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Inspection report children's home: SC480705 1 SC480705 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 three children with social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties. The accommodation is set in three individual living areas, with a shared communal space. 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 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC480705 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2023 Full Outstanding 15/02/2022 Full Outstanding 10/09/2019 Full Outstanding 16/04/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC480705 3

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outstanding

Children benefit from meaningful and trusting relationships with staff. One child said her key worker understands how to get the best out of her. Staff are inquisitive and energetic, and excitedly celebrate children’s successes and milestones. As a result, children continue to make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives.

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outstanding

Children’s independence skills are developing. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their washing, cooking, and cleaning. Through careful planning, staff help children to become more confident using public transport independently. One child is learning to drive and has passed their theory test. Staff have professionally printed a cookbook filled with the recipes that staff have cooked with children. The book has a quick response (QR) code which links to a video of a staff member humorously making a carrot cake. Children are given this book when they leave so that they can continue their cooking skills and cherish memories of shared experiences.

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outstanding

Staff have enabled children to spend more quality time with their families. Staff advocate for children and their families to have therapy and support to aid this if necessary. Parents say that staff have been instrumental in helping children to spend more time with their families. Children are now enjoying time with their families at weekends.

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outstanding

Children are highly involved in their care planning. Plans of care are excellent and they clearly record the progress made by children. Their plans link closely to the local authorities’ plans. Children feel listened to when reviewing their goals and staff take a truly collaborative approach with care planning. Staff review the progress made by children with them and then capture achievements in a child friendly and fun manner.

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outstanding

Staff nurture children’s interests and talents. One child regularly attends a cheerleading club and another is in involved in environmental projects. Staff involve children in raising money for local charities by taking part in a ‘muddy dog walk’ and selling home-baked dog treats. Children are involved in the local community by volunteering at a local cubs’ group and undertaking work experience at a local nursery.

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outstanding

Children have made excellent progress in education. After long periods of not accessing education, children’s attendance is extremely high. Staff prepare children for college interviews and their exams to help children succeed. Since the last inspection, one child achieved high grades in their GCSEs. Children are aspirational and positive about their futures. Inspection report children's home: SC480705 4

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outstanding

Children describe the home as their 'safe space'. They do not go missing from home. Staff have not used physical intervention or consequences.

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outstanding

Risks for children have reduced significantly. There are clear plans to guide staff in reducing risks for children, particularly around self-harm. Staff encourage children to take positive risks and push them out of their comfort zones. They speak with children about their fears and worries and help them to take positive steps forward together.

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outstanding

Staff take immediate action to safeguard children when required. Concerns are managed well, and staff involve relevant agencies to ensure that children are safe. If staff are concerned that children are experimenting with alcohol, they take a balanced and proportionate approach. They educate children on the dangers of substances and promote healthy lifestyles.

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outstanding

There is a strong safeguarding culture. The manager tests the safeguarding knowledge of staff in supervision. This helps to identify gaps in knowledge and training needs. Staff know how to raise a safeguarding concern and how to keep children safe. The deputy manager has completed the designated safeguarding lead training to enhance their knowledge. New staff report that safeguarding is at the forefront of their induction.

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outstanding

Staff empower children to take responsibility for their own medication. They carefully risk assess and plan the steps required for the children to do this safely. The children have completed this successfully and look after their own medications.

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outstanding

Recruitment practices are strong to ensure that suitable staff are working in the home. Leaders have clear oversight of these checks, with excellent systems in place to ensure all the required checks are completed. Agency staff have been used occasionally and leaders have ensured they are suitable and skilled to care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high aspirations for the children, and these aspirations are passed on to the staff team. The manager is involved in all aspects of the children's care and is a strong advocate for the children. Staff report being well managed by a 'wonderful' management team. The managers work collaboratively with the staff, which makes them feel valued in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from a stable and experienced staff team. Staff turnover is extremely low, and staff are invested in their roles. They provide care to children with warmth and enthusiasm. As a result, children receive consistent high-quality Inspection report children's home: SC480705 5 care. Parents describe the staff and managers as 'going above and beyond' for their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager continuously looks to improve the quality of care. They use reports from the independent person and audits from the responsible individual effectively. The manager uses these systems to identify strengths and weaknesses and has an action plan in place to develop the home. This plan includes suggestions from the children. One child is involved in an environmental project and had made several suggestions. The manager has taken these suggestions on board to implement changes such as ‘meat free Mondays.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children move out of the home in a well-planned way. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out. Staff placed the child at the centre of this process, ensuring that they were listened to when moving on. The child went to a karaoke pod and a meal with the other children and staff. Staff ensure that children’s time in the home is celebrated. Children are given thoughtful gifts, written to, and provided with handy items for their new home such as teabags and washing tablets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well trained to carry out their roles. They receive a broad range of training and in-depth training about children's mental health. Following discussion with the independent visitor, the manager has introduced an audio library. This provides staff with an opportunity to listen to resources to develop their knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers support staff well with supervision and team meetings. These are focused around openly sharing ideas with each other and discussing the children's care. The organisation’s mental health trainer attends team meetings. They provide insight into the children's behaviours and information about specific conditions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Working with parents is highly effective. Parents report that the communication with the manager and staff is excellent. They are extremely positive about the care their children receive, describing it as 'exceptional'. They say their children have made great progress and are 'unrecognisable' from where they were.

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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 children's home: SC480705 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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Children's home details

Registered manager: Paul Collins-Painter

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC480705 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 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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