Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

Unique reference number SC456602 Inspector Nicholas Murphy 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 Lorna Ann Fearon Registered manager Jeanette Gaunt Date of last inspection 26/03/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 17/03/2015

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

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

Young people continue to do well. They are all engaged in education or training and have clear ideas about what career paths they want to follow. Young people have developed greater self-confidence in their ability to function independently. They are able to plan meals and shop for food, sometimes pooling their money to buy more economically. Young people have a better awareness of what makes for a healthy lifestyle. Some who did not eat a balanced diet have improved in this respect. For example, one young person now chooses to snack on fruit rather than crisps. None of the young people use alcohol, and although some smoke they are being consistently supported and encouraged to reduce this habit.

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This inspection

The home keeps young people very safe. Although young people spend time in the community socialising with friends and family, they always return to the home on time. Some young people may be at risk from family members and so contact must be restricted. Staff manage this well, liaising with other agencies to ensure that young people cannot come to harm. Young people enjoy excellent relationships with staff and as a consequence their behaviour is very good. There is minimal need for staff to use sanctions and no incidents of physical restraint. Young people get on well with each other, one saying, ‘I like the other kids here, and the staff.’

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This inspection

Staff work together to provide predictability and consistency for young people. Care plans focus on helping young people to develop the skills they will need as adults and reducing their dependence upon staff. Sometimes this means that young people cannot always have what they want, such as a lift in the home’s car when they could use public transport. However, staff take care to explain to young people the reason why, helping them to become more self-reliant. Staff support young people to achieve in education. They are proactive in searching for information about college courses and work placements. This enables them to give clear advice to young 3 of 5 people, for example, the value of particular qualifications. Even if some young people choose not to follow such advice, they have the information they need to make their own informed choices. Staff have a deep understanding of the impact of traumatic life events on young people. They provide close support to help young

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This inspection

people deal with the emotions that these events trigger. They also work closely with other professionals to ensure that every young person's emotional needs are met.

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This inspection

The home is soundly led and well-organised. The Registered Manager has addressed all the recommendations made at the previous inspection, using robust action planning to plot timescales for the action required. As a result, a programme of bedroom refurbishment has commenced with one young person’s room being finished. This young person said, ‘My room is much nicer. I like the furniture and I asked staff to put my TV on the wall, which is great.’ Plans to modernise the bathroom are well-advanced. Staff have received training to improve their awareness of issues of dual heritage and cultural identity. This means they are able to support young people with these needs more effectively. The Registered Manager has also completed the necessary qualification, giving added assurance of her suitability for the role.

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This inspection

No statutory requirements or recommendations have been made. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company and provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/03/2014 Interim good progress 10/12/2013 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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