Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

Unique reference number SC472465 Inspector Rachel Ruth Britten Type of inspection Interim 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 Samantha Millward Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 5 Inspection date 26/08/2014

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This is the first inspection following registration. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’ .

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This inspection

The home has not provided accommodation to children and young people since its registration on 6 February 2014. This inspection focuses on whether the children’s home meets its statutory requirements in order to maintain its registration and whether it is ready to accept placements.

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This inspection

The home was registered in February 2014 for children and young people with learning disabilities. No referrals to the home were accepted and the organisation decided to apply to Ofsted to vary the conditions of registration to 'emotional and behaviour difficulties' instead of 'learning disability'. This variation was agreed on 4 August 2014. However, the organisation have subsequently redeployed the Registered Manager to another home and the deputy manager is managing the home. These changes have not had an adverse impact on children or young people because there are no children on roll.

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This inspection

There has been no Registered Manager in post since 29 July 2014. The home's deputy manager is leading the home until a new appointment is made to the manager position. In addition, the home's staff team has been dispersed and altered significantly since the home was registered. Nevertheless, a group of suitably trained and experienced staff are being re-grouped to work specifically in this home and are ready to spend time together in the home before the first child or young person is placed. While it is intended that children and young people will not be admitted to the home until the new manager is in post, the staff group and deputy are adequately prepared to receive placements.

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This inspection

The environment of the home is clean, safe, well decorated and appointed. Efforts have been made to amend the environment for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. All downstairs and outdoor areas also benefit from being accessible for wheelchair use. However, the boiler is not working 3 of 5 presently and some of the specialist beds are not appropriate for children with emotional and behaviour difficulties. Bedrooms remain rather sparse with minimal furnishings and some opaque film placed on windows makes it hard to see out of them. The hard floor surfaces throughout all rooms also contribute to an unnecessarily institutional feel. A large drain hole is exposed at the side of the house and a hole at the end of the garden reveals what looks like the entrance to a former air raid shelter. As a result, the premises and garden do not fully meet the home's aims and objectives as stated in their Statement of Purpose.

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This inspection

The home has a door bell with intercom outside the front door and a key pad system to open the front door from the inside. These systems lend an institutional feel and are inappropriate for children and young people with emotional and behaviour difficulties because they stop them being able to freely get in or out of the building. In addition, the Statement of Purpose states that there are alarms relating to exit routes as well as bedroom door alarm systems. Alarms relating to exit routes are not being used at all in practice and the bedroom door alarm policy does not clearly cover all the elements described in the minimum standard. As a result, it is not completely clear to placing authorities and staff what surveillance is in use or how children and young people will be protected from its misuse.

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This inspection

Overall, the home remains fit for registration and is ready to accept placements, subject to the requirements and recommendations raised at this inspection. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a large limited company. It provides care for up to five children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the premises are of a physical design and layout which are suitable for the aims and objectives set out in the home's statement of purpose (Regulation 31 (1)) 26/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

7 (2001) appoint an individual to manage the children's home. (Regulation 7 (1)) 26/09/2014

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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 specific electronic measures that are used to monitor children to ensure that written policy and practice are in line with the minimum standard the statement of purpose. (NMS 10.5) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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