Children's home run by Acheron Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 1 Registered provider: Acheron 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 owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were spoken to by the inspector.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2023 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good 16/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one child has been welcomed into the home and two have moved on. One child returned to live with family. Another child’s ending was unplanned, but appropriately ended to ensure their safety. Children moving into the home are welcomed sensitively. Good planning ensures that the manager carefully considers the child’s vulnerabilities and that all children’s needs can be met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children extremely well. Staff invest time in them, protect them and consistently promote their welfare. The children have developed a sense of belonging and have a range of positive experiences, which is leading to their progress in confidence and social skills with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s hobbies and interests are well supported. Staff encourage the children to explore new things. One child enjoys guitar lessons and attends football coaching. The other child has shown interest in history following a visit to a museum. Staff have recognised this interest and have incorporated trips to different museums into the child’s home learning plan to help broaden the child’s awareness of world history.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are listened to by the registered manager and staff. Staff encourage the children to participate in developing their own plans. Children have multiple opportunities to have their say, through ‘house chats’ and reflective discussions. These opportunities enable the children to learn how to communicate and listen effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. They have access to local services and their health needs are met. When the children are reluctant to engage with health services, staff are patient and accepting, while being consistent in their encouragement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is not attending school and is struggling to return. The registered manager and staff advocate on behalf of the child to ensure that they continue to have access to learning. However, the registered manager needs to ensure that there is strong advocacy and consistent boundaries implemented to prevent further delay in the child’s return to education.

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

Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and risks. They work closely with relevant professionals to co-ordinate plans based on the children’s individual needs. Regularly updated plans mean that staff understand any new behaviours and vulnerabilities. When children are not where they should be, staff respond appropriately. They search for the child and liaise with the police and other agencies until the child has returned home safely. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 4 Staff consistently support children to help them identify and understand their emotions and to develop strategies to help when they feel upset. When incidents of self-harm occur, staff use appropriate methods of intervention and their understanding of the children’s individual ways of communicating to reassure and support them. As a result, incidents are reducing, and children are talking to staff when they feel upset.

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

Staff help the children through varied direct work to learn about keeping themselves safe. This includes sensitive topics such as relationships, family and online safety. Staff initiate discussions frequently, often in a casual manner, to encourage the children to feel relaxed and engage.

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

Positive feedback has been received from professionals working with the children on how the children have progressed with the help and support of the managers and staff. Professionals are positive about the care that children receive from staff and how this has supported their progress.

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

An investigation into an allegation made by one child has been managed competently. However, the registered manager did not inform Ofsted in line with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and staff have access to external clinical and therapeutic support. This is an area of strength. Clinicians and staff work together to learn from children’s previous experiences, triggers and presenting behaviours to help them understand what approaches will suit children’s individual needs. This provides considerable insight into the children’s responses to situations. Staff told the inspector that this has enabled them to think from the children’s perspective and respond appropriately and indirectly without causing additional anxiety or upset to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is motivated and enthusiastic about the children in his care. He understands the home’s strengths and areas of development. The registered manager is supported by a competent deputy. Both know the children well and ensure that the plans for them are comprehensive and meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is enthusiastic and works collaboratively to provide consistency for the children. Staff receive regular supervision and there is a strong culture of reflective practice, which is embedded throughout team interactions, team meetings and discussions with the external therapist. For example, staff are encouraged to self-reflect using a ‘zone of fabulousness’ tool in their supervisions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager seeks to provide staff with opportunities to develop their skills. There are comprehensive development plans in place and additional training has been sourced to develop knowledge further following the children’s emerging behaviours. This actively improves the quality of care that staff provide for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 5 The registered manager has effective monitoring systems in place to review the progress of children. They use these along with the independent visitor assessments to continually improve the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 6

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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 must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 28 March 2025

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Recommendation

 Children’s home should act as effective advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. In particular, staff should continue to escalate concerns to prevent further delay for the child’s return to education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 2, paragraph 5.12)

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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: 2638470 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acheron Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Manor House Farm, Hall Lane, Hilderstone, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8SQ

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Inspector

Julia Tompson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 8 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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