Children's home run by Archways Care Limited in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 1 SC429918 Registered provider: Archways Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company that comprises three children’s homes. This home provides care for up to four children who need support with their complex behaviours and emotions. At the time of this inspection, there were three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2020 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have ensured that all requirements raised at the last inspection have been addressed. As a result, the necessary improvement and development of the home has continued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support children with their personal development. This helps children to better understand their emotions, which has a positive impact on behaviour. Children are also supported to develop their independence skills. For example, children develop cooking skills. This means they can cook for other children, staff and their families. This helps children build their self-esteem and confidence. Staff make a point to regularly praise children and celebrate their achievements. These factors all help the home be a place where children feel settled and know they can be themselves.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy activities with staff. Staff encourage hobbies and celebrate birthdays with special meals and presents. Staff are clear that children deserve this and so make extra efforts whenever they can. During a period of isolation due to COVID- 19, a small group of staff moved into the home to look after the children consistently. Staff arranged activities, sports events, a bouncy castle, ‘pamper hampers’, and movie nights. Despite the restrictions, children and staff enjoyed this time together. This practice emphasises the staff’s commitment to the children they care for, and children know staff feel like this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager considers information about children before they move into the home. She also considers the needs of children who already live in the home, and the skills and experience of staff who will be caring for children. As a result, children feel welcomed to the home and transitions are largely positive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager makes child-centred decisions about children moving out of the home. She considers all of the children’s needs. On one occasion, the manager was not given all known information before a child moved into the home. When it became clear that the child could not be safely cared for, the manager put a plan in place to ensure everyone’s safety, and the child moved to a more suitable home. As a result, the manager protected children from concerns about competing needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and the manager respond appropriately when children make allegations about staff. The manager works closely with social workers and the designated officer, who both have confidence her. The manager has clear oversight of incidents in the home. She challenges staff practice as needed and seeks to understand the underlying causes of these incidents. She then helps staff, and children, learn from Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 3 them. This approach means that children feel they can raise concerns. It also contributes to a safer, open environment for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and the manager respond well to safeguarding concerns. This involves talking to relevant professionals, families and, most importantly, children. It also includes adapting systems and staff practice, if needed. Staff do not make children feel ashamed after serious incidents, because staff understand this is not helpful for them. This supports children to have open, trusting relationships with staff. As a result, there has been a steady decrease in incidents over time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has systems in place to support her oversight of the home. These enable her to see what needs developing and she acts on this. For example, the manager has identified a new model of practice she thinks would help staff in their work. She has arranged introductory training and is planning to book in more to embed this as an underlying approach in the home. In contrast to this oversight, the statement of purpose of the home is not reviewed when needed or provided to the regulator. There are also some areas of the home where maintenance is not addressed as quickly as it should be. In addition, the home has not had consistent, regular, or effective oversight from an independent visitor since the last inspection. The provider has employed a new visitor, but the impact of this action is not yet known.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External professionals are complimentary about the commitment staff have to children. Staff work closely with placing authorities, schools and colleges to ensure that children gain the education they need. For example, staff have supported one child into education after a long period away from learning, and another is thriving at college. This progress mirrors the value that staff place on children’s education. The registered manager challenges other professionals’ assumptions about the children in her care. The impact of this advocacy on children’s self-esteem is immeasurable. Children told the inspector they feel loved and cared for. The positive impact of this cannot be underestimated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/07/2019 Full Inadequate 07/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 5

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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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 21 April 2022

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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

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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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

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (7)(a)) 19 May 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that maintenance concerns in the home are raised and addressed quickly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7).

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 6 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: SC429918 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Aristidou

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Inspector

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 8 regulates and inspects 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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