Children's Home run by Arc-HD Services Ltd in WiltshireOfsted inspection, 3 Sept 2026

Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 1 SC420410 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

A private provider operates this home. The home provides care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

All 3 children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. The children met with and spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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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: SC420410 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/07/2025 Full Good 13/08/2024 Full Good 08/08/2023 Full Good 23/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making good progress from their individual starting points because they benefit from nurturing, child-centred care provided by a staff team that knows them well.

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Summary of findings

Children are happy living at the home and are consistently offered positive experiences and opportunities that support their development and achievement.

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Summary of findings

Staff help children to express and manage their emotions safely, which has contributed to a reduction in the frequency and severity of incidents. Incidents are appropriately recorded and shared with relevant professionals.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers promote a warm, nurturing culture in which children can thrive, while staff remain committed to delivering high-quality care and report feeling well supported in their roles. There remains further work to improve the environment and how well the views of children are recorded.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make sustained progress from their individual starting points in education and health. They speak positively about their experiences of living at the home and benefit from nurturing care that promotes their development and wellbeing. Staff have created a warm and relaxed environment where children feel comfortable and secure. One child reflected on a recent holiday and described their favourite memory as when the manager ‘tripped and dropped her earring in the toilet’. This example highlights the positive and trusting relationships that children have with those who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop strong and trusting relationships with the staff who care for them. Interactions observed during the inspection were warm, natural and positive. Staff create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing their views, wishes and day-to-day preferences. Children see the home as their home, feel included in everyday decisions and know that staff listen to them. This helps children to feel valued, respected and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming and well-maintained home that provides a comfortable and personalised environment where they can relax, spend time with friends and staff and express their individuality. The home is generally warm and homely. However, the bathrooms remain a source of dissatisfaction for children. The anti- ligature fittings and lack of softer furnishings give these areas a more institutional appearance than the rest of the home. One child said that they ‘hate the bathrooms’. Leaders and managers recognise the effect this has on children’s day-to-day Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 4 experiences and have plans to refurbish these areas. They understand the importance of progressing this work without unnecessary delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain meaningful relationships with the people who are important to them. Leaders, managers and staff listen carefully to children’s views, advocate strongly on their behalf and promote positive relationships with family and friends. As a result, children spend more meaningful time with the people who matter to them and, where appropriate, receive support to understand their life history and family relationships. Feedback from families and professionals is consistently positive. One family member described their child as doing ‘really well’, and this view is echoed by other professionals involved in their care.

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

Children are kept safe effectively. Guidance for staff is clear and practical, enabling them to respond consistently while balancing risks with children’s need for independence, social opportunities and age-appropriate experiences. Risk assessments are of a good standard and demonstrate a clear understanding of children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. They are regularly reviewed, updated following incidents and subject to effective management oversight. This helps to ensure that staff have up-to-date information to promote children’s safety while supporting their progress and development.

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

Children do go missing from home from time to time; however, this is not currently a significant safeguarding concern. When incidents occur, staff respond appropriately. They make sustained efforts to locate children, share information with relevant professionals and escalate concerns when risks increase. Records clearly detail the actions taken by staff and the decisions made. Return home interviews are completed, and children receive support following their return to help them understand and reduce future risks. One child spoke positively about the support they receive from staff when they are exposed to risk situations and said that they are confident staff will act to keep them safe.

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

Physical intervention is used infrequently and, when required, is proportionate and responsive to children’s needs. Records clearly set out the circumstances in which staff may need to intervene physically and the strategies they should use. Managers review incidents effectively to ensure that interventions remain necessary and proportionate. Children and staff receive support following incidents, providing opportunities for reflection, learning and the ongoing review of practice. This helps to promote children’s safety and wellbeing while reducing the need for future interventions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers maintain effective oversight of the home through robust monitoring systems and regular review of children’s experiences and progress. Records are comprehensive, well organised and of a good standard. They provide Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 5 staff with the information needed to understand children’s needs and respond consistently to them. Daily records capture children’s lived experiences well, reflect their individuality and celebrate their achievements. Recording is personalised and avoids institutional language. As a result, children benefit from care that is well coordinated, responsive and centred on their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of care planning is further strengthened by detailed documentation for children moving into the home. This ensures that staff have access to key information from the outset and are well equipped to understand and respond to children’s individual needs. As a result, children receive care that is informed, consistent and tailored to their circumstances. However, records do not always clearly evidence children’s involvement in, and agreement with, their plans and risk assessments. This limits managers’ ability to demonstrate how children’s views have influenced planning and decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a strong understanding of children’s individual needs and risks and respond proactively to safeguarding concerns through effective partnership working. The registered manager provides reflective and resilient leadership. During a period of significant challenge, she has maintained a clear focus on improving practice and promoting positive experiences and outcomes for children. Her child-centred approach provides stability for children and supports them to maintain meaningful and enduring relationships with the people who are important to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are committed to developing a skilled and supported workforce. Most staff are up to date with mandatory training and speak positively about the learning opportunities available to them, which enhance their ability to meet children’s needs effectively. Supervision arrangements are well established. Regular supervision, clinical support and team meetings provide staff with appropriate guidance, challenge and opportunities for reflection. Despite minor gaps during periods of annual leave, staff receive consistent support that contributes to the delivery of good-quality care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the bathrooms the children use. 31 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19) Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 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: SC420410 8

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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: Old Market Court, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 7SP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Openshaw

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Inspector

Linda Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC420410 9 and inspects 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 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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