Children's Home run by Arnfield Care Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 1 SC020133 Registered provider: Arnfield Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to eight children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a suitably experienced and qualified manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, six children were living at the home. The inspector met and spoke with each child.

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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

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Outstanding 10/10/2022 Full Outstanding 15/06/2021 Full Good 05/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the well-being of children in their care. They invest time in building meaningful relationships with each child, ensuring they are well understood and supported on an individual level. The welfare of children is always at the forefront of practice, and staff consistently celebrate and reward each child’s achievements, fostering a strong sense of self-worth and motivation. Children’s day-to- day needs are met with a high level of attention, ensuring routines are followed, privacy is respected, and personal space is maintained. Nutritious meals and enjoyable mealtimes contribute to the overall sense of care and nurture within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The impact of high-quality care is clear in both observations and conversations with children. They describe feeling happy, safe and well cared for. The strong, trusting relationships between children and staff are consistently highlighted, and it is evident that children feel comfortable, valued and secure in their environment. One child said: ‘The best thing about the home is the staff.’ Another child said: ‘They actually care about me for some reason.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The educational achievements of children are exemplary. Each child is fully engaged in a structured educational timetable that is tailored to their individual learning needs, ensuring that they receive the right level of support to thrive academically. The strong partnership between the home’s staff and the education team from the independent school is a key factor in the children’s success. This close collaboration ensures that children are consistently encouraged and supported in their educational journey. One child was successfully guided to secure a work experience placement in a field they were passionate about. The child’s dedication and the excellent support from staff played a pivotal role in this achievement, further highlighting the home’s commitment to fostering each child’s aspirations and future potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home offers an impressive range of activities tailored to the interests and hobbies of each child, encouraging them to explore new opportunities and engage in creative pursuits. From themed evenings celebrating national events such as National Burger Day to cultural celebrations such as Eid, the children are supported in broadening their experiences and embracing diversity. This inclusive and vibrant approach fosters a sense of community and belonging within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are proactive and dedicated advocates for the children, going above and beyond to ensure their needs and wishes are heard and addressed. For example, staff took action to support a child who was not having any family time, engaging actively with social workers to facilitate meaningful time with a friend who was important to the child. This demonstrates the home’s commitment to prioritising relationships that matter to children and supporting their emotional well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 4 The home excels in supporting children when they move on from the home. This is always a positive and meaningful experience. Staff ensure children feel loved, valued and supported as they prepare to leave the home, which is reflected in the fact that many children who have moved on continue to stay in regular contact with staff. This speaks to the strong emotional bonds formed and the positive lasting impact of the care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transition planning is a clear strength, with robust documentation and thorough planning in place to ensure children’s needs are met throughout the process.

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

The home demonstrates exceptional practice in helping children feel safe and secure, significantly reducing their vulnerabilities and associated risks. There has been a marked reduction in missing-from-care incidents for several children, reflecting the proactive and effective safeguarding strategies in place. Children consistently report feeling safe within the home, and this sense of security is underpinned by the diligent efforts of staff.

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

Staff are highly attuned to each child’s individual risks, with managers ensuring that behaviour support plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. The inclusion of the children’s voices in these assessments is a key strength of the home. Children are empowered to actively participate in the creation of their own safety plans, fostering their understanding of personal risks and equipping them with the knowledge to keep themselves safe.

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

Children know how to complain. The home has a clear and accessible complaints process, with leaders taking a thorough and child-centred approach to investigating any issues. Complaints are handled promptly, with timely responses that include direct conversations with the child to ensure they are satisfied with the resolution. This approach demonstrates the home’s commitment to listening to and addressing the children’s concerns.

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

Restraint and restrictive practices in the home are minimal and are used only when necessary to ensure the safety of the child or others. Any such incidents are handled with great care, with each occurrence being meticulously recorded, reviewed and monitored by the leadership team. The child’s views, considering their age and understanding, are always sought following such incidents, ensuring they feel heard and respected.

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

The home adopts a robust and comprehensive approach to managing missing-from- home episodes. Children rarely go missing, but when they do, staff take swift and appropriate action, including actively searching for the child and notifying all relevant professionals. The leadership team has further enhanced the reporting process for missing incidents, ensuring that all documentation is thorough and detailed, further strengthening the home’s safeguarding measures. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership is exceptional, with the manager demonstrating an in-depth understanding of the individual needs and circumstances of every child in her care. Her passion for improving outcomes was evident throughout the inspection, as she remains fully committed to creating a warm, welcoming and supportive environment where children thrive. This dedication extends not only to the children but also to the staff, who consistently report feeling valued and well supported under her leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Team members are knowledgeable about the children’s care, educational needs, and how to manage risks effectively. They feel supported and equipped to fulfil their roles, with one staff member describing the manager as ‘empowering’. Staff express confidence in the comprehensive training provided, which enables them to deliver high-quality care. Supervision is available when needed, and staff feel they can seek guidance and support at any time. Supervision sessions are focused on key topics, ensuring that both professional development and the well-being of the staff are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home receives positive feedback from external professionals and families alike. Professionals report excellent communication and express no concerns about the care children receive. One social worker spoke highly of the staff’s interactions with the child and noted the significant progress made since the child’s placement in the home. Similarly, a parent expressed gratitude for the progress their child has made, saying that they feel well supported by both the staff and the overall care environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The quality of staff induction and professional training is outstanding. The home ensures that all staff are thoroughly prepared to meet the specific needs of the children in their care, offering additional upskilling opportunities in key areas. The manager is proactive in seeking specialist input from professionals such as the therapeutic clinical lead and eating disorder specialists, ensuring that staff are well informed, and that good practice is implemented. Reflective practice is actively encouraged, with staff supported to learn from incidents and improve their approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s oversight of the home is exemplary. The leadership team has developed excellent monitoring systems to track each child’s progress and ensure that appropriate support strategies are implemented swiftly when needed. Her comprehensive review of all safeguarding incidents ensures that the highest standards of safety and well-being are always maintained. The manager’s thorough, hands-on approach to leadership creates an environment where children feel safe, supported and able to reach their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager benefits from strong support from an excellent leadership team, who are equally dedicated to the care and progress of the children. No statutory requirements or recommendations were made during this inspection, reflecting the high standard of care provided in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 6

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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: SC020133 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Arnfield Care Limited

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Inspectors

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Inspector Kirsty Truesdale, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC020133 8 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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Inspectors

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