Children's Home run by Arborvitae Care Services Ltd in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 1 Registered provider: Arborvitae Care Services 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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in March 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since September 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 2

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improvement to be good

The inspector spoke with the child during the inspection. The child moved from another of the company’s homes into this one following its registration. The child has made some progress since living in the home. However, they have asked to move and the social worker is supportive of this.

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improvement to be good

The child is subject to a deprivation of liberty order. Managers have raised issues regarding the placing authority’s response to their requests for additional staffing for the child. Although this is viewed as being needed by managers, it has created a barrier to maintaining an effective relationship with the placing authority and working together to reduce the restrictions placed on the child.

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improvement to be good

The house is a detached property with a wraparound garden. The child has decorated it for Halloween, and their artwork is displayed throughout. There are games and jigsaws available that are used by the child, and their bedroom is personalised and clean. Overall, it is a nice and bright environment. However, there are some aspects that are not in keeping with the general homely feel. In addition, some staff occasionally wear company-branded t-shirts and their identification around the home.

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improvement to be good

The child has recently started to attend a school that the staff recommended. This is going well for the child and is providing them with structure, routine and a chance to make friends. Before attending school, the child engaged with a tutor at home.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys learning, and this is encouraged by the staff. They consider things that would motivate and interest the child, for example discussing the news and recommending books and films. The child has lots of opportunities to learn about new cultures and religions through conversations with staff and practical experiences, such as cooking competitions.

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improvement to be good

Since living at the home, the child’s self-esteem has increased and they have formed positive relationships with some of the staff. As a result, the child now feels able to attend a health assessment and engages well with a service that supports their mental health. In addition, the child is completing life-story work with their social worker and is feeling able to share information from their past with trusted adults.

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improvement to be good

The child is not currently seeing their family. The relationship between family members and the previous manager was strained. However, there is a plan in place to rebuild these links, which has started with phone calls with family. The interim manager is aware of the need to develop relationships that will benefit the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 3 The registered manager has recently resigned. There is an interim manager in place and two deputy managers. Additionally, the responsible individual has been supporting the team. There have been circumstances that have affected the management of the home. However, the interim manager is aware of the shortfalls and is working with the staff to make improvements to the quality of care provided to the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff say that they feel supported. Supervision sessions have been adapted to be more reflective and encourage staff discussion and engagement. Team meetings take place regularly, and other professionals involved in the child’s life are invited to support the staff to develop their skills and understanding.

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improvement to be good

Since the child has lived in the home, there have been three occasions when the staff have had to contact the police to report the child missing from home. This represents a significant reduction compared with before the child lived in this home. On these occasions, staff acted appropriately, actively searching for the child across different areas and speaking with the child’s family. However, on one occasion, the staff did not ensure sufficient levels of supervision of the child, which resulted in the child going missing and they remained missing overnight.

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improvement to be good

Staff practice can be overcautious. For example, the child needs to ask for a razor despite there not being a risk of them using these. Additionally, items have been removed from their bedroom based on historic behaviour and not returned in a timely manner.

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improvement to be good

Although there are detailed plans in place to support the child in reducing the restrictions placed on them, these have been put on hold following an incident when the child attempted to leave the home without staff knowledge, which resulted in an injury. The staff acted appropriately to ensure that the child received medical attention and the required follow-up.

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improvement to be good

Any concerns regarding staff practice that have been raised by the child or other staff members have been investigated and referred to the appropriate professionals. This ensures transparency and a multi-agency response to any concerns.

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improvement to be good

The child’s bedroom was appropriately searched on two occasions while they were away from the home. However, this was not done in a timely manner, and items were found that could have provided information about their location.

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improvement to be good

The child has detailed incentive plans in place that they work well towards. Plans focus on positive behaviour and developing the child’s skills. However, the use of consequences is not recorded or evaluated for their effectiveness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 4 The responsible individual has responded appropriately to implement new policies that aim to safeguard staff and the child relating to familial relationships between staff. However, these are not always followed and increase the risk of professional boundaries being blurred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

An independent person visits each month, and these visits are used by managers to inform and improve practice. Actions set by the independent person have decreased significantly in recent visits.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are considered by the staff, and the staff advocate for them. However, the review of the quality of care did not include feedback from the child or others. This is a missed opportunity to make improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Notifications sent to the regulator have been delayed or missed and are often poorly written. This affects the regulatory oversight of the child’s experience of living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that the staff supervise the child appropriately in line with their plans.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to the manager ensuring that staff complete a room search without delay when necessary to help them locate the child. Additionally, the manager must ensure that when searches of the child’s room have been completed, there is a clear record of what has been removed, why it has been removed and when the child can expect to have the items returned. 28 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

Seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of 28 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 6 needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager working in collaboration with the child’s placing authority to meet the objectives set out in the child’s plans, particularly in relation to reducing restrictions placed on the child and developing relationships with families.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that they and the staff follow their own policies that aim to safeguard the child.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to the manager ensuring that they obtain the child’s views on living at the home and use the feedback to make improvements. 28 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 7 Additionally, the manager must ensure that they notify the regulator of all significant incidents in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure;

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager ensuring that any negative consequences that are put in place are recorded, that 28 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 8 the child’s view on the measure is sought and that the manager evaluates the measure for its effectiveness.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that is homely. The home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression.’ (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2805993 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Arborvitae Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 5SE

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2805993 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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