Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bedford

Unique reference number SC476251 Inspector Rosie Davie 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 Victor Takadiwa Registered manager POST VACANT / Keir Barry Bracken Date of last inspection 18/06/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 24/02/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection None

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the full inspection in June 2014 the overall quality rating for the service was judged as adequate. Managers have worked to meet some of the regulations from the previous inspection. For example, the home closed in July 2014 for a period to provide training to the staff team. However, this inspection identified regulatory shortfalls relating to staffing, supervision, the internal environment and safeguarding. Recommendations focus on raising practice standards regarding the approach to education and physical intervention.

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This inspection

Continual issues regarding the continuity of staffing have had a direct impact on the consistency of care provided for young people. This does not meet regulatory requirements. Support and supervision of staff has been inconsistent. The result is that the quality of care offered to young people has fallen short.

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This inspection

Young people identify bullying as an issue in this home. The home has an anti- bullying policy that managers and staff have failed to implement. This does not protect young people or keep them safe from harm. Episodes of missing from the home had begun to reduce. However, recently some young people left the home placing themselves at risk without the staff’s knowledge. This compromises young people’s safety and welfare.

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This inspection

The home has a school on site. Young people’s attendance fluctuates. One social worker said: ‘More could be done to creatively engage young people to attend and participate in school.’

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This inspection

During this inspection aspects of the home environment looked uncared for. Whilst the interim manager has taken action to put some things right this does not create a welcoming and homely environment for young people to relax and feel comfortable in. 3 of 6 Staff use physical intervention when young people are in crisis. Managers take appropriate action when young people allege that staff do not follow the model used by the company. There is an overall short fall in practice because records sampled do not evidence that staff have the opportunity for a debrief following each intervention. This does not support staff to reflect on, or to improve practice.

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This inspection

Some young people have recently begun to prepare for independence. They are receiving help to learn new skills in readiness for adulthood.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager left the home in February 2015. In recognition that the home was failing, the organisation’s senior managers deployed another experienced interim manager to work in the home prior to the Registered Manager’s departure. A further new manager begins working in the home from March 2015. At the time of the inspection the home’s senior managers were already aware of many the concerns identified in this inspection. They are working to address these. In addition, the homes responsible individual has agreed to limit the number of young people living at the home until such time as staffing and standards of practice improve. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This service is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children 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 that all parts of the children's home used by children are of sound construction and kept in good structural repair externally and internally and are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (2) (d) (e)) 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times, having regard to the size of the children's home, the number and needs of the children accommodated there and the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of the children accommodated in the home, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children's home (Regulation 25 (1) (a) (b) 17/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there (Regulation 11 (1) (a)) 17/04/2015 5 of 6 (2001) implement a written policy for the prevention of bullying in the children's home, which shall in particular set out the procedure for dealing with an allegation of bullying. (Regulation 16 (4) (a)) 17/04/2015

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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 children are supported to attend school, college or alternative provision regularly (NMS 8.3)  ensure all staff and children are given the opportunity to discuss incidents of restraint they have been involved in, witnessed or been affected by with a relevant manager or adult. (NMS 3.17) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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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