Children's Home run by ARGF Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 1 Registered provider: ARGF Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home and were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since February 2023 and registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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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: 2639538 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2025 Full Good 28/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 3

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Summary of findings

Children are at the heart of practice in the home and benefit from warm, nurturing and therapeutic care from staff who know them well and understand their individual needs and experiences. Staff provide highly personalised support that helps children feel safe, develop trusting relationships, build independence and make positive progress. Children are encouraged to pursue their aspirations and achieve their goals, with families and professionals consistently recognising the positive impact of the care provided. Leaders have created a reflective and ambitious culture underpinned by strong safeguarding practice, effective partnership working and child-centred care. While the home demonstrates many strengths, improvements are needed to ensure regulatory notifications are consistently submitted and oversight of the home environment is strengthened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience care from staff who understand them as individuals. Staff have a detailed understanding of children’s histories, strengths, interests and vulnerabilities and use this knowledge to provide care that is personalised and responsive. Children benefit from a home where they are accepted for who they are and where relationships are used to help them feel secure and develop trust.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s ethos of ‘not giving up’ on children is embedded throughout practice. Staff remain committed to children during periods of difficulty and respond with patience, consistency and compassion. This approach has enabled children who have previously experienced significant instability to develop stronger attachments, improve emotional wellbeing and make sustained progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make meaningful progress because staff provide care that is carefully matched to their needs. Children are supported to improve their emotional regulation, engage in education, develop independence skills and build positive relationships. Staff promote ambition and encourage children to recognise their abilities, helping them develop confidence and aspirations for their future. Children who have moved out of the home have been supported well by staff, ensuring that endings are managed sensitively, and relationships are maintained where this remains appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are central to planning. Leaders and staff advocate strongly for children and challenge decisions when these do not fully reflect children’s needs or aspirations. Children are supported to maintain important relationships and develop a sense of identity. Staff take time to understand children’s cultures, backgrounds and individual preferences, ensuring these are reflected in everyday care. Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 4 Children benefit from a range of opportunities that support their personal development and help them have positive childhood experiences. They are encouraged to participate in activities, celebrate achievements and develop practical skills for independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

External professionals consistently describe children as making progress because staff understand the reasons behind children’s behaviours and provide support that promotes long-term change rather than short-term responses.

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

Children are supported by staff who understand their vulnerabilities and provide safeguarding responses that are appropriate, proportionate and focused on their individual circumstances. Staff demonstrate strong knowledge of children’s risks and understand how previous experiences may affect children’s emotional wellbeing, decision-making and relationships.

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

Safeguarding practice is rooted in understanding children’s lived experiences. Staff use trauma-informed approaches to help children feel safe and supported, recognising that children may need help to understand and manage feelings linked to previous adversity. Direct work with children supports them to develop awareness of relationships, personal safety, emotional wellbeing and safer decision-making.

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

Children benefit from effective partnership working. Leaders and staff work closely with social care, health professionals, education providers and specialist services to ensure risks are understood and managed. When children’s needs become more complex, leaders demonstrate professional curiosity and take appropriate action to secure additional support or consider whether alternative arrangements are needed to best meet children’s needs.

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

Children feel safe in the home and develop positive relationships with staff. Leaders balance children’s rights and independence with appropriate safeguarding measures, ensuring children are supported to take age-appropriate risks while receiving the guidance and supervision they need. Children are encouraged to develop resilience and confidence rather than being defined by their vulnerabilities.

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

Three separate incidents were recorded, assessed and managed individually, including one involving damage to property. The cumulative pattern and escalation should have prompted communication with Ofsted. A requirement was therefore made to strengthen management oversight and understanding of notification requirements. Leaders have reflected on this and strengthened their oversight and communication arrangements to support improved compliance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership in the home is strong, reflective and focused on improving children’s experiences. The manager demonstrates detailed knowledge of children’s needs and Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 5 ensures that decisions are guided by children’s individual circumstances, aspirations and long-term outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have established a positive culture where staff are supported to provide consistent and compassionate care. The staff team is stable and committed, enabling children to build reliable relationships with adults who know them well. Leaders prioritise staff development and ensure that the team continues to strengthen its understanding of therapeutic approaches, safeguarding and children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from leaders who are reflective and willing to learn. Quality assurance arrangements, supervision and reflective discussions are used to review practice, identify improvements and promote better outcomes for children. Leaders respond positively to challenges and demonstrate openness when considering how practice can develop further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders are strong advocates for children and work effectively with partner agencies. They are confident in professionally challenging decisions when children’s needs, wishes or safety may not be fully considered. This ensures children remain central to planning and receive support that reflects their individual circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders recognise areas requiring further improvement and have taken action to strengthen recording standards, oversight and monitoring. Overall, leaders have created a home where children are valued, staff are supported and continuous improvement is embedded. Their commitment to improving children’s lives is evident throughout the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the home is generally clean, well maintained and welcoming for children. However, some areas of the home were not maintained or cleaned to the standard expected. While the manager took prompt action to address these issues during the inspection, this indicates some gaps in management oversight and in ensuring that staff consistently maintain the home environment. Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 31 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. This includes ensuring all areas of the home are clean and well maintained, including timely completion of any repairs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 7

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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: 2639538 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 26, Corby Enterprise Centre, London Road, Priors Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 5EU

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Inspector

Theresa Kambani, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2639538 9 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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