Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Devon

Unique reference number SC467704 Inspector Jim Palmer Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Cambian Childcare Limited Registered person address Pinnacle House 2 Oakwood Square, Cheadle Royal Business Park CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 3SB Responsible individual Sharon Edney Registered manager Wanda Kirsten Green Date of last inspection 26/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 05/08/2014

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This home provides high quality, effective care, with children placed at the centre of staff practice. The manager provides very good leadership and direction to the staff team. Staff demonstrate skill and resilience in meeting very complex needs and at times challenging behaviours in a calm and effective manner.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from clear consistent boundaries in which expectations are clear. Staff work with young people in a calm and reflective manner, which reinforces positive behaviour and encourages young people to set their own boundaries. As a result, young people's behaviours improve considerably. Trusting relationships and valuing young people underpin the consistent high quality care provided in this home. As a result young people develop an understanding of their backgrounds and acquire greater self-confidence and a range of skills to help them successfully manage their futures.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager and staff are highly committed to promoting positive outcomes for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people contribute to the day to day running of the home and in planning for their future lives. 3 of 10 The home has effectively addressed the one statutory requirement regarding young people accessing educational provision. The home liaises regularly with education services and has provided psychological support and guidance to teaching staff. Young people's attendance at a special educational service is good, and full-time mainstream education continues to be sought.

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Overall effectiveness

Three recommendations were also made at the last inspection. The Statement of Purpose has been revised to make it clear. A new Statement is now available which is now more easily understandable to readers. However it is not sufficiently focused on this specific home; therefore a new recommendation is made.

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Overall effectiveness

The home was also asked to ensure that staff employment references stated the applicants suitability to work with young people; this is now in place. The home was also asked to provide young people with the opportunity to take managed risks when using the internet. Since that inspection, the home has created a work book with input from young people enabling them to understand the risks involved and strategies for managing them in an age appropriate manner.

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Overall effectiveness

The new areas for improving the service are made as a result of this inspection. The manager is asked to review the Statement of Purpose to ensure it focuses specifically on this home. They have also been asked to ensure that all staff are aware of how to make a safeguarding referral directly to the statutory agencies if required. The third area for improvements is that the monitoring of records ensures that all entries are fully completed and signed and dated. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is a large and spacious detached house which offers care and accommodation for up to two young people. These young people may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 review the Statement of Purpose to ensure the aims and objectives of the hom are child focused and show how the service will meet outcomes for children. Namely by focusing specifically on the services provided within that home. (N 13.2)  ensure the children’s home procedure is in line with Government guidance and requirements including the duty to refer information to statutory bodies and it known to staff, volunteers and children. (NMS 20.2)  ensure the manager regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records ke by the home to ensure compliance with the home’s policies Namely that all records are signed and dated by the person making the entry and are fully completed. (NMS 21.2). 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are supported in developing a knowledge and understanding of their individual circumstances, through highly individualised care planning and excellent relationships with staff. Highly individual approaches to meeting young people's complex needs, allow strong relationships to develop in which trust and confidence is enhanced. Young people develop insight and positive strategies for managing their emotions and behaviour in this nurturing environment. As a result there is a reduction in aggressive and high risk behaviours. Despite the progress made, some young people do not benefit from living in this home and choose to leave the home at the earliest possible opportunity, despite the best efforts of the staff. Staff demonstrate high levels of skill and commitment to maintain a positive and non-rejecting ethos in their work with young people. It is evident that young people value these relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Contact with families is strongly promoted where it is possible to do so. Staff liaise closely with parents and other professionals, providing support to both young people and families. Contact is regular and staff support contact by providing transport and being flexible in the support they are able to offer families, particularly at times of transition.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's attendance at school is good and staff liaises with school or alternative educational provision. The manager advocates effectively on behalf of young people to seek the most appropriate educational provision available and to seek mainstream school placements for young people. Despite this pro-active approach such resources may take some time to secure. Staff promote educational achievement and attendance. They encourage young people to develop their knowledge and understanding of other cultures by offering themed activity projects exploring other cultures throughout the year. For example young people are invited to nominate a country for each month of the year then undertake research into that country's culture, climate, religions and diet in order to broaden their knowledge. Young people enjoy this project work and become actively involved.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged to be aware of their local community and participate in it. The manager has established strong links with neighbours and community police officers, as a result community relations are generally good and any concerns are resolved quickly. Young people benefit from good levels of community participation. Young people's social interaction improves significantly whilst living in this home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's health is promoted through having access to a wide range of medical and health services including emotional health through the in house psychological support and where appropriate Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Young people attend regular health checks and each has detailed individual health plans. 6 of 10 They are supported in making healthy lifestyle choices, and understand the importance of a healthy diet, exercise and good personal care. Despite this some young people continue to participate in high risk behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Each young person has an age appropriate programme for developing life and social skills and becoming more independent. Older young people are given the opportunity to manage a budget, discuss relationships and sexual health and develop strategies for keeping themselves safe when using computers and social media.

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Quality of care outstanding

The staff and manager have high aspirations for young people, and seek to maximise young people's potential. All staff have a thorough knowledge of young people's goals and targets and how they contribute toward achieving them. Most young people develop trusting effective relationships with staff in which they gain considerable insight and understanding about themselves and their relationships with others. Staff are very aware of the importance of good role modelling and are patient and calm when managing challenging behaviours. As a result young people's behaviour improves significantly.

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Quality of care outstanding

The manager and senior staff provide very good leadership to the staff and their knowledge and experience underpins the consistently good child care practice within the home.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff take a high level of care to ensure that the wishes and views of young people are sought in the day to day running of the home. They are consulted and there are effective systems in place for receiving feedback from young people, their families and social workers. Whilst staff seek the views and wishes of young people, they take time to explain to young people why they think some views may not be in their best interest.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from having highly individual placement plans and young people are encouraged and supported in the development of them. Staff knowledge of each young person is good; social workers and Independent Reviewing Officers report that, the manager and staff are pro-active in communicating effectively with families and all professionals involved in the care of young people. The manager is efficient and ensures to the best of her ability that all necessary information on young people is gathered at the time of placement requests and that all reviews and planning meetings take place on time. As a result young people's plans are thoroughly monitored and reviewed in a timely manner.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people's placement plans address issues of individual need, including, any physical or emotional needs, or needs arising from faith, culture and gender. Specialist advice or support or training is available to staff and individual services are available to young people. The staff and manager are pro-active in seeking specialist 7 of 10 input or support if required, for example, by consulting with a psychologist on effective strategies for managing behaviour by painting portions of some walls with blackboard paint, allowing a section to be used for comments without causing damage.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people's education is promoted, by staff working closely with school to develop joint strategies for working with young people. For example a psychologist employed by the company has gone into school to support and assist teaching staff in working in a consistent manner with young people. This has enabled young people, some of whom may have had disrupted educational experiences, to attend regularly and make good progress. This pro-active approach to joint working has been commented on positively by other professionals.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people are valued in this home and as a result confidence and self-esteem grow significantly. They are aware how to raise any concerns they may have about how they are being looked after, and believe any concerns would be treated fairly.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home provides a large spacious, well equipped and comfortable environment for young people. It is well decorated, maintained and furnished. It is very well suited to meet the needs of young people. The garden provides a safe enclosed play area and there is a programme in place to improve the garden environment. The home is situated in a secluded cul-de-sac and cannot be distinguished from any other family home in the area.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people are offered a wide range of leisure activities and say there are always plenty of things to do. Many activities are designed to develop self-esteem and socialisation. For example by encouraging young people who have difficulty in forming social relationships to participate in group activities such as supervised sports and group leisure activities. There is also a range of indoor activities, such as a world culture project and access to a computer. The home has introduced guidance for young people on safe practice when using the internet and social media.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people's safety is very well promoted in this home, they feel safe and are relaxed in the home. Staff are very aware of their responsibilities regarding the safety of young people and are extremely vigilant, though not intrusive in establishing their whereabouts. Staff are very aware of individual risk factors for each young person, particularly should they be absent without authority. Staff go to considerable lengths to promote young people's safety if they are missing. The home has an agreed protocol and excellent relationships with local police officers, social workers and families. Staff are very aware of the reasons why some young people may go missing from home and invest time with each young person regarding the risks. Despite this pro-active approach, not all young people follow the advice given to them. The safeguarding policy is known by staff however, the guidance provided for staff

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Keeping children and young people safe good

8 of 10 regarding making external safeguarding referrals is unclear and not always fully understood.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has good systems for referring any safeguarding concerns through the nominated child protection lead. All such concerns are made in a timely manner and appropriately notified to the responsible agencies.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Placements requests are carefully considered by the manager and staff team. Thoughtful placement matching takes place to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest are identified. The use of impact risk assessments and behaviour is managed by positive detailed pre-placement information gathering, which minimises risks and ensures they can be effectively managed. Comprehensive regularly reviewed risk assessment for individuals, activities and equipment further promotes the safety of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff use positive reinforcement and regular engagement with young people to successfully manage behaviour. Staff are imaginative in seeking ways to promote good behaviour; this is commented on in feedback from professionals. As a result most young people's behaviours improve considerably. Young people learn to effectively manage their own behaviours, reducing the need for staff intervention, as a result sanctions are generally not used and the use of restraint has reduced significantly on a month on month basis.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff recruitment systems are robust further enhancing young people's safety. All visitors to the home have their identity checked and are supervised at all times unless they have been appropriately appointed. The home has good systems for maintaining the health and safety of young people and staff. All equipment is regularly maintained and checked and fire safety drills are completed at intervals which exceed the regulations.

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Leadership and management good

The manager provides excellent leadership and direction to staff. She sets high expectations, for young people, staff and herself. She has substantial experience in working and managing children's home. The manager holds National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in working with Children and Young People at level 4 and holds the Registered Managers Award (RMA). She has a long record of successfully managing children's homes in the past.

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Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from living in an efficiently managed home in which their interests are placed at the centre of practice. The home is developing a good track record of implementing any recommendations or requirements arising from previous inspections. The manager and staff effectively address any issues identified in the monitoring of the service. The manager seeks to keep abreast of any good practice and professional research and disseminates these to the staff team. For example by 9 of 10 using practice development websites and discussion at team meetings. During the course of the inspection she was observed, seeking information from the internet to further enhance her professional knowledge.

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Leadership and management good

Staff say they are well supported and feel they are able to raise any concerns in an open manner. Staff value regular supervision, and say they find this effective along with the staff training and development plan. Staff receive all core training within the first six months of employment and have on-going personal development plans.

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Leadership and management good

The manager has effective systems in place for monitoring the quality of the service and a detailed service development plan is in place. This plan holds specific targets along with timescales for implementation. These are subject to regular review. Despite this monitoring and regular audit, not all entries in a number of records are signed or dated by the person making the entry. Young people's case records hold all key information and are well structured and kept up to date.

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Leadership and management good

The home is well resourced and the manager reports that maintenance requests are completed in a timelier manner than previously. There are sufficient staffing levels to enable staff to spend individual time with young people.

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Leadership and management good

All significant events are notified to the appropriate agencies within statutory timescales.

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Leadership and management good

The home has revised the Statement of Purpose and children's guide, to ensure that it is clear to all readers, whilst this recommendation from the last inspection has been complied with; the statement is not sufficiently focused on this specific home. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

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

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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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.

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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.

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