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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 1 Registered provider: Arborvitae Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection, who spoke to the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 18 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 16 December 2025

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Inspection date: 18 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors 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: 2805759 2

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child remains settled in the home. The child’s needs are well understood by staff. They offer sensitive, nurturing support to help the child grow, develop and feel safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is supported with their education. Although the child does not attend a formal educational provision, their learning is supported by a tutor who visits the home. Staff enhance the child’s learning through additional educational activities and consistently advocate on the child’s behalf to progress their education.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff recognise the importance of family relationships. They support and advocate for the child spending time with family who are important to them, in the child’s best interest. Staff work with professionals to consider creative ways for the child to understand family dynamics.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are skilled at de-escalating incidents and helping the child feel settled and secure. They only hold the child as a last resort and ensure that they record in detail any interventions used. The manager provides evaluative and reflective oversight of any incidents and spends time with the child to explore their views. However, staff are not always given the opportunity to reflect individually on incidents involving holds, this is a missed opportunity to explore staff practice and ways to improve it.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have developed a strong relationship with the child. The child talks openly to staff, knowing their views will be listened to. Staff help the child to develop safe and effective strategies to manage their emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is educated to understand rules and expectations. The staff focus on positive, nurturing and supportive parenting. When consequences are used, these are proportionate, and the child is fully involved in the discussion to help them understand the reasons for the consequence.

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Findings from the inspection

When allegations are made, appropriate action is taken to safeguard the child. However, leaders and managers do not always inform the regulator as required.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are clear, relevant and regularly reviewed. They consider all known and potential risks to the child, identify factors that may increase vulnerability, and set out specific, proportionate strategies to reduce and manage risks. Staff use these assessments effectively to keep the child safe and to promote their welfare.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a consistent manager overseeing the home. The manager is currently applying to be registered with Ofsted. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 3 The manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision. Supervision is an opportunity to reflect on practice, identify areas for improvement, and develop ways to enhance the care provided to the child. The manager is clear with staff about expectations, challenges practice effectively and ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills to provide safe care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

There are clear systems in place to monitor and review the quality of care provided to the child. Leaders and managers review a range of interventions and all incidents to identify patterns in the child’s behaviour or in staff practice. Action plans are clear and have concise timeframes to measure progress. Patterns of concern can be quickly identified and addressed.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been no complaints or allegations since the last inspection. It is too early to determine whether the actions taken have resulted in improved outcomes for children. Consequently, the requirement is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/12/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to any complaints or allegations raised by children being addressed and managed appropriately. 10 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 6 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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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

Specifically, this relates to the registered person, who should ensure that all staff involved are spoken to individually, enabling them to reflect on the incident and consider future learning.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 7 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

he other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted when there has been a serious incident involving a member of staff. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 8

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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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Inspectors

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2805759 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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