Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people have made considerable progress in all areas of their lives. All professionals spoken with said: The nurturing and supportive environment offered to young people is the basis of the excellent progress that they make.  There is excellent communication between young people, staff, other professionals and families all of whom have an interest in securing positive outcomes for young people. Staff are patient and persistent in their efforts to help young people understand and manage their behaviour differently. Highly effective individualised planning, target setting, and chosen incentives encourage young people to achieve their potential.  Young people find stability, support, and guidance at this home that allows them to grow and develop. After being at this home for two years, one young person has moved into foster care. A professional said, ‘It is unheard of for a young person to move into foster care at sixteen plus. This is a

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

testament of the excellent work the staff have done with her.’  Young people live in a safe, caring, and supportive environment. There are robust policies and procedures to support staff who demonstrate a thorough understanding and knowledge of safeguarding practices. This helps ensure young people’s safety and welfare is promoted.  Staff are excellent advocates for young people. They ensure that they listen to their views, wishes and feelings and make things become a reality wherever possible. For example, clear plans show how young people go from being fully supervised to having free time safely.  Staff at this home value the importance of education. They ensure that young people receive the best education possible in line with their wishes and academic ability. As a result, one young person has quickly moved into mainstream school and another is continuing with their apprenticeship course after leaving the home.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The Registered Manager demonstrates strong leadership skills and has a good overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She continues to develop the home by consulting with staff, young people, and professionals. The quality of care within the home is regularly monitored but not by an independent person and the homes bathroom requires updating.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 31/12/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that young people live in a homely environment. This is specifically in relation to updating the bathroom. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this children's home

This private children’s home accommodates one young person with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Young people make excellent progress at the home. They develop a healthy self- image and build their confidence through regular therapeutic support and keyworker sessions. The sessions consider the impact of their earlier trauma and life experiences that sometimes reflect in their behaviour. As a result, young people develop coping strategies and emotional resilience. They learn to express themselves more appropriately. Placement stability, a consistent core staff team and the nurturing care approach helps young people develop and sustain strong and positive attachments within the home and in the community. A previous social worker said, ‘This young person was very vulnerable and classed as high profile. I cannot thank this home enough. They supported, encouraged, and celebrated all her achievements and she is doing fantastic in foster care.’ Young people come to this home in a planned way. This includes staff visiting

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outstanding

them and telling them about the home and area. They visit the home, start planning their decoration of their bedroom, and are fully included in the transition stages. Staff also feel that wherever possible young people’s parents should also be included in this process. They picked up the young person’s mother and brought her to see the home. This alleviates any worries about where they are going. The young person said, ‘I love it here. It was really good to be part of moving and I knew all the rules, boundaries etc. so I was not nervous.’

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outstanding

Young people enjoy good health, lead healthy lifestyles, and learn to understand the benefits of eating well. Their routine and specialist health care needs are effectively addressed and health appointments are well attended. When young people have refused to attend the dentists, professional support aligned with incentives has achieved a good response. All staff are trained in dispensing medication and giving first aid. As a result, the storing, recording and disposal of medication is robust and staff can confidently deal with any accidents. In time, young people are able to self-medicate, so they are prepared for independence. Young people receive additional support from a clinician. Relationships are built over time so that they feel able to discuss past experiences, the impact on their behaviour, and how to address this. The clinicians then work closely with the staff team in discussing and implementing strategies. Professionals say, this is an

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outstanding

important part of the work done at this home and that it enables young people to face their issues and look at solutions. Young people actively participate in a range of positive activities, such as army cadets, walks, cinema, and enjoying relaxing nights in. Some young people have benefitted from holidays abroad and the current young person has enjoyed a holiday in Wales. She said she hopes to go abroad next year when all the documentation is in place. She has made several friends in school. She said, ‘I have worked up to having free time. Its great as I get to spend time with my friends and I am able to do normal things, like going to the cinema with them.’ The young person has excellent attendance at school. When first placed, she was home tutored. She had a poor attendance and behaviour, at previous schools, which led to her being expelled. However, she wished to return to mainstream school. The home has excellent contacts with several schools within the local

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outstanding

community and a place was quickly identified. When incidents have occurred in school, the home has responded by identifying solutions. The manager said, ‘We do not wait for young people to be expelled, we come up packages of care that support the young person and the school. For example, a member of staff stays in the staff office. She can then go to the staff if any issues arise.’ Consequently, she has settled and is working in line with her peers. The previous young person left school with several good exam results. She wished to work in retail. She secured a place at college on an apprenticeship, which she is still completing. A member of staff knew somebody who required help at a café; the young person applied and is still working there. Achievements are celebrated within the home and this has additional positive effect on young people in terms of boosting self-esteem and confidence. Young people have positive aspirations for their future and maintain

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outstanding

these when they leave. The young person plays a full part in decision-making in the home and feels that her contribution is taken seriously. All documents held by the home start with her wishes and feelings. So staff know and understand how she wishes to be cared for: she is able to share her views on the quality of service she receives because the manager openly asks for her input. For example, young people are part of staff evaluations and recruitment of new staff. The young person’s sense of identity is promoted through meaningful and safe contact arrangements with family and friends, agreed with the placing authority. Staff are vigilant about contact and promptly intervene where contact is not thought to be in young people’s best interest. Staff work effectively with young people’s families and support them to build strong relationships. Some contact is supervised to ensure it is safe. The home has worked hard to re-initiate contact

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outstanding

with the young person’s aunty with whom she use to live with. The young person said, ‘I am excited as I might be able to go for Christmas day.’ These excellent arrangements enable young people to maintain and reinforce important relationships and reach an understanding about their past experiences. This contributes to a strong sense of well-being. Young people make progress in developing independence skills in accordance with their age and ability. They are well supported by staff in this aspect of their lives. As they grow and mature, young people are very well prepared for the transition to adulthood through individual planned work that fully takes account of their age and needs. This enables them to take small steps to gain confidence in their own ability and understand the implications of being independent in the wider community. Young people live in a spacious, comfortable family home that is warm and

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outstanding

welcoming. The home is well-decorated and furnished but the manager has been asking for the bathroom to be re -modernised for some time. This is highlighted in the independent Regulation 44 reports. They bathroom suite is looking worn and there is some mould around the edges. This does not ensure that young people live in a well maintained home.

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outstanding

Young people say they feel safe, secure, and well cared for in the home. They say they can talk to any member of staff if they are worried or concerned about anything. The young person said, ‘I think this is the safest I have been. Staff are helping me learn about why somethings are important. I have listened and now I get free time.’

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outstanding

Staff are fully trained in safeguarding procedures and receive regular refresher training. They are confident and competent in implementing the home’s policies and procedures if they have any concerns, or allegations are made about young people’s welfare. Professionals speak highly of this service in how they protect, challenge and address any concerns. One professional said, ‘This home supported her through the most difficult time and she got through it. She has been able to move on with her life.’ Another professional said, ‘They are a great advocate for young people and follow procedures to the letter.’ A particular strength of the home is the stability of the staff team, which allows young people to develop warm and trusting relationships with staff that they respect. Young people comment positively on the quality of care they receive and their relationship with staff. A young person said, ‘I love it here. Staff are fantastic.’

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outstanding

Staff are patient, calm and good-humoured in their exchanges with young people. They are equally confident about challenging young people when their behaviour warrants it or giving them the time and space to work things out for themselves. Staff are able to make excellent use of their relationships with young people to effect change. Professionals say this is the basis of the excellent outcomes for young people. There has been minimal reporting of young people being missing from care. This is because as they settle and build relationships with staff, they realise that there are better ways to do things. One young person talked about building up trust and not wishing to jeopardise this. When young people are late or suspected of being missing, staff immediately go looking for young people and return them safely back home. They have established strong links with the local police and specialist police services and if incidents do occur, there are clear practices and agreements

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outstanding

in place that staff understand. The home’s written records show the frequency of young people going absent without permission has significantly reduced. All such episodes are monitored, fully considered and reviewed to promote young people’s safety and welfare. When past residents have been at risk from child sexual exploitation the home has ensured that a holistic approach has been taken. Numerous professionals have come together to support and protect the young person. This has included health, education, clinicians, police and social work professionals. Regular meetings ensured that everyone was clear about the plans, moving forward and applying strategies. As a result, the young person was fully supported emotionally and was able to move forward in her life. Individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans clearly identify risks for young people, which help to protect them. Positive behaviour is promoted with

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outstanding

clear and consistent boundaries to help young people understand the effects of their behaviour on themselves and others. Regular individual sessions, target setting, incentives and rewards are all used to good effect to help young people develop socially acceptable behaviour. As a result, risk-taking behaviour has significantly reduced for some young people. They learn appropriate boundaries; require minimal sanctions and restraint is used only as a last resort to ensure young people’s safety. The home feels calm and nurturing and young people confirm they feel staff genuinely care about them.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager ensures staff are carefully selected and vetted before starting work in the home and visitors are checked and supervised as appropriate. This helps deter unsuitable people having access to vulnerable young people.

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good

The home benefits from strong leadership. A suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager manages it effectively. She also manages another home within the same company, which is in close proximity. She has been a Registered Manager since 2005 and has a relevant leadership and management qualification. She divides her time well between the two homes and maintains regular presence and good oversight of both homes. She has strong support from a committed and motivated first line manager and an experienced and stable staff team. The homes Statement of Purpose is well written. It is clear about the care provided and its underpinning principles and arrangements for the day-to-day operation of the home. There has been little movement of staff at this home. Therefore, staff understand the ethos of the home, work well together and this positively influences the continuity of care that young people receive. The staff team work effectively with

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good

parents, professionals and other agencies, which provides a consistent approach to young people’s care. They speak positively about the care and support young people receive.

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good

Staff say they are well supported by their colleagues and the Registered Manager. They said that they benefit from regular supervision and have developmental opportunities to progress within the company. Staff say that team meetings help them to reflect on practice and identify developmental needs. In addition to this, they say that training is strongly promoted and that they are encouraged to access a wide range of courses. The manager is currently looking at devising a system to check staffs knowledge when they access on-line training. She said, ‘not all people learn the same way. Therefore, it is important to assess what their learning style is and we can assist them.’

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good

Young people’s records are detailed, well-structured and present a good overall picture of their experiences at the home. Recording is of a good standard and young people have opportunities to access their care files to receive an accurate description of the time they have spent at the home. Records are stored securely, ensuring that confidential information is safe. In addition to this, a staff member has devised a positive book, which highlights all the small steps of progress that the young person has made. He said, ‘I thought this may help them to reflect on what was going well and also it would be a good record for them when they are older.’

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good

The manager’s monthly quality assurance audit provides clear evaluation on all aspects of life within the home and identifies areas for improvement and development. Other managers within the company undertake the Regulation 44 visits to the home. However, this does not ensure that the quality of care is independently monitored. The home has a comprehensive development plan that is reviewed regularly and sets realistic targets to drive forward further improvements.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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