Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people make substantial progress as a result of the support and encouragement that staff provide. All are engaged in education and have adopted healthier lifestyles. They are able to enjoy a range of activities which promote their self-esteem and confidence.  Relationships between young people and staff are generally relaxed and positive. This enables the individual work that staff do with young people to be more productive.  Staff have high aspirations for young people and set clear expectations of behaviour. They devise individual plans which are effective in reducing young people’s anxiety and in encouraging them to consider other people’s needs. The need for staff to use restraint has diminished.  Young people say that they feel safe. There is no bullying, and young people go missing much less often than they used to.  There are some aspects of leadership and management which require

p.3

The children’s home provision is good because:

improvement. Staff oversight of the cleanliness and safety of young people’s bedrooms is inconsistent. Repairs to damage sometimes take longer than they should. One young person had access to inappropriate computer games. These shortfalls in staff awareness and monitoring detract from the otherwise good standard of care.

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to ensuring that young people do not have access to inappropriate computer games, the registered person must ensure: (2)(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. 1 July 2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to maintaining the cleanliness and condition of children’s accommodation, the registered person must: (2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 1 July 2016

p.4

Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

23 March 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

17 March 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Staff provide a good level of individualised care. They have an extensive knowledge of each young person’s background and current circumstances. A social worker said, ‘Staff know what works for the young person and are really good at putting their interests first.’ Staff are attentive to young people’s needs and relate to them with warmth and evident sincerity. This helps young people to feel that their welfare is important to staff. One young person said, ‘The best thing about the home is the staff. They’re all sound.’ Young people make good progress as a result of the consistent support and encouragement that staff provide. Some have made significant strides forward in areas such as school attendance and achievement. For example, one young person did not attend school at all prior to coming here. By working in partnership with other professionals, staff have helped them to enrol in a new school and sit GCSEs

p.6

Good

within a tight timescale. This substantially enhances their life chances. Another young person said, ‘My education is going brilliant – I’m sticking in more than I used to, I like being in college and want to go back there next year.’

p.6

Good

Staff take close account of young people’s wishes and feelings. They negotiate the details of daily living, such as menus and activities. Individual key-working sessions enable staff to help young people to discuss any difficulties or concerns and suggest solutions. Staff encourage young people to think for themselves and to research information. For example, finding out about the costs of a proposed holiday, or choosing new furniture for their room. This builds their confidence and enhances self-esteem. A young person commented, ‘Being here has helped me move on in my life in a positive way. I’ve become more independent.’

p.6

Good

Staff encourage young people to make constructive use of their leisure time. They support them in pursuing activities of their choice. One young person plays football for a team in the community, and has a season ticket for his home town Premier League team. Another loves the outdoor activities led by staff, including hiking and fishing. The provision of healthy recreational opportunities supports the priority that staff give to promoting young people’s health. They ensure that young people are able to access the services they need to keep themselves well, such as attendance at the smoking cessation clinic. As a result, all young people enjoy good physical and emotional well-being. Staff ensure that young people are able to keep in touch with family and other people who are important to them. This is particularly beneficial for young people whose plan is to return home, and who therefore need to rebuild disrupted

p.6

Good

Staff place a high priority on maintaining the safety of young people. One young person said, ‘It feels safe living here. There is no bullying at all, we all get on well with each other, with a lot of banter going on.’ Each young person has a detailed risk assessment which enables staff to be aware of potential sources of harm and to manage them. Some young people have been at significant risk of sexual exploitation before coming to live here. The home’s strategies to guard against this threat are effective. For example, staff place sensible controls on some young people’s access to the internet and social media. These are agreed with social workers, parents and the young people themselves. However, staff have not been sufficiently vigilant in ensuring that young people’s computer games are suitable and appropriate for their age. The home operates to simple rules based on mutual respect and consideration for

p.7

Good

others. A young person said, ‘I thought I wouldn’t like it here, thought it would be really strict, but it’s fine.’ Young people understand the boundaries of reasonable behaviour and generally adhere to them. For example, when a young person uses bad language, a word from staff is usually sufficient to prompt an apology. Sanctions are rarely used, staff believing that the use of positive reward is more effective. Incentive schemes are individualised for each young person, and are renegotiated if necessary. For example, some young people are more responsive to short-term rewards, while others are better suited to working to weekly targets. The need to use physical restraint to keep people safe has reduced significantly over the last six months. Young people have reduced risk-taking behaviour, in some cases significantly so. Some, whose lives were dominated by gang membership, offending and drug misuse, have completely rejected this lifestyle since their admission. A young

p.7

Good

person said, ‘Coming here has broken the cycle of my offending.’ Staff have had particular success in reducing the number of times that young people go missing. There have been no incidents since August 2015. This is due to the high level of support that staff give to young people and the work they do in helping them to deal with anxiety more constructively. Should an incident occur, staff have clear guidelines on how to respond, tailored to each young person’s particular needs and vulnerabilities. Judgement grade

p.7

Requires improvement

The manager was registered in May 2016. He has enrolled on a course leading to the relevant qualification. He organises the staff in the team effectively, ensuring that their skills and knowledge are kept refreshed via the comprehensive training programme. He promotes the home’s ethos of prioritising the welfare of young people and keeping them safe. This is reflected in the records of staff meetings and individual supervision with staff. Staff complete weekly and monthly reports on young people and their progress. They also provide comprehensive reports for looked after reviews. As a result, staff are aware of the progress that young people make and are able to identify where additional support might be needed. The registered manager’s own monitoring reports make good use of the views of young people, social workers and parents. This helps him to evaluate the quality of the service that the home is providing.

p.8

Requires improvement

Where the involvement of other professionals is required, the registered manager is confident in challenging any shortfalls in the service they provide. Some aspects of leadership need attention. The ability of young people to access inappropriate computer games (described elsewhere in this report) indicates a lack of adequate management oversight. In addition, although the home is generally attractive and welcoming, some young people’s bedrooms are neglected. Furniture is broken or missing, and it is evident that there is no regular cleaning routine in place. Some repairs, for example to bedroom doors, are not completed within a reasonable timescale. In one bedroom, a broken wall mirror was propped against the wall. This failure to maintain standards means that young people’s personal spaces are unattractive and are potentially unsafe.

p.8

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’.

p.9

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 children looked after 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

p.9

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.9

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

p.10

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 .

p.10

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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,

p.11

Information about this inspection

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

p.11

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

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

p.11