Empower Family Children's Home Lotus receives 'Good' rating in all areas from Ofsted

A Somerset Children’s Home, led by the Empower Family Group, has been rated “Good” in all areas by Ofsted, following their inspection.

The two-day inspection, which took place in November 2023, involved Ofsted inspectors visiting and reporting on the quality of care the home and care team provides for children with learning disabilities and emotional behaviour difficulties.

The inspector awarded a ‘Good’ rating in the three key areas of; overall experiences and progress of children and young people, how well children and young people are helped and protected and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

Children’s Home Manager, Ellie said "I am delighted to share the news that we have received a “Good” Ofsted report following the inspection at Lotus in November 2023. The report praised staff for their dedication, professionalism, and compassion in providing high-quality care and support for our children. This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the team, who have overcome previous challenges and continued to strive towards the best outcomes for the children within our care. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to everyone who made this possible. The team have done an amazing job, and you should feel very proud of yourselves. Well done everyone!"

The inspection report published today (05 December 2023) notes that staff at the home value children as individuals and have built positive and trusting relationships with them.

The report detailed that: "Children enjoy attending school. Their learning needs are reviewed regularly. It is clear from their school reports that these children are held in high regard and that continual progress is being made. Children’s daily needs are met. Staff provide nurturing care that helps children to build their confidence and improve their self-esteem. They are supported to attend many community clubs and activities where friendships are developing.”

The report continued to say that “The home environment is warm and inviting. Children’s toys and achievements are visible, and their bedrooms are personalised. This helps to create a sense of belonging for children.”

Empower Family Groups’ Responsible Individual, Simon said "I am thrilled to share the wonderful news that we have received a ‘Good’ rating from our recent Ofsted inspection. This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication and hard work of our entire team, who are committed to providing the highest standard of care and support for the children we serve. Our focus on creating a nurturing and safe environment has been recognised by the inspectors describing the care plans as “a breath of fresh air and supervisions as of the highest order.” Which that feedback is not given lightly, and it is something that the leadership team at Lotus should be very proud of. Empower Family Group will continue to build on this success to ensure that every child in our care has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. I am incredibly proud of our staff and grateful for the positive impact we are making in these young lives. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this accomplishment.”

A full copy of the Ofsted report can be found on Ofsted's website.

We work collaboratively to empower children and young people to be the best versions of themselves by building safe and nurturing environments where every child matters. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The term employer means: Empower Family Group and all its subsidiaries: Empower Outreach Limited, Empower Fostering Limited, Empower Residentials Limited, and Quantock Outdoor Education Limited.

If you are interested in learning more about Fostering or are currently a Foster Carer who is looking to Foster for a family fostering agency founded by Foster Carers, please visit our website at www.empowerfostering.co.uk.