Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in East Riding of Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC460063 Inspector Ann-Marie Born 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 Samantha Millward Registered manager Roy Kirk Date of last inspection 03/01/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 05/11/2014

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Previous inspection not judged Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good service overall in which young people make significant progress across all areas of their lives. Young people are very positive about the care they receive and are able to describe the difference the home has made to their lives. Young people say they feel safe and are listened to. Professionals confirm this view. A young person wrote, ‘I like living in the home and they keep us safe’.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people thrive as a result of the safe and trusting relationships they have with staff. The positive regard and attachment young people have with staff enable them to manage emotions, relationships and adversity. Consequently young people are empowered to engage fully in education, significantly reduce their risk-taking behaviour, engage in positive activities and plan ahead for their future. The deputy manager said of a young person’s significant progress, ‘It’s that firmness, boundary and consistency which is really reassuring and she feels she belongs. It’s that inclusion all the time.’

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first full inspection since this home was registered in May 2014. There is excellent focus upon the individual needs of each young person. In addition, young people fully benefit from the proactive management team’s high expectations of all staff and continuous development of the care provided. For example, the newly appointed on-site therapist is accessible to staff and has a positive influence over the 3 of 10 day-to-day care offered. As a result of this strong leadership and therapeutic focus, the staff understand the complex needs of each young person and offer exceptional individualised care. Nevertheless there are some areas for development. These include ensuring all staff fully understand the home’s record keeping policies; that some specialist training is provided and that outside storage facilities are installed. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a large private company. It is registered to provide care for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There is also a school on the site.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2014 Interim not judged 08/10/2013 Interim not judged 18/03/2013 Full adequate

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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

 ensure that avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. For example, that bicycles and gas canisters are stored outside (NMS 10.3)  ensure that staff are equipped to meet the needs of the children and purpose of the setting. In particular, that staff receive specialist training on the administration of medication and self-harm (NMS 18.1)  ensure that all staff are familiar with home’s policies on record keeping, trained to maintain them and to understand the need to be careful, objective and clear when making records. (Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations - Volume 5 – 3.28) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people make significant progress across a spectrum of areas. Young people feel both listened to and that the home is making a difference to their lives. They say, ‘At home I was struggling a lot, but here is the future and, in the future I will be going home’ and, ‘I no longer need to go missing as I am happy now’. A local police officer describes the home as a ‘pleasure to work with’.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s substantial progress and achievement are underpinned by the home’s focus upon emotional health and well-being. Young people are empowered to use the guidance and support they receive positively to promote reflection and to assist them in making positive choices. Young people grow in confidence and self-worth as a result of being able to make sense of their backgrounds, experiences and past trauma. Young people learn how to express feelings of anger and disappointment safely and more positively. One young person feels that if the home had not actively listened to how they feel about their family they ‘would have been off’. Also, that it is important that the home knows that they ‘still love their mum and dad’.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s physical health improves as they enjoy a healthy diet and regularly benefit from inclusive community based sports and activities. Communal meal times and positive activities are a central part of the home. Young people are developing self-awareness with regards to the benefits of personal hygiene, which helps with their self-image and self-esteem. As a result young people’s immediate and long term health outcomes are much improved.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s attendance and achievement in the home’s school is excellent. Young people’s self-confidence and emotional resilience is further enhanced by the individual support they receive from the home to complete their homework daily. Young people are now motivated in education and have future aspirations, greatly enhancing their self-esteem and life chances. An independent reviewing officer (IRO) stated, ‘she’s going to school, that’s massive that she’s doing that.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours have significantly reduced, including the cessation of substance misuse, and missing from home episodes are currently not a feature. Young people feel included, valued and important empowering them to have the confidence to make positive life choices as a result of the trusting relationships they have developed with staff. A young person wrote, ‘they get me and I get them’ and an IRO stated ‘I’m really thrilled she’s there.’

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Quality of care outstanding

6 of 10 Young people enjoy meaningful and trusting relationships with staff. Assessment of young people’s needs and the emerging approach taken to their care is at the centre of the home’s work. There is a considered approach taken to each young person’s needs, interests and strengths and a strong focus upon young people’s wishes and feelings.

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Quality of care outstanding

The exceptional understanding which staff bring to the care offered takes into consideration each young person’s own history and how their experiences have impacted upon their development. This insight is further complimented and enhanced by the therapeutic input given by the on-site therapist. The care provided is under continuous review and reflection via weekly consultation between the staff and the therapist. This enables staff to widen and increase their understanding of the challenges each young person brings and improve their responses. One member of staff described their experiences of this process as ‘really amazing .. (the therapist) is really good at communicating things and putting things over in a positive way, so that when we are dealing with the young person we are constantly thinking about what might have happened in their past which helps when we are dealing with situations – it really has been so positive for the young people.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Through continuously shaping their responses, the staff are able to improve how they encourage young people to better manage their behaviour, integrate into their local communities, gain success in education, enjoy meaningful leisure activities and explore new opportunities.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people are seen to influence the running of the home via weekly home meetings, personalised choice in leisure activities, regular keyworker sessions, personalisation of rooms, choice of meals and, less formal means of regular and positive interactions with staff. The home reflects young people’s achievements such as the display of their art work and active conversations about participation in the local football team. The replacement of risk-taking activities for meaningful community-based activities for young people has facilitated the means of them achieving recognised success outside the home. This also effectively enables young people to experience the making of safe and positive choices.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people further benefit from the solid professional relationships which the home has with other agencies such as police, the Local Authority and education. Communication from the home to these other agencies is a strong feature. A police officer stated, ‘I have to say that we have had a really positive experience with them.’

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Quality of care outstanding

The committed and nurturing staff team have high aspirations for young people and there is an active and keen interest in their daily educational programme. Homework is formally supported and school activities are discussed informally on a daily basis with young people. This active interest in their achievements and progress continues to support the positive choices young people make with regards to the importance of education and their future ambitions. For example, one young person now has the 7 of 10 confidence to proclaim that she wants to be either a chef or a police officer and is fully supported by staff in believing she can achieve either.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people are cared for in an environment which actively promotes and celebrates difference in society. These are explored via monthly themes and are discussed at the young people’s meetings. Young people’s individual and diverse needs are identified and planned for; further enhancing their sense of self and feelings of self-worth. In addition, young people’s involvement in a range of positive, inclusive activities in the community provides them with a sense of belonging and builds confidence in their abilities to make sustainable, productive friendships.

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Quality of care outstanding

The exceptional focus and the understanding of each young person’s background, provides insight into the emotional journey each young person is making. Staff speak enthusiastically about the progress and achievements of young people. The consistent approach is applied across all staff and benefits from the guidance of the newly appointed on-site therapist. The advice and support from the therapist is integrated and applied to the daily care of the young people. This specialist support is considered by the staff and managers to be extremely beneficial for developing trusting relationships between staff and the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people are and feel safe in this home. The proactive, nurturing staff team are well aware that young people’s differing abilities may make them susceptible to either being bullied or exhibiting bullying behaviours. Exceptional risk assessments identify young people's individual vulnerabilities and inform proactive care planning. Professionals are very positive about the work undertaken by the home to keep young people safe and to enable them to understand the importance of learning self- care and protection skills. Young people are safeguarded by these measures. A young person stated, 'I feel safe here because they listen and they know me.'

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

The committed staff team's knowledge of and stringent attention to robust locally agreed protocols ensure that staff know what to do if a young person goes missing from this home. In addition, staff proactively search for young people and actively prevent them from leaving the area. For example, stopping a train a young person was on. As a result young people feel protected, valued and cared for and missing episodes dramatically reduce in comparison to previous placements; ceasing as young people engage with the care provided. An IRO commented, 'They certainly pulled out the stops to protect her.'

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Excellent, individual behaviour management plans are complemented by detailed risk assessments ensuring that young people’s vulnerabilities and triggers are well known and planned for. Young people further benefit from effective implementation of the positive and negative consequences scheme. This enables young people to learn from the consequences of their negative behaviours and celebrate positive 8 of 10 interactions with staff. As a result young people’s behaviour improves as they settle within the home and accept that staff will consistently care for and about them. A young person said, 'I like it here and I trust (name). If he says he’s going to do something, he does.'

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

As a result of these positive relationships, restraints are very rarely needed. Young people are safeguarded by the stringent attention to robust physical intervention procedures. These ensure that all participants are provided with the opportunity to reflect on the intervention enabling them to learn lessons and prevent further physical interventions. However, the quality of recordings following such events is inconsistent as not all staff complete records appropriately.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Comprehensive recruitment and vetting procedures are bolstered by a detailed induction programme and well monitored probationary period. This ensures young people are not cared for by people who may pose a risk to them.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people's physical safety is assured by attention to the detailed health and safety procedures. Regular fire drills ensure young people would know what to do in the case of an emergency.

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Leadership and management good

The home is well managed by an experienced and capable manager. He has held the post of Registered Manager for over thirteen years and is fully qualified to meet the needs of the young people in his care. In addition he holds the NVQ Assessors Award. He is ably supported by an enthusiastic, experienced and competent deputy manager. They complement each other well providing young people with a consistent, caring home which ensures their needs are fully met.

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Leadership and management good

This is the first full inspection since registration of this home therefore there were no previous requirements or recommendations. Nevertheless, the management team are continually striving to improve care. For example, incorporating the consistent behaviour management techniques taught by the new therapist. Young people thrive within the warm, stable atmosphere this nurturing development provides.

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Leadership and management good

The home’s comprehensive Statement of Purpose provides interested parties with a clear view of the care provided. As a result young people are appropriately placed enhancing their opportunities for success. Robust internal monitoring processes are complemented by external reports which detail the progress being made in the home and any areas for improvement. The manager uses young people’s views well to inform change. A young person said, 'If they hadn’t listened and if the manager hadn't talked to my social worker on my behalf I would have been off. I don’t need to go missing now, I'm happy here.'

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Leadership and management good

The manager’s development plan is a living document which is regularly reviewed to 9 of 10 evidence progress made. These include the development of relationships with professionals to promote the safety of young people and using the strengths and staff diversity positively to enhance young people's understanding of differences. For example, understanding vegetarianism.

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Leadership and management good

The home has recently been decorated to a high standard and there are further ongoing improvements to the site as a whole. However, there are no outside storage facilities leading to large items being stowed inappropriately in the worker's 'sleep in' room and the laundry room.

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Leadership and management good

Staff are well supported to fulfil their role. Regular supervision of good quality ensures all staff understand their role and how best to benefit young people. In addition, the daily debrief sessions and the opportunities to work with the home’s psychologist ensure that they continually increase their skills and provide young people with consistent care.

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Leadership and management good

Staff receive robust, good training in all core areas. This ensures they are equipped to meet the presenting needs of young people. In addition, training in specialist areas, including child sexual exploitation ensures that young people are safeguarded. A staff member stated, 'The training that we had therapist wise on attachment and self-soothing is the best we’ve had in the company.' However, staff report that there are some areas where they would benefit from having a more thorough understanding than the in-house training programme provides. These include managing the impact of self-harming and the administration of medication.

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Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from access to their records. These provide young people with an understanding of their backgrounds and the plans for their future. They are stored securely maintaining confidentiality and privacy.

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Leadership and management good

Young people are safeguarded by the robust attention to procedure which ensures that any significant events are notified in a timely manner to all appropriate authorities, including Ofsted. A specialist police officer stated, 'In the past we’ve had some high risk cases being placed in our area from out of town and we’ve not had the information to protect them. But that hasn’t been the case with the home and (name) is very protected.' 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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