Children's Home run by Arboretum House Limited in Walsall

Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 1 Registered provider: Arboretum House Limited 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 private organisation. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post, and he holds the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Care.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have good relationships with children. They understand the children’s needs and how to support them effectively. One child said, ‘The care provided here is better; staff here actually look after me when I come home.’ Children in the home feel cared for and safe due to the support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage positive relationships between children. Children share mealtimes with staff. Children are also encouraged to carry out group activities and plan holidays together. This provides a family feel in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to make good progress in their education. They ensure that children are supported to get to school daily. Staff also communicate regularly with education professionals to ensure that they understand what levels the children are working towards. One child who did not engage in education before moving into the home now attends school daily. This child now has a better chance of getting on their desired criminology course in college because of the consistent support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff encourage children to see those who are important to them. Children are encouraged and supported by staff to spend time with their family. One parent shared, ‘All staff have been very supportive and are addressing my child’s needs. They have tried their hardest to do all to help them.’ Children are encouraged to bring friends to the home. Leaders and staff form positive relationships with the parents of children’s friends to ensure that visits are carried out safely. As a result, children have a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been decorated and maintained to a high standard. It has a modern and warm feeling. Children are kept at the heart of the home environment, with bespoke features to make them feel at home. Children’s bedrooms are tastefully decorated and well furnished.

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

Leaders manage allegations well. One child made an allegation against a staff member, which was retracted. The correct processes had still been followed, including relevant professionals being notified in a timely manner. The process has facilitated a foundation for learning. As a result, this has improved practice for staff in the home.

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

Staff respond well to missing-from-home incidents. Leaders have ensured that children’s plans are clear, and as a result, staff have a good understanding of them. Staff are quick to respond to children who go missing from home. Staff continue to try and locate children until they are safely home. After children return home, staff examine reasons behind their behaviour to prevent future incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 4 A child has received good support with regard to concerns about exploitation. The home has robust measures in place to keep the child safe, including external support from the wider network. As a result, this child is currently making progress and reducing the level of risky behaviours. However, when leaders initially assessed the referral for this child, the location of the home was not well considered.

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

Leaders had not followed the correct process in relation to surveillance and monitoring. Leaders had not gained agreement from the children’s local authority for CCTV cameras to be operating on the exterior of the home. As a result, this led to a period of time where children were recorded without consent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate about children gaining positive outcomes. He reflects well on strengths and development areas in the home. He is committed to the ongoing development of the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work well with the wider network. Leaders ensure that external professionals are promptly kept up to date with any changes in the children’s lives. This has helped children to get the support that they require. One child has recently started work with an exploitation worker. Consequently, this child is making good progress and is safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is bespoke to the needs of the children. The registered manager has created additional training to provide the team with further learning opportunities. Team meetings are used effectively, and children’s up-to-date plans are discussed to ensure that staff are working together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Not all staff are suitably qualified to work with children. Currently, one staff member has not completed their level 3 diploma within the required timescales. There has not been a consistent approach towards this staff member’s progress, which means that they have fallen behind in completing their qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders do not always provide supervision for staff. The manager has been provided with only two supervision sessions over the last year. There are also gaps in team supervision. Therefore, there has not been consistent oversight of the manager and some staff’s practice, welfare and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 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, 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 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

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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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)(b)(c)(d)) 2 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 st April 2014, 1 st April 2016. 2 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 6 The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 2 August 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, and when they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children that the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.04)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2680787 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Arboretum House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bluebird Care Walsall, 28a Willows Road, Walsall, West Midlands WS1 2DR

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2680787 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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