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

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 8 March 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 18 October 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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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

18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between the staff and the children are kind and caring. Children live in a home where the staff know and understand their needs very well. Children enjoy a range of opportunities and positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in supporting the children to take part in a range of activities of their choosing, both inside and outside of the home. One child was excited to tell the inspectors about their recent trips out, including a visit to a theme park and funfair.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are new to the home are welcomed with the best possible planning. Sensitive staff give careful consideration to relationships between children and how they support them to develop positive relationships. This approach is effective; for example, a new child who recently moved into the home is settling well and is being accepted by another child who was anxious about the prospect of having to share her home with someone that she did not know.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Considerable efforts are made by the staff to help the children access the help that is available and make progress, specifically in relation to emotional well-being and education. However, for one child who has recently left the home, the staff felt they were unable to meet her needs. The registered manager took steps in making alternative plans with the child, her family and the placing authority. They ensured that her welfare and well-being were central to decision-making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress that the children make in relation to their education is varied. For one child, a school place was agreed on before her move to the home. This meant there was no break in her education, and she is making good progress with a 100% attendance record. The registered manager and the staff work creatively and tenaciously to encourage school attendance for all of the children. However, for one child, the staff have not been effective in supporting her education attendance, which has declined since she has lived at the home. Therefore, the requirement made at the last inspection about the children’s lack of educational progress and attainment has been restated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, healthcare arrangements are good. However, the staff did not have a copy of one child’s local authority initial healthcare plan. This means that the staff may not have the most up-to-date and relevant information. Nevertheless, in practice, the staff understand the children’s health and well-being needs well and support them to access specialist services when needed, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to have time with people who are important to them. On the occasions when plans for family visits change, the staff work creatively to explore alternative ways for visits to happen. The home has recently had building Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 4 work and redecoration. This has maintained the homely feel, and children now have more opportunities to interact with their peers in communal areas.

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

The safety and well-being of the children are priorities for the staff, who respond empathetically to children’s concerns and needs. High levels of support alongside the staff’s knowledge of the children’s feelings, wishes and vulnerabilities mean that risks for the children are reduced.

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

Staff promote a friendly and accepting culture, where the children are encouraged to express themselves and take part in decision-making. As a result, the children develop a sense of personal responsibility, which increases their confidence.

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

Children who go missing from care experience well-coordinated responses from the staff, who follow tight procedures and work with families and external professionals to promote the children’s safety and encourage a safe return home. Children are given the opportunity to discuss the missing-from-care incidents with independent professionals.

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

Staff consistently promote positive behaviour and use their relationships with the children to help them when they are upset or in distress. There has only been one incident that required restraint since the last inspection. The record of this incident was clear, with reflection and learning identified.

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

Senior leaders and the registered manager failed to ensure that robust online parental controls were in place in the home. As a result, children have had the potential to access an inappropriate adult site. Consequently, they have been vulnerable to online risks that the staff have not been aware of. This was rectified during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run effectively by a newly approved registered manager who is suitably experienced and on track to complete her childcare management qualification within the required time frames.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, the registered manager and the staff are passionate about providing high- quality individualised care to the children. The registered manager has effective oversight of the care that children receive and how this affects their experiences and the progress that they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is good staff morale and enthusiasm within the staff team. Staff said that they feel well supported by the registered managers and senior leaders, who are knowledgeable, experienced and approachable. One staff member said that the registered manager ‘always goes above and beyond to make sure our children get the support they need’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 5 The registered manager ensures that the staff receive regular and meaningful supervision that reflects on the progress and needs of each child. New staff benefit from a planned induction and ongoing training opportunities. As a result, the staff are equipped to support children in all areas of their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and staff have strong working relationships with external professionals and seek to build positive working relationships with parents to secure good outcomes for the children. The registered manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is committed to ensuring continuous improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 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, The 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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 August 2023

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s internet access is managed in a way that ensures reasonable duty of care in providing online age-appropriate safeguarding. 31 August 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the health and well-being of each child are agreed on with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s local authority placement plan. It is the joint responsibility of the registered person and the placing authority that this is agreed on at the time of placement and that the Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 7 provider has a copy of the child’s initial health assessment and any subsequent annual health assessments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.7)

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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: 2649904 8

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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-HD 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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Inspectors

Anne-Marie Davies, Social Care Inspector Tony Waite, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2649904 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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