Children's home run by Arc-HD Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 1 Registered provider: Arc-HD Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to two children, between the ages of nine and 18 years with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 6 October 2022.

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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: none

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered in December 2021, three children have lived at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have well-planned moves into the home. On one occasion, the staff quickly recognised that they were not able to fully meet the needs of one child. They worked closely with other professionals to support the child to move to a more suitable placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The two remaining children are making good progress. Children’s families and their social workers recognise the positive impact the staff are having on the children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has made significant progress developing their confidence and self- esteem. This has been achieved because of the encouragement they have received from the staff to try new experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to contribute their views about their care. Staff will advocate for children in meetings and challenge external professionals in the best interest of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have school placements. One child attends school regularly. However, the other child is struggling to attend, and not enough work has been done to understand the barriers that are preventing the child from engaging in formal learning.

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

One child has been leaving the home to meet a friend who staff know little about. This has impacted on their school attendance. Staff have closely followed the child and encouraged them to return. They have made links with local police, the train station and other professionals. This collaborative approach has helped gather a better understanding of where the child is going and, through sharing intelligence, the police have been able to return the child home quickly.

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

To break this cycle of going missing, staff have engaged the child more in activities and this is beginning to have a positive impact. For example, the child participated in a fun bowling activity and, the next day, attended school.

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

Staff are confident in supporting children with a history of self-harming. Staff’s dedicated care has helped one child decrease the number of incidents of self-harm.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted, and consequences are rarely used. Staff use reflective sessions to help children understand their behaviour. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 4 Staff have a good understanding of de-escalation techniques that help them to manage challenging behaviours. Consequently, physical intervention has only been used once.

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

The registered provider ensures that staff are thoroughly vetted before they start to work with children. As a result, children are safeguarded from unsuitable adults working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager resigned on 1 October 2022 after taking on a senior role within the organisation. The deputy manager has been promoted to the manager’s post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders are present in the home and know the children well. The responsible individual supports the manager to ensure that monitoring and review systems provide them with a good level of oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work closely with professionals, and feedback is positive. These partnerships mean that children are protected, feel secure and know that everyone has their best interests at heart.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel they can approach leaders with any concerns and are confident that these will be addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervisions that enable them to reflect on their practice. However, these sessions do not include enough practice scenarios to help to increase the staff’s safeguarding knowledge. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)) 31 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home, so that they clearly understand their roles. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

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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: 2649904 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Arc-HD Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Arc H D Services, Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9FD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Openshaw

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Inspector

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 7 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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