Children's Home run by Archways Care Limited in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 1 SC383941 Registered provider: Archways Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a small organisation. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the last full inspection, two compliance notices were issued, under regulations 12 (the protection of children standard) and 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 7 December 2021, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit. The purpose of the visit was to review the provider’s progress. The provider had taken enough action to meet the compliance notice under regulation 12. However, concerns remained in relation to the leadership and management of the home. The inspector found that Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 2 the notice in relation to regulation 13 was not met. Therefore, this notice was reissued.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/10/2021 Full Inadequate 09/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/06/2019 Full Inadequate 04/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 3

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improvement to be good

Three children live in the home. The home environment is cosy, and the atmosphere is calm and relaxed. As a result, children are spending more time together engaging in activities. However, one child maintains that they do not want to live in the home. They are waiting for their placing authority to identify a more suitable placement. Managers have taken appropriate action to escalate their concern about the delay.

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improvement to be good

When incidents involving children occur at night, staff do not manage these effectively. This means incidents can have a significant impact on all children as sometimes they are unable to sleep, for example, they have got out of bed to check that staff are alright. This has then led to the children being verbally assaulted by their peers. After these incidents, staff do not complete debriefs with all children. Children do not receive the emotional support they need. This could have a detrimental impact on their well-being.

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improvement to be good

Relationships between children and staff have improved. This is because staff are using better forms of communication. As a result, children are able to express their wishes and feelings. This helps them to feel listened to and valued.

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improvement to be good

Staff are more intuitive and curious. They identify patterns of concern in children’s behaviours. For example, staff noticed that one child was reluctant to talk about school. Staff approached this sensitively and identified concerns around friendships. They liaised with the child’s teacher to ensure that the child’s well-being was monitored. As a result, this child felt supported and reassured.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, children have made some progress. They have better routines and healthier lifestyles. Children now sometimes sit and eat their meals together. One child said they like spending time in the home as they think it is ‘better for me’. Staff have helped one child develop strategies to help them settle at night, such as providing them with relaxing music or background noise or by sitting with them.

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improvement to be good

Managers have made changes to the format of risk assessments. Information contained in them is more concise and they are now regularly reviewed. However, the rationale or outcome of the review is not stated. As a result, staff do not have all the information that they need to keep the children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 4 The quality of recording requires improvement. Some language used by managers and staff is blaming in nature. The recording of some incidents lacks context, for example, the recording of one manager’s decision appeared to show that they has undermined the decision of another. This causes confusion and contributes to a disorganised approach to keeping children safe.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not actively assessed the risks in respect of fire safety. This includes liaising with any external professionals, such as the fire service. As a result, managers do not know whether the home environment is safe.

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improvement to be good

There has been a significant reduction of safeguarding incidents in the home. This is because staff have received training to develop and improve their skills. Some staff are more sensitive and compassionate in their approach. As a result, they are able to de-escalate children’s behaviours more effectively and the use of physical restraint has reduced.

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improvement to be good

Staff are now implementing appropriate boundaries to keep children safe and use key-work sessions to help children to understand these boundaries. Key work links well to children’s needs outlined in their care plans. Staff help children to understand their feelings and how to respond to them safely. This has led to a reduction of sanctions in the home. One child has also been able to spend extended time with their family members. This is because they have developed ways to manage their anxiety when they are there.

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improvement to be good

Online safety measures continue to improve. Staff are using a new system which gives them better oversight of children’s internet use. For example, staff identified a concern about one child’s internet search in relation to self-harm. As a result, the manager and staff were able to take prompt action to ensure that the child was safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff complete regular internet safety work with children. This has led to one child making disclosures about their previous online use. These disclosures were of a safeguarding nature. As a result, this child was able to receive the support they needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During this inspection, the inspector found that sufficient action had been taken to meet the compliance notice in relation to regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

However, the leadership and management status of the home remains unstable. The responsible individual remains absent from work. There is an interim in place. They are taking action to restabilise the home. However, the effectiveness of this is not yet fully known.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, a new manager had started working in the home. The inspector found that they were not suitably vetted. Crucial checks with the Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 5 manager’s previous employers have not been undertaken. The interim responsible individual took immediate action to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is a disorganised approach to the recruitment of staff. The necessary checks to ensure that staff are safely recruited are not undertaken. Furthermore, managers have differing views about how these checks are undertaken. For example, unbeknown to one another they use different formats to verify references. As a result, children are not cared for by people who have undergone all the required checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of the home has improved. Managers are using monitoring and audit systems. As a result, they have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. However, it is unclear how they intend to use this information to ensure that there is continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has a new independent visitor. They have begun to visit the home, however, Ofsted has not yet received a report, to determine the effectiveness of these visits.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff report that they enjoy working at the home and feel well supported. They are now receiving training pertinent to children’s needs. New staff receive a good induction. Staff receive regular practice-related supervision, including group supervision. As a result, they have opportunities to reflect and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has completed a thorough review of staff skills and competencies. This includes consultation with children. This valuable information has contributed to identifying areas of development for staff’s practice. The manager is taking action to address the shortfalls identified. Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 6

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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, 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager and staff ensuring that all children receive adequate support when incidents occur.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, to ensuring that it is clearly stated in risk assessments the reason for their review and the outcome and the strategies staff need to follow in order to keep children safe. 1 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 1 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers using the information they gather during their monitoring and review of the service effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the capability of the independent visitor, particularly their ability to identify the shortfalls in the care children receive and their reports being submitted in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last inspection and is restated. 1 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 8 In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that they gather the views, wishes and feelings of children to incorporate into their review of the quality of care children receive.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last inspection and is restated. 1 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children;

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and 1 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 9 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders ensuring that all the required recruitment checks are carried out on the new manager.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that all the required recruitment checks are carried out on the staff. 1 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home; 1 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 10 provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire;

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that the home’s fire risk assessment is reviewed. This includes liaising with any external professionals such as the fire service and acting on any recommendations raised.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that managers and staff record information about children clearly, concisely and with context. Furthermore, information should be recorded in a non-stigmatising way and should not reflect any blame towards children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC383941 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hill Farm, Shawbury Lane, Shustoke, Coleshill, Birmingham B46 2RN

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC383941 12 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 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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