels of staff intervention. Staff have been highly reflective and analytical in developing their understanding of the child’s emotions and sensory needs. The child now uses sensory equipment and staff use advice from the occupational therapist, which has significantly reduced the child’s self-harming behaviours. The child experiences distress much less frequently, and the manager has used learning from incidents to develop a clear plan to help the child remain settled and reduce incidents. As a result, the child has been able to enjoy a fuller range of life experiences.

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

Staff prioritise children’s health. They have clear plans in place to manage one child’s long-term condition and regularly consult with health professionals regarding all of the children’s care. Staff maintain effective and open communication with GPs and occupational therapists. Children who had previously been unable to attend health appointments have been successfully supported by staff to do so. Medication systems are strong and effective, with no medication errors occurring. Staff receive thorough training before administering medication, including knowledge-based assessments and practice observation, which supports the safe handling and administration of medicines. Children’s records and risk assessments relating to medication are well organised, detailed and easy for staff to follow.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture within the home. Safeguarding is a consistent topic discussed in supervision sessions and team meetings, and it is embedded in staff practice. As some of the children are pre-verbal, systems are in place to monitor bruising and injuries. Staff know what action to take if they have concerns and understand how to escalate concerns both within and outside of the organisation.

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

Staff have an acute awareness of the risks and vulnerabilities affecting the children. They speak confidently about the children’s needs and demonstrate a deep understanding of how to keep them safe. Staff are highly committed to reducing risks, and the manager actively supports and drives this commitment through a culture of learning, reflection and perseverance. Staff receive additional training to build their confidence and support Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 4 them to take appropriate positive risks with the children. The highly effective care provided by skilled staff has resulted in a significant reduction in risks for the children.

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

There has been a high number of physical interventions for one child. These have been appropriately used and well recorded by staff. Following each physical intervention, staff and managers reflect on the incident to gain a deeper understanding of what led to it and identify ways to avoid the need for future interventions. These reflections, combined with staff curiosity and a commitment to learning, have been instrumental in reducing the use of physical intervention dramatically, from 2 or 3 times a day to approximately once a week. The child’s parent said staff see their child ‘as an individual rather than simply focusing on their behaviours. We believe that has made an enormous difference.’

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

Staff have regular, well-planned conversations with the children to help them understand the home’s rules and the needs of the other children living there. These discussions have supported the children to adapt well to living together and develop positive relationships with one another. This support is clearly recorded in the children’s plans and records. Children understand the expectations within the home, and their social skills are blossoming.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a highly ambitious and knowledgeable registered manager who embodies a child-focused and individualised approach to care. The home’s ethos is strongly embedded in staff practice, creating an environment in which children can thrive. One child’s former foster carer described the manager as ‘amazing and loves the children as if they were her own.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager’s confidence and positivity have a significant effect on the staff, all of whom spoke about the tremendous support they receive from both the manager and deputy manager. Managers have a deep understanding of each child and speak passionately and proudly about the progress they make. The manager has established an open and supportive culture that enables staff to consistently deliver the best possible care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is relatively new and brings a diverse range of experiences to their roles. The manager recognises the individual strengths and personal qualities of staff and uses these effectively to meet the needs of the children. Some staff members joined the home without previous work experience in care. The well-developed induction processes and ongoing support have enabled them to become confident members of the team. There is a strong culture of learning. Staff development is discussed regularly, and the organisation’s training team visits the home frequently to help staff build their knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well trained and are provided with additional learning opportunities tailored to meet the specific needs of the children. For example, when a child with specific needs moved into the home, the manager identified that further training was required to meet Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 5 the child’s needs. The organisation responded by providing bespoke training to ensure staff were equipped to meet the child’s needs effectively. This ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet the complex needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff regularly seek and value the views of children. Children are encouraged to make choices about their care, activities and the home environment. Staff support children to express their wishes both individually and as a group. Children’s rights are a regular focus of discussions and meetings, helping them to develop an understanding of these rights. Children have access to advocacy services, and staff have developed child-friendly videos to help them understand the children’s guide and how to make a complaint.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

When agency staff are required, they complement the existing staff team effectively. Appropriate recruitment and suitability checks are undertaken. Agency staff work regularly within the home, develop positive relationships with children and receive ongoing support to fulfil their responsibilities effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works exceptionally well with partner agencies, demonstrating a collaborative approach that contributes to positive outcomes for children. She is a strong advocate for children and is willing to challenge other professionals when necessary to ensure that children’s rights are upheld and that they have access to appropriate education and support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 6

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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: 2882672 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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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2882672 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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