Children's Home run by ARGF Limited in North Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639538 1 Registered provider: ARGF LIMITED

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were two children at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639538 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The three requirements made at the last inspection have been met.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is currently being refurbished. This includes a new kitchen and the redecoration of the home. Children engage in deciding how the home will look, including the decoration of their bedrooms.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making good progress with their education. Both children are now attending school.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s care plans are clearly written and reviewed regularly. They focus on all the key areas of each child’s life. This includes health, education and relationships with family and friends. This gives guidance to the staff on how to care for the children and meet their individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are helped to remain healthy. They are registered with local doctors, dentists, and opticians. Staff promote healthy eating and activities that involve exercise. Specialist medical help is accessed when required.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff have a good understanding of risk. They follow children’s behaviour and risk management plans so that children are supported to stay safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that staff’s recording has improved. Incident reports and plans are clearer and more detailed. However, recording is still an area of development identified by the manager and the independent visitor. There is a current focus on improving recording to ensure that information is always written in a way that will be helpful to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been changes in the staff team since the last inspection. Team leaders have been added to the staffing structure. This, alongside the recruitment of experienced staff, has meant that agency staffing is no longer required. It has also meant that the manager is not covering shifts. As a result, the manager has improved her leadership and management oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that new members of staff receive a comprehensive induction and training programme. Additional training has been provided to meet the identified needs of the children. Staff are now having regular supervision sessions with a manager or senior worker. This has led to staff feeling supported, and they say that they love working at the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639538 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639538 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion, and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639538 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 29, Corby Enterprise Centre, London Road, Priors Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 5EU

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639538 6 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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