Children's Home run by Arc-HD Services Ltd in Hampshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258831 1 Registered provider: Arc-HD Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to three children who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 29 October 2024

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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: 1258831 2

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have made positive progress against the requirements and recommendations that were made at the last full inspection in October 2024.

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Findings from the inspection

Children speak positively about the relationships they have built with staff. Children like that staff support them to engage in elements of their culture that are important to them. Children are encouraged to take part in activities they enjoy, including sewing and crocheting, and they have asked for a sewing machine. This has been agreed by the manager to develop the children’s passion for this activity.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to spend positive time with family. Proactive plans are in place for staff to follow if family time does not go as planned. These plans allow staff to feel confident to manage unforeseen situations.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding the children and take necessary action to ensure that children are safe. Staff have implemented measures to ensure that children are safe when using devices and accessing the internet. Staff respond well when children are at risk. Individual plans for children highlight risks and give staff clear guidance on how to respond to these risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding concerns are well managed, and children are supported through the process. Senior leaders thoroughly investigate safeguarding concerns and children are kept informed of the decisions made. Leaders and managers are not afraid to challenge staff practice when it falls below expected standards.

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Findings from the inspection

Missing-from-home episodes are rare. However, when children have gone missing from home, there has been a well-coordinated response from staff to ensure their safe return. Children are given the opportunity to discuss why they went missing from home and what staff can do to prevent this from recurring.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager supports staff to improve their practice. She uses supervisions to explore staff’s decision-making processes. This allows staff to reflect on their actions and develop strategies to manage situations better in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has challenged external professionals when decisions have been made that are not in the best interests of the children. This has improved outcomes for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have made improvements to ensure that the environment is homely for children. Private information for children is now primarily stored online and not displayed in the office. This means that children can talk to staff in the office without any privacy concerns. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258831 3 Staff contribute well to team meetings, and recorded notes are thorough. However, leaders and managers have not routinely identified actions set in team meetings or who the action has been allocated to. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that tasks are completed. This recommendation has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has developed monitoring and reviewing tools. The manager now reviews documents weekly and shares her audits with senior leaders for additional review. As a result, her oversight of the home is improving, but some shortfalls remain. The manager was unaware whether she had some documents for children, and unclear information in some reports was missed. Part of this requirement has been restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/03/2024 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good 27/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258831 4

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 24 March 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s policies and procedures are followed to ensure that children who live there benefit from them. In particular, the registered person should ensure that any actions resulting from team meetings are identified and reviewed to ensure that they have been completed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258831 5

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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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Inspector

Louise Webling, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258831 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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