Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2588753 1 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation that runs several registered children’s homes. It provides care for up to 6 children who may experience social, emotional or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 4 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025.

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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: 26 February 2025

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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: 2588753 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2025 Full Outstanding 30/05/2023 Full Good 10/08/2022 Full Good 09/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2588753 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress. Their respectful and consistent interactions with staff underpin their development. Staff provide thoughtful and well-informed care to children, which helps them feel safe and settled. Children value the nurturing and positive relationships they have formed with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are happy and feel supported. One child who recently moved into the home described the support they receive from staff as ‘really good’ and said, ‘Staff really care.’ The child attributed the support they receive to the reason they have settled so quickly and said, ‘It feels like I have been here for years, which is really good.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Moves into the home are well planned and child centred. The work staff carry out before children arrive helps them settle quickly. When children move on, they are well prepared, and their progress and achievements are celebrated and captured in memory books. When endings have been impactful for children, they have been managed effectively. Staff communicate positively with children to help them understand why they are moving on and what to expect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a well-decorated home that feels warm and inviting. Photos of the children and staff participating in various activities are displayed on the walls. This provides a homely atmosphere while reflecting the children’s identities and interests. Consequently, the children have a sense of familiarity and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Most children are in full-time education and are achieving their academic goals. This is due to the encouragement and high ambitions of the staff, who want the children to do well. For one child, who does not yet have an identified school, staff provide a comprehensive daily plan with educational activities that the child enjoys.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are in good health. Staff help them attend health appointments and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. This support has a positive impact on children, promoting their overall wellbeing and setting a foundation for healthier habits in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to spend time with family members and other important people in their lives. Families and loved ones visit the home, providing positive experiences for children. As a result of staff’s support, children feel their relationships are improving. Children establish positive relationships outside of the home and have fun with friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff listen carefully to the children and value their opinions. This creates an environment where the children can express themselves. Regular ‘cake and catch up’ meetings provide a platform for discussing topics that are important to the children. The meeting notes are captured in a child-friendly format, ensuring that children’s voices are clearly heard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588753 4

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

The children feel safe and are safer because of living at the home. The good-quality work that the staff carry out with the children helps them better understand and manage risks, including online risks and self-harm. Staff help children develop the skills to build positive personal relationships.

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

Safeguarding processes are clear. The manager and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that they work with other professionals to keep the children safe. They manage incidents effectively and take necessary actions to ensure the children’s safety.

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

Staff know the children well and respond effectively to their needs. When children are missing from home, staff respond swiftly, with the children’s best interests and safety at the core of decision-making. Staff maintain positive relationships with partner agencies to review plans and facilitate coordinated responses and timely information-sharing. Staff demonstrate their care for children through supportive discussions when they return home. For one child, this approach has supported a significant reduction in incidents where they go missing from home.

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

Staff balance the need to manage online risks with the opportunity for children to learn to navigate the internet safely. Staff support children in learning about the risks of using mobile phones and accessing the online world.

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

Children’s risk assessments include relevant history and consider the appropriate risks for children. There are clear strategies for responding to immediate risk and good evidence that managers are closely liaising with professional services to consider how children’s risks can be reduced.

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

Children receive the support they need to manage their emotions. If restraint is required, it is a reasonable and proportionate response to the behaviours and risks displayed. Managers take time to sensitively explore incidents with children, which helps them understand their feelings and feel valued by the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and acting deputy manager lead by setting a positive example. The managers are supportive of each other and work well together to provide high- quality care to the children. Managers are reflective and show insight into the challenges and positives the home has experienced. Staff work well together and understand the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and managers interact with children and speak about them with respect, empathy and pride. All the children can identify the favoured staff they trust and would approach for help. Managers are present and available for the children, and they treat them with unwavering positive regard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588753 5 Managers advocate strongly for the children and promote all aspects of their care from education to future care plans. When necessary, the manager ensures that children have independent advocates to give them a voice in their wider professional network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision and feel appreciated by managers. Additional support and training are provided to help boost confidence and enhance staff’s skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recruitment processes are effective. This ensures that only suitable individuals work at the home and provide care for the children. Managers understand their health and safety responsibilities and ensure that effective processes are followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals are highly positive about the care children receive and the progress they make. They praise staff and managers for their excellent communication and care. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is absolutely thriving at [name of home], and I feel it is as close to a family home as could be possible.’ Professionals also commend staff and managers for their understanding of the children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588753 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: 2588753 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Units 73 and 74 Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate CT12 5GD

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Inspector

Gemma Bullen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2588753 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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