Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Cambridgeshire

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.2

The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 There has been a shortfall in the completion of risk assessments. The management of arrangements for unsupervised travel to family contact is weak and has resulted in hazards not being fully analysed. Consequently, a child was vulnerable during this period.  The manager has not suitably monitored children’s care plans. As a result, the decision to allow unsupervised travel to family contact was not formally discussed and agreed ahead of its implementation.  Impact risk assessments do not consider the impact of children moving into the home on those who are already living there.  The manager has not suitably reviewed the supervision of a member of staff, following concerns that had been raised regarding their conduct. The feedback to this member of staff was not robust enough to reflect the seriousness of the concern.

p.3

The children's home strengths

 Some children are fully engaged in education and they have started to attend school having been out of a formal teaching environment for some time.  The staff make positive relationships with children swiftly. The strength of these relationships helps children to explore aspects of their care plan with confidence.  Independent living plans support children’s confidence in activities, such as cooking and cleaning, valuable skills that they will need in their adult lives.  There has been a reduction in the frequency of children going missing since they have lived in this home. Staff complete direct work with the children to help them to understand the potential risks that exist in the community and, in particular, the risk of exploitation.

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard: In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a)(i) that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, arrange to reduce any risk of harm to the child; (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. This is with particular reference to assessments of contact arrangements. 02/12/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard: In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (1)(b) promote children’s welfare. 02/12/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 02/12/2016

p.5

Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and operated by a private organisation

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.6

Recent inspection history

18/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.6

Recent inspection history

09/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.6

Requires improvement

Shortfalls in the completion of risk assessments, including the management of risks during family contact, have resulted in hazards not being fully analysed. The assessments do not adequately describe the issues or the measures that would minimise risk for children travelling to and from family contact. In one case, there was no clear agreement from the placing authority that independent travel to family contact was acceptable for one child. Consequently, one of the children was not fully prepared to complete the journey to and from contact and was at risk during that time. Staff have failed to update impact risk assessments. Some impact risk assessments have been completed in regard to new placements. However, the risk assessments do not consider the impact of children moving into the home on those who are already living there. Consequently, the home requires improvement to consistently provide a good enough standard of care for the children.

p.7

Requires improvement

This well-decorated home is in a semi-rural location and is warm and welcoming. Children are involved in making decisions in the home, for example about the personalisation of their rooms and communal areas. Currently, the children are helping to decorate the entrance hall and have chosen the wallpaper and a large mirror. Regular key-work sessions take place with the children to explore the issues that are important to them. Staff are skilled in making positive relationships with children quickly. Staff have built a bond with the children that helps the children to explore aspects of their care plan with confidence. Observations of children and staff interacting during the inspection showed that they have trusting relationships. The children each described a particular member of staff whom they would seek out to speak to if they had concerns or worries. A social worker commented, ‘The home has done fantastically. Since [the child] has lived here, she has come out of

p.7

Requires improvement

her shell and begun to verbalise her feelings.’ Some of the children are fully engaged in education. They have started to attend school, having been out of a formal teaching environment for some time. Some have been supported to complete coursework. This has given them the skills and confidence to sit examinations, with the expectation that they will gain grades B-D in GCSE level subjects. Consequently, the children will be well prepared for further education or training. One social worker said, ‘Since this child has lived in this home, she has been doing well, and staff have supported her to start at the local school.’ Other children are awaiting a placement at this school. Staff have liaised appropriately with the local authorities to arrange for their admission. In the meantime, they are actively engaged in learning activities at the home. Visits to a sea-life centre and space centre provide opportunities to study these subjects,

p.7

Requires improvement

supported by the staff. This will help to develop an appetite for learning to prepare the children for their eventual return to school. Children participate in a range of activities, from motorcycling at the weekends to day-trips to theme parks and recently to the circus. These trips are arranged following discussions in community group meetings. The group meetings give staff the opportunity to plan for agreed events and praise good behaviour. Children are encouraged to choose a healthy option for their dinner. Planning the menu provides the staff with an opportunity to support the children to choose a balanced diet. This, along with the support that the staff provide to children to keep appointments with doctors, dentists and opticians, helps the children to maintain healthy lifestyles. Staff support children to develop their independence skills in activities that increase their growing confidence, such as cooking and cleaning. Plans to help children to

p.8

Requires improvement

learn to budget and make the transition to further education or training are considered at the reviews held in partnership with the local authorities. This supports children to prepare for their onward transitions.

p.8

Requires improvement

There is a shortfall in the assessment of risk for existing residents when new children are placed in the home. Consequently, the staff are unable to fully understand how the children currently placed will, or are likely to, react to the changes in the group, or whether these changes are likely to significantly affect current behaviour. There is a deficit in the planning and the assessment of risks in relation to transport arrangements to and from home contact. This has meant that some hazards for a child who is going on planned home contact have not been fully explored, and plans are not robust enough to manage the safety of the child concerned. A failure to record clearly the steps to be taken by the home in planning the contact resulted in key information not being shared appropriately. The discussions with the placing authority did not provide enough clarity for the authority to understand the proposed arrangements. This resulted in a child

p.8

Requires improvement

travelling independently to family contact, without the knowledge and agreement of the placing authority. This put the child at risk. The manager has notified Ofsted of incidents when children have placed themselves at risk and of an incident regarding the conduct of a member of staff. The designated officer in the local authority reviewed the information about staff conduct, and asked for this to be dealt with through the provider’s policy. A review of this shows that, while the issue was managed in the home, the record of the feedback to this member of staff was not robust enough to reflect the seriousness of the concern. The manager has failed to suitably monitor the records of supervision. Consequently, the manager cannot be clear that the member of staff is aware of their responsibility under the code of conduct and is now practising safely. Children have gone missing from this home. When they have, staff have worked in

p.8

Requires improvement

partnership with the police and other agencies to seek their swift and safe return to the home. There has been a reduction in the number of times that children have gone missing since they have lived in this home. This is because staff engage with and build trusting relationships with the children. Staff are alert to the risks in the community of exploitation. They have completed direct work with the children to help them to understand the concerns, and the ways in which staff will act to protect them. There have been three restraints carried out by trained staff since the previous inspection. The manager has reviewed these incidents to ensure that each incident required this intervention and that it was proportionate and justified. Well-written documentation provides a record of the staff reflection and identifies future actions that may reduce the need for restraint. Staff use rewards to reinforce children’s

p.9

Requires improvement

positive behaviour. Children can earn extra activity money by keeping to agreed behaviour plans. This has resulted in children improving their conduct.

p.9

Requires improvement

The manager has not appropriately monitored the care plans for the children. She was not aware of the shortfalls in risk assessments, or in ensuring that the detailed planning regarding the arrangements for contact was safe. This left a child vulnerable during contact arrangements. The registered manager has been in post since November 2013. She has a national vocational qualification level 3 in childcare. She continues to work towards a diploma at level 5, and is due to complete this in December 2016. Staff benefit from a well-established induction and core-training programme. This ensures that they have the essential knowledge that they need to provide effective care to the children. All relevant staff have the required diploma level 3 in childcare. Consequently, a qualified workforce provides care for the children. Supervision takes place on a regular basis. There has been one incident when the supervision failed to fully address the issues for the member of staff regarding their

p.9

Requires improvement

conduct. The manager has not reviewed these supervision notes to assure herself that the member of staff is fully aware of the home’s code of conduct. As a result, there is a lack of clarity as to whether this matter has been suitably dealt with. In most cases, there is a suitable level of contact between the manager and the placing authorities. Staff update the social workers with weekly reports that describe the activities and progress that the children have made. Information submitted for children looked after reviews is of an appropriate standard. This highlights that staff who know these children are engaging with them ahead of these important meetings. The reviews describe the sustained progress for some of the children. They note, in particular, improvements in attendance in school and attainment in education. There has been a reduction overall in episodes of going missing from care, and strong relationships with staff have helped the children to

p.10

Requires improvement

settle in this home. The manager works with the independent visitor to ensure that the services provided are in line with the recently revised statement of purpose. There are some changes in the senior staff team: an acting team leader and some relatively new members of staff. The manager plans to support these staff to develop the skills that they require to meet the complex needs of the children. The manager has recognised the shortfalls raised in this inspection.

p.10

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.11

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.11

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.11

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 that 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 whom 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.12

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.12

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,

p.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

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.13

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.13