OLD Meadow, a therapeutic children’s home based in Harlow, has been rated as ‘Good’ by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).

An interim inspection was carried out by Ofsted in February to assess the care provision provided at the home and it was found to have maintained its ‘good’ rating.

Ofsted regulates, inspects and assesses childcare and children’s social care and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

Housing up to four children, Old Meadow is a specialist therapeutic and assessment home, which provides real alternatives to traditional care settings, with a focus on therapeutic care.

The care provided at Old Meadow is delivered by highly experienced, specialist trained practitioners with the needs and wellbeing of children as their priority. The inspectors recognised this stating that “Children’s emotional needs are a priority” and “This therapeutic support helps the children to become more open about their past and present experiences.”

Inspectors found that this approach is having the positive outcomes that the team strives for, with the report confirming that “The children who live at the home currently are stable and secure” and that “They enjoy positive relationships with the staff and each other. Staff know the children well and provide care that meets their individual needs.”

Director of Services, Jeremy Jayasuriya said, “I am extremely pleased to have received this positive feedback from Oftsed.

“Our primary concern is the welfare of the children we support, and everything we do is based around this goal. The children we care for have faced disruption in their lives for a variety of reasons, so we work with them in a way which is entirely based on their needs, with the aim of returning them to their family home if this is possible.

“I am pleased that inspectors found that our care is effective and we will continue to further improve our services, using their feedback, to provide the very best outcomes for those we support.”

Old Meadow is part of the A&T Home Group. For further information visit www.old-meadow.com or call 0333 335 9960.