Children's home run by Archways Care Limited in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 1 SC429918 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

The home is owned by a private company that runs 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 the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/07/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff’s support improves children’s emotional well-being. They seek advice from a clinician and use this to underpin the approach they use to care for children living at the home. As a result, children learn to manage their feelings more positively. One child who has recently left the home said, ‘I have learned that life is not about kicking and screaming, it is about talking about my problems even if I do not want to.’ This support has a positive influence on children’s emotional health and well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to learn the life skills that they will need to live independently. Children practise cooking, budgeting and other general life skills. Children take part in beneficial and enjoyable activities, including holidays, horse riding and days out, for example to a theme park. As a result, children are provided with enjoyable experiences that help them to develop.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, children have made good progress in their education. Staff also recognise and reward children’s achievements at school. Staff are motivated to help children reach their potential and support children to recognise the benefits of going to school. One child who was out of education for a significant period of time now attends education on a full-time basis. This is excellent progress from their starting point.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain relationships with people who are important in their lives. One child had the opportunity to meet someone important to them that they had not seen for a significant amount of time. For other children, the manager advocates and supports them to speak to and have time with their family when this is appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of moving out of the home are mixed. Two children have recently moved out. One child had a planned moved into semi-independent living and described the staff team as amazing. One child’s placement ended abruptly, which was not a positive experience for them. The manager and staff have reflected on the child’s experience and ending of the placement and identified learning to improve their practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has not ensured that the rationale for the use of door alarms on children’s bedrooms is recorded and that this monitoring is in place to safeguard or promote the welfare of the children. Children are not supported to understand the intention of this monitoring. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that the use of monitoring or surveillance is overseen effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 4

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

Staff keep children safe. They understand each child’s risks and vulnerabilities. This means that staff know the triggers to children’s behaviours and how to provide consistent care. Children’s behaviour management plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff implement the strategies in these documents to protect children and increase their safety.

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

When incidents take place, staff respond to these appropriately. The manager reviews incidents and if there are areas where staff’s practice could be developed these are followed up. This places the safety of children at the centre of practice and ensures ongoing development of the care provided.

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

The use of physical interventions has decreased. These are only used when necessary to keep children safe. The manager has good oversight of all incidents and children and staff are supported appropriately following incidents.

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

Managers have responded appropriately to allegations about staff. Managers have shared information with external agencies to ensure that the appropriate professionals are aware of these concerns. Areas for development have been identified through the investigation and appropriate actions taken as a result. When the managers had concerns about practice outside of the home, they shared these with relevant professionals promptly. This ensures that concerns about children’s safety are responded to effectively.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. On the one occasion when a child went missing, staff took prompt action and followed the plans in place. This ensured the child was found safe. The manager has analysed this incident and has identified lessons learned to inform future practice.

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

Staff undertake key-work sessions with children. These are linked to the children’s needs. This consistent approach means children are supported to progress and develop in line with their individual goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a child-focused practitioner. She is committed to the role and is well respected by the staff team and external professionals. This has helped to improve the care provided to children at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and leaders have an in-depth understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement of the home. They have good systems in place to monitor and review the quality of care children receive. As a result, improvements to practice and the home are continually made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a thorough understanding of the needs of the children. She uses the monitoring systems in place to track children’s progress and make changes to help with this. The manager ensures that children’s progress and achievements are Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 5 celebrated. This approach helps children to feel cared for and has a positive impact on self-identity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported in their roles by the registered manager. They receive regular supervision which considers the children’s as well as their own well-being. Managers provide debriefs for staff after incidents. Regular team meetings provide a forum for staff and managers to consider how practice can be improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff generally receive good levels of training, which is relevant to the needs of the children and helps to increase staff knowledge. However, two of the staff have not completed training on a specific area linked to the needs of one child living at the home. These gaps in training could affect the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the staff team. Staff are flexible and amend shift pattens to provide cover to reduce the need for agency staff. This helps children to have consistent care from staff they know well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views are regularly explored by staff and managers. Children say they feel safe at the home. However, on one occasion when a child said they did not feel safe, it is not clear how staff responded. This is a missed opportunity to evidence how staff and managers have responded to ensure the child’s safety. Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the use of bedroom door alarms is for the purpose of safeguarding and is reviewed regularly. Children should be aware of the reviews, and understand the reason for the use of bedroom door alarms, taking into account their individual needs and age. 8 January 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when children share their views, it is clear how the registered person and staff have listened and responded to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff complete training in areas that will support them to meet the needs of the children living at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 7

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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: SC429918 8

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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

Melanie Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC429918 9 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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