Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Middlesbrough

Unique reference number SC465079 Inspector Nicholas Murphy 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 Lorna Ann Fearon Registered manager Simon Anthony Duffy Date of last inspection 13/02/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 28/08/2014

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection there has been no enforcement action since the last inspection

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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

The home provides an outstandingly caring and nurturing experience for young people. Staff are committed to the welfare of young people and advocate strongly on their behalf. They seek young people’s views at every opportunity and try their best to accommodate their wishes. At the same time, the home provides structure and boundaries, motivating young people to learn new skills and be better prepared for independence. As a result, outcomes for young people who have moved on are very good.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are sensitive to young people’s needs and feelings, and have a thorough understanding of what makes each young person different. Staff manage difficult or damaging behaviour calmly and skilfully, demonstrating to young people their genuine concern for their well-being. A social worker said, ‘Staff here are very adaptable and very caring.’ Care plans are clear in setting out the action which needs to be taken to reduce or remove barriers to progress.

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Overall effectiveness

The home accommodates young people who can pose significant threats to themselves or others. Staff work well with other agencies to implement consistent risk management plans. The staff team is creative and energetic in developing different approaches and is eager to learn new skills. Consequently, young people’s 3 of 9 risky behaviour is contained or reduced and in general young people feel safe here. A social worker said, ‘The home is very good. It provides the young person with one to one care in a nurturing environment. It is the right place for them to be.’

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Overall effectiveness

The management of the home is sound. Staff have the right skills to support young people with complex needs. No statutory requirements or recommendations have been made following this inspection. 4 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

In general, young people’s health is good. They do not smoke or use alcohol or drugs. They understand the importance of attending routine appointments such as the optician and dentist. They appreciate what makes for a healthy diet, knowing the benefits that fresh fruit and vegetables bring. Some young people have significant emotional difficulties which result in self-harming behaviour. However, young people are beginning to respond to the help and support offered by staff and others, reducing the incidence of this behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Some young people have made excellent progress in education. One young person left the home recently having completed a preliminary vocational college course and has enrolled for a second year. Others have come to the home with a history of chronic non-school attendance and do not yet have a school place. Nevertheless, they have begun to engage with a programme of home tuition and have undertaken some work of an academic and creative nature with staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress in becoming more confident and independent, some substantially so. Some young people find it difficult to make sense of their complex background and how it affects their emotions and behaviour. Nevertheless, they are developing greater insight into why they behave as they do and are more able to talk openly about their feelings.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have good quality contact with family members, in some cases repairing relationships which were strained prior to coming to the home. Those young people who have come a long way from their home area have also been supported to maintain family contact. Additionally, they have developed significant relationships in the local area, which has been important in supporting their transition into independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff encourage young people to acquire skills which will be useful to them as they move into adulthood. Young people appreciate the additional independence and competence this gives them. On leaving the home, one said, ‘I’m really pleased that my key worker showed me how to make meals from scratch and know what the different herbs are used for. I have learned how to look after myself.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff understand the importance of structure for young people and so ensure that there is a consistent routine in place. Nevertheless, there is great scope for young people to make suggestions about how the home runs. They are able to have input 6 of 9 into day to day decisions such as menus or what activities they want to do. Staff have a deep awareness of the impact that living away from home has on young people and are sensitive to their feelings of loss. Because of this, staff give young people as much control over their lives as possible, consistent with keeping them safe. For example, staff advocate for young people in decision making about contact arrangements or how many professionals attend their looked after review.

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Quality of care outstanding

Relationships between young people and staff are excellent. Even young people who have been here only a short while are developing trust in the staff and an awareness that they have their best interests at heart. A member of staff said, ‘I believe the home’s greatest priority is to make young people feel loved, cared for and nurtured.’ Staff respond to young people with warmth, accepting their occasional bad moods with tolerance and understanding. The overall approach of staff is positive and upbeat, accentuating young people’s qualities while dealing with their challenges. When asked what the staff could possibly do better, a young person simply said, ‘they couldn’t’.

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Quality of care outstanding

Care plans are very well written and detailed, taking full account of each young people’s individual needs. They are regularly updated as circumstances change or events take place, with very thorough oversight by senior staff to ensure that the quality of planning is maintained. Staff take pains to ensure that young people are fully aware of and involved in their care plans. Frequent individual sessions with key workers enable young people to understand how they and the home can work together to achieve progress.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are persistent in promoting the value of good physical and psychological health. They are successful in encouraging young people to be comfortable with their body image and to be aware of how their bodies work. Staff are particularly good at working with other professionals to manage complex emotional issues such as self- harming behaviour. Close liaison with child and adolescent mental health services has helped staff to develop their understanding of what lies behind this behaviour, and adopt strategies for supporting young people. These services also provide programmes of direct work with young people, facilitated by the home. In addition, the registered provider’s own psychologist in training provides very regular consultation for staff. This enables them to reflect on how they deal with this issue and be more effective in helping young people. The home has arranged for two staff to have training in a specific therapeutic technique which will further increase their

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Quality of care outstanding

range of skills in minimising harm. The breadth of work being undertaken by staff is having noticeable impact on young people, who are now more able to discuss their feelings and explore different ways of coping with stress.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff have established productive links with local providers such as colleges. This has been very helpful in enabling young people to choose the vocational course which suits them and build a sound foundation for a future career. For young people still of school age, staff liaise closely with education and social work professionals in the drawing up and implementation of the personal education plan. Where a young 7 of 9 person is not able to access a school place, staff work with home tutors to ensure that continuity of education is maintained. Additionally, staff support young people in completing pieces of work in English, mathematics and art. This bridges the gap until an educational placement is identified.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff provide young people with a range of activities; physical, recreational and cultural. Some young people’s care needs are such that it is not safe for them to have unsupervised time outside the home. In these cases, staff give them as much opportunity as possible to enjoy experiences in the community, such as Sunday lunch in a local pub.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home works well to safeguard young people, some of whom present significant risks either to themselves or others. Staff have strong links with other agencies, including the police, to ensure that there is a robust multi-agency approach to any concerns. Risk assessments on young people are very detailed and reviewed frequently to ensure that measures to control any risks remain appropriate and relevant. These measures relate not only to the physical environment (for example, ensuring that there are no implements which young people can use to self-harm) but also to the way in which staff respond to young people. Examples include staff acting as positive role models, giving praise and encouragement and promoting positive connections with people inside and outside the home. These strategies improve young people’s self-esteem and help them to deflect any negative thoughts. A social worker commented, ‘Staff are managing self-harming behaviour well, learning new

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There has been only one incident of a young person going missing since the last inspection, and this only for a couple of hours. Planning for such incidents, however, is detailed and comprehensive. This ensures that should a young person go missing, the response will be prompt and effective.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people behave very well. The quality of the relationship between staff and young people means that, in general, the reasonable rules and routines within the home are followed without fuss. The effectiveness of behaviour management is illustrated by the complete absence of any incidents of physical restraint or even the need to use sanctions on young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The registered provider has a rigorous process for the recruitment of staff. This assures that only people who are suitable to work with children are employed. In addition, the safety of the building is maintained through regular checks, both by specialist contractors and the staff themselves. Arrangements for fire safety are sound, with regular fire drills and weekly inspections of equipment and systems. 8 of 9

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post only since July 2014, but has previously undertaken this role in other children’s homes. He is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Leadership and management good

At the last inspection, one statutory requirement and one recommendation were made. Both have been addressed. The home sends a copy of its statement of purpose to Ofsted whenever it is revised. This means that the regulator can be aware of any potentially significant changes within the home, particularly in relation to the qualifications, experience and numbers of staff. One of the carpets has been replaced, adding to the overall quality of the interior.

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Leadership and management good

The home is well-resourced, evident in the clean, warm and well-decorated environment. The quality of the physical surroundings complements the welcoming and friendly tone of the children’s guide given to young people on admission. The overall impression that young people gain is that they are valued and that staff prioritise their well-being above all else.

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Leadership and management good

Monitoring visits to the home by an independent person are carried out within the required timescale. Reports of these visits are detailed and address all relevant areas. Monitoring by the Registered Manager is also thorough and provides evaluation of how the home supports young people in making progress. It also takes account of the views of young people, their parents and social workers, enabling shortfalls in practice to be identified and addressed.

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Leadership and management good

There are always sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of young people and keep them safe. Senior staff are experienced and provide sound leadership to the team, establishing a consistent culture of quality and high aspirations for young people. Not all staff have yet achieved the necessary qualification but they are making good progress in this. Additionally, staff have access to a range of training opportunities which provides them with the skills they need to look after young people and promote their welfare. Senior staff provide regular, formal supervision to staff. Records confirm that these sessions are reflective and child-centred, giving staff the confidence they need to support young people through difficulties. 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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