Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Unique reference number SC456942 Inspector Michelle Bacon Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Cambian Childcare Limited Registered person address Pinnacle House 2 Oakwood Square, Cheadle Royal Business Park CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 3SB Responsible individual Kamran Iltaf Abassi Registered manager Louise Ann Taylor Date of last inspection 08/01/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 25/06/2014

p.1

Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement activity since the last inspection.

p.2

Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The home provides personalised and well-planned care that takes into account the individual needs of young people. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home which enables them to strive for improvement. However, the home does not have an up-to-date development plan in place. This means the manager is not able to measure the home's performance against identified objectives or demonstrate how they plan to move forward.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Some young people make good progress despite only being accommodated for a short period of time. However, for other young people their risk taking behaviour has impacted on their placement stability. Young people say they feel safe and are kept safe. The staff provide high levels of supervision to help protect young people; however this potentially restricts young people as they prepare for their transition into adulthood.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Staff are very knowledgeable about the individual needs of young people. They work effectively with external agencies to promote and protect their welfare. An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) commented that the staff and Registered Manager are ‘ very committed ‛ to their young person despite them only being accommodated for a relatively short period of time. A social worker commented that 3 of 9 the staff team are ‘ very motivated and resilient.′ Young people benefit from a stable, caring and nurturing staff group. As a result, there is a significant decline in their risky behaviours. Young people's views are central to the operation of the home which gives them a sense of belonging.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Although the home demonstrates a capacity for continued improvement there are some areas for further development. These relate to: young people taking appropriate risks, healthcare plans, prompting independence and an up-to-date development plan. 4 of 9

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home, run by a private company, provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 29/05/2013 Full adequate

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure the staff encourage young people to take appropriate risks as a part o normal growing up. Young people are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe including outside the home and when using the internet or so media. (NMS 4.4)  ensure young people understand their health needs, how to maintain a health lifestyle and to make informed decisions about their own health(NMS 6.2)  ensure young people receive care which helps for them to prepare for and supports them into adulthood(NMS 12)  ensure an up-to-date development plan is in place, reviewed annually, for the future of the home.(NMS 15.2) 5 of 9

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people benefit from having their emotional and psychological health needs met. For example, they have access to specialist services that helps them to develop emotional resilience. However, young people have only been in placement for a relatively short period of time and, as a result, progress in this area is limited. Nevertheless, from their starting point of placement some young people have significantly reduced their risky behaviours.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are registered with health professionals to ensure that their physical health needs are met. However, their health care plans do not clearly identify how issues such as weight management and smoking are to be addressed. Furthermore, it is not clear how young people are supported take responsibility for their own health in readiness for their move towards independence.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people are no longer of compulsory school age. However, they have been proactive in sourcing and securing themselves a place on an apprenticeship. This has improved their self-esteem and confidence. Furthermore, this enhances their future aspirations, life chances and economic well-being.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are supported to engage in activities within the local community, such as swimming and going to the cinema. However, high levels of supervision limit their opportunity to have new experiences and make friends with young people of a similar age.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are supported to maintain contact with their families where appropriate. A placing social worker commented that the staff are helping their young person ‘build bridges’ with family. Staff are aware of the importance of promoting contact for young people which includes transporting them some distance to visits. This ensures important attachments are maintained.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people participate in a number of household tasks, including cooking and shopping that helps to develop their life skills. However, young people who have reached the age of 16 are not yet on a formal programme of independence. For example, they do not travel independently or take responsibility for their own budget. This limits young people learning to take greater responsibility for themselves in readiness for their transition to adult life.

p.5

Quality of care good

6 of 9 The quality of relationships between young people and staff is very good. Young people feel that staff consistently care about them and they feel valued and respected. Observations of interactions demonstrate that these are relaxed and good humoured while appropriate boundaries are maintained. Young people said they are able to talk to staff about their problems. One placing social worker commented ‘the staff have taken everything on board…they have done everything they said they would.‛ An IRO also commented that they have been ‘quite impressed with the in- house CAHMS.′ Consequently, young people are beginning to thrive in a nurturing and supportive environment.

p.6

Quality of care good

Comprehensive planning and assessment ensures that young people's individual needs are addressed. All staff are fully aware of young people's care needs and how these will be met. Young people contribute to the development of their placement plans which are reviewed regularly to monitor their progress. There is an effective working relationship between the home and placing social worker. A social worker confirmed that the staff are supportive of their young person's return back to their home area. The staff have high expectations for the young people they care for and demonstrate a strong commitment to improving outcomes.

p.6

Quality of care good

Regular house meetings and key worker sessions provide young people with a forum to express their views and opinions on the day-to-day running of the home. For example, in menu choices, activities and décor of the home. This assists young people to become more confident in expressing themselves and to feel valued as an individual. Young people know how to complain because they are provided with good information about this. However, young people have no complaints about the home.

p.6

Quality of care good

A psychologist from the organisation's in-house CAMHS team meets with the staff for regular consultations. This ensures that the staff team are provided with effective support and guidance in supporting young people's emotional and behavioural needs. Furthermore, staff have received specific training on topics, such as self-harm. This ensures they have the appropriate skills to support young people's emotional well- being.

p.6

Quality of care good

Young people are fully supported to attend education or gain employment. Staff make sure young people are set for their day, and talk to them about their day on their return. Additionally, staff celebrate young people's achievements through praise and rewards. This gives young people a sense of achievement and improves their confidence.

p.6

Quality of care good

Overall young people live in a well-maintained home that blends into the residential area. At the time of this inspection, work was underway to improve the décor of the bathroom. Young people have their own bedroom which they are able to personalise to reflect their own taste and style. Additionally, young people are able to keep a small pet which helps to enhance their sense of belonging. 7 of 9

p.6

Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people confirm that they are safe and feel safe. Staff are trained in safeguarding matters and are very clear about their responsibility to safeguard young people. Before living here, young people engaged in behaviours that placed them at risk. Now they feel more secure which has resulted in a significant reduction in these behaviours. This is because staff work consistently and implement effective boundaries that help to keep young people safe.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe good

Individual behaviour management plans and risk assessments further promote the welfare and safety of young people. These provide staff with clear strategies for the management of young people's behaviour. Young people respond well to the incentives in place. Consequently very few sanctions have been imposed and there are no incidents of physical intervention.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has clear protocols in place regarding the management of young people who go missing from home. Furthermore, multi-agency risk management meetings take place to promote the safety of young people. Despite this some young people continued to place themselves at risk by frequently going missing which resulted in the home serving notice on their placement. There have been no incidents of young people being reported missing since March 2014.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe good

The organisation has effective recruitment and selection processes in place to ensure young people are only cared for by suitable people.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe good

The home provides young people with a physically safe and secure environment. All health and safety checks are up to date. There are regular fire drills to ensure young people know how to leave the premises safely in the event of fire.

p.7

Leadership and management good

The manager has been registered since October 2012, and provides effective leadership. She is suitably qualified to level 3 in childcare, and is currently undertaking her level 5 in management. She is also the Registered Manager for another two homes within the organisation. However, she divides her time well between the homes, and there is a suitably qualified first line manager who deputises in her absence.

p.7

Leadership and management good

A clear Statement of Purpose ensures that the aims and objectives of the home are clearly set out. This has recently been updated to ensure compliance with the revised regulations. This means that young people and placing authorities have current information about the service.

p.7

Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from the consistency of care provided by a stable staff team. The team offers a good balance of gender and age to meet young people's needs. 8 of 9 Most staff have obtained the required qualifications to support them in their roles. New staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. All mandatory courses are up-to-date and staff have access to training specific to the needs of the young people they care for. This enables staff to meet the needs of young people effectively. Staff receive regular supervision and are well supported in their roles.

p.7

Leadership and management good

Professionals confirm that there is good communication between the home and partner agencies to ensure the welfare and safety of young people is protected.

p.8

Leadership and management good

The recommendations from the previous inspection are met. All staff have had their annual appraisal to assess their performance and identify any areas of development. Notifications received demonstrate that the home has acted appropriately in working in partnership with other safeguarding agencies to promote young people's welfare. A third recommendation to ensure all documentation is signed by the relevant parties has been addressed; records are maintained to a good standard and young people contribute to and sign their records. They provide a comprehensive picture of a young person's time at the home.

p.8

Leadership and management good

Good systems are in place for monitoring the quality of care provided to young people. Regular visits are completed by an external manager who provides a detailed report of their visit, including any actions they have identified to improve the quality of care. The manager also undertakes regular monitoring of the home. However, the home's development plan has not been updated recently. This means the manager is not able to measure the home's performance against identified objectives or demonstrate how they plan to move forward. Despite this the home demonstrates a capacity for continued improvement based on its performance since the last inspection. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.8

Leadership and management good

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.9

Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

p.9

Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

p.9

Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

p.9

Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

p.9

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.9

Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

p.9