Children's Home run by Arnfield Care Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC020133 1 SC020133 Registered provider: Arnfield Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight young people. It provides short- to medium-term crisis placements. The home is owned by a private company. Education is provided on site and through camps and outdoor education.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 14 to 15 November 2018

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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 good

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC020133 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2017 Full Good 02/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2016 Full Outstanding 26/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC020133 3

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, and paragraph 9.5)  Children must feel safe and be safe. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, and paragraph 9.9)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This home provides exceptional standards of care to young people who have a wide range of complex needs. Staff have extensive knowledge, skills and experience. They nurture and care for young people in a way that enables them to flourish. One young person said: ‘Staff make it feel like a big family.’ Another young person said: ‘This is the best placement I have ever been in. You can tell staff actually care, they really help me.’ Young people make outstanding progress. They enjoy a wide range of experiences that promote self-confidence. One young person told the inspector: ‘I have done loads of activities, including abseiling, cycling, rock climbing, paddle boarding and canoeing. I wouldn’t have done these if I had not come to this home. It is like a Blue Peter house.’ Care practice promotes individual strengths, talents and skills. This means that young people thrive. Educational outcomes significantly improve for young people. Education is tailored to

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

young people’s needs. The on-site school supports the national curriculum. It also offers alternative vocational learning, which is mirrored in the residential provision. Education in local schools promotes attainment and social opportunities. Outdoor education is pivotal to this home. Educational attendance and engagement is excellent. This is because of the care provided in this home. Preparing young people for independence is a priority. Young people learn new skills Inspection report children’s home: SC020133 4 which lead to accredited awards. They benefit from training and work placements. Currently, young people are working with the elderly, in a nursery and at a local solicitor’s office. This intensive work experience equips young people with qualifications and life skills essential to successful independent living.

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

Young people become significantly safer because of living at this home. Care practice is very effective in breaking the cycle of criminal or risk-taking activity. One young person said: ‘Since coming here I have seen the light. I have a path to follow and a future.’ Behaviour management is very effective. The use of physical intervention is minimal and it is only used in situations when young people are putting themselves or others at risk. Managers evaluate records of physical intervention and assess if interventions are safe and effective. Incidents of young people going missing from the home reduce over time. Staff are skilled in responding to such incidents and work proactively and without delay. This ensures that young people are quickly located and safely returned to the home. Young people confirm that they don’t ‘run away’ because they like the home and feel that they can speak openly with staff about their difficulties.

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

Young people confirm that there is no bullying in the home. They said that they get on well together most of the time. One young person said staff are exceptionally vigilant: ‘Staff have a sixth sense. They know if something is going to happen before it happens.’ Not all young people feel safe. Where this occurs, young people need staff support to understand how to feel safe and how to keep themselves safe. From the point of admission to the home, risks are well understood. Risk assessments are in place for each young person. However, not all risks are routinely reviewed. Risk assessments do not always show the most recent risks. This means that strategies to protect young people are not always recorded or clear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has vast experience in influencing and changing the lives of young people in her care. She has excellent knowledge and skills in residential childcare. She aspires to ensure that young people reach their individual potential. The management team has an acute understanding of the young people, their needs and progress. It puts in place clear plans to enable young people to achieve their potential. The management team leads by example and it stimulates the enthusiasm of staff. One staff member said: ‘This has been the best year. The senior team is mentoring, and we are continually learning.’ Staff benefit from consistently high levels of management support. They receive meaningful supervision and annual appraisals. All staff participate in a wide range of training. Managers are conscientious in developing staff knowledge and skills. This is Inspection report children’s home: SC020133 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

prioritised to ensure the highest standards of care. Managers have development plans in place. These show a pursuit for continual improvement. Effective internal monitoring of the home shows that managers are aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Independent monitoring of the home provides an impartial review of the home’s effectiveness. These combined systems secure the effective operation of the home. Since the last inspection, ownership of the home has changed. The new owners have plans in place to improve the home environment. In the short term, some cosmetic work is required to ensure that all of the home has a homely feel. Partnership work is excellent. This means that care practice is pursued in line with placement plans and in the best interests of young people. Social workers and professionals commended this home for improving the lives of young people.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC020133 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Arnfield Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Brookbank House, Wellington Road, Bollington, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 5JR

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Inspector:

Amanda Ellis, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC020133 7 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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Inspector:

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