Children's home run by Arc-HD Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2649904 1 Registered provider: Arc-HD Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 3 children between the ages of 9 and 18 years who may have attachment, social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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 on 28 March 2023 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

The home refers to the staff as adults. The report reflects the language used in the home.

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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: 2649904 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Good 10/05/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2649904 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress because of the effective and positive relationship they have with adults. They can speak to adults about challenges they experience, and adults provide individualised care that helps children to thrive and develop. One professional said that they had observed a child to have wonderful relationships with the adults, stating, ‘They have been able to share their views, wishes and feelings with them on a regular basis. They are attentive to their needs and respond quickly to any issues that arise. They also celebrate their achievements.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is nurturing and welcoming. Children proudly display their photos in communal and bedroom spaces. The home is surrounded by outside space, which provides a space for children to spend time and play on a trampoline.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children experience a wide range of activities and social experiences. Adults record these events in handcrafted photo memory books alongside weekly individual positivity books, which highlight events during the week.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults encourage children to value their education. One child has made significant progress in education since they moved to the home. Another child currently has education at the home while permanent arrangements are being made, and adults support them with this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, introduction plans are created in partnership with the child where appropriate. Children who are already at the home are included in the welcoming processes. This approach shows the children that they are cared for and helps them to settle in well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move out of the home, they do so in a planned way. Adults advocate strongly for children to ensure that they have a positive experience of moving on, even in challenging circumstances. Adults continue to maintain appropriate contact with children and young people once they have left the home.

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

Regular and effective communication with external professionals supports the ongoing management of risk. One professional stated that the adults have ‘responded quickly and appropriately to any safeguarding concerns that have happened’ and that the adults seek advice and guidance when needed. Risks have reduced for children as a result.

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

Children’s safety online is well managed. Adults monitor children’s online activity to ensure that they are only accessing age-appropriate sites. When there are concerns about children’s actions, adults provide advice and support. As a result, children access the internet safely. Inspection report for children's home: 2649904 4 Missing-from-home incidents are rare. However, when they do occur, children experience a well-coordinated response from the adults. The adults follow the missing-from-home safeguarding plan to locate them and ensure their safe return. Adults work efficiently with placing authorities to ensure that children are offered an opportunity to speak to someone independent about their time away from the home.

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

Adults ensure that children’s health needs are met to a high standard. Children have access to health services and associated support for their identity. Adults work collaboratively with other services to help and support children to understand their feelings and emotions. This approach informs strategies to enable the adults to meet the needs of the children effectively.

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

Recruitment is managed safely, in line with statutory guidance. The organisation has a good system in place to ensure that all the necessary checks are carried out before new adults join. This reduces the potential for unsuitable adults to be employed at the home. This minimises the risks of children being cared for by unsuitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well managed by an experienced and respected manager, who works well with the deputy manager to lead the team. The manager has a good knowledge of the children and what they have accomplished since living at the home. An adult described the manager as always there to support the adults and children and that she goes ‘above and beyond to make it the best home’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults receive supervision and benefit from regular team meetings and training. Team morale is good. Adults are complimentary about the support that they receive from managers and say that their induction and training prepare them well for their roles. They say that they enjoy their roles and work well as a team. Although the turnover of adults working in the home has been high, the manager has used an agency effectively to ensure that there are enough adults on duty to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers monitoring and oversight is good, however, there were some gaps in locating some documents including a local authority care plan for a children and a key work session following an incident This has not impacted on the care to children, and records were in place but not easily accessible and could prevent adults from accessing the required information if needed. Inspection report for children's home: 2649904 5

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Recommendation

 Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records must be kept up to date and easily accessible to staff. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2649904 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: Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9FD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Openshaw

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Inspector

Maria Calway-Kennedy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2649904 7 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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