Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in County Durham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to experience stability, consistency, and an outstanding standard of care from staff who are passionate about their work. All young people are enjoying life and making excellent progress. They are doing well in education, with many receiving regular awards from school and college for their behaviour and academic achievement. One young person has moved from being able to engage only with a part-time college curriculum to a full one. For another young person, the primary task of his school was to contain his impulsive behaviour, but now he is able to work in groups and concentrate more on learning. This is due to the consistent work of the children’s home staff in setting boundaries, and reinforcing expectations of acceptable social behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are in good health. Staff have a detailed knowledge of each young person’s needs and address them through concise yet comprehensive plans. Some young people struggle with their weight, so staff have worked with health professionals to provide support and advice. The home promotes healthy eating, with some young people agreeing with staff to reduce their intake of sweets. Physical activities provide opportunities such as the sports centre, gym, or country walks. One young person is thrilled to have been bought his first bike, which he uses on safe, off-road tracks. The emphasis that staff place on health has produced dividends, with one young person having lost eight pounds in weight.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff also help young people to improve their emotional well-being. They work closely with health professionals, for example child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). One young person has become less reliant on incontinence aids, making him more comfortable and also increasing his self-esteem and confidence, particularly at school. Staff consult with CAMHS therapists who are working with another young person around his earlier life experiences. This ensures that the work they do in the home supports and enhances the therapy programme, and helps him to become more fully engaged in it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The views of young people are central to the home’s day-to-day routines. Regular group meetings frequently involve a young person giving a presentation. Staff listen to, and wherever possible act upon, young people’s wishes and preferences in all areas of their lives. Staff are creative in involving young people in current affairs, for example holding their own ‘budget day’ where young people put forward their ideas for how to spend the home’s money.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that sound foundations are laid for the effective transition of young people into adulthood. They promote social inclusion by fully involving young people in activities within the community. Young people have helped raise money for charity, gaining an awareness of the needs of others. Older young people have more structured preparation for independence, with staff guiding them through programmes of work, which result in formal accreditation of the skills they have learned. Staff also recognise the need for young people to have an understanding of their past. They provide young people with memory boxes, adding photos and keepsakes relating not only to their family and friends but also their time at the home. For one young person, staff have painstakingly sewn a memory quilt, complete with precious photos printed onto fabric, and squares of different textures to provide a sensory experience. This kind of work is important in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

reinforcing young people’s sense of identity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that young people are kept safe. There are few restraints, but those that are necessary to protect people are meticulously recorded. The registered manager evaluates each incident; in particular, to assess the young person’s understanding of what happened and why. Since the last inspection, there have been two incidents of a young person going missing. Both were managed extremely well, demonstrating good understanding by staff of the actions they needed to take, as well as excellent partnership working with police and parents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to provide inspirational leadership. She has a keen understanding of where the home can improve on its already high standards of performance. A recommendation made at the last inspection about kitchen hygiene was promptly addressed. A requirement about staff qualifications remains to be implemented and is therefore repeated. A significant minority of staff have not acquired the level of qualification required by regulation. This is due to a combination of circumstances outside the control of the registered manager. However, the skills and knowledge of the experienced and stable staff team are not in doubt. Staff have access to a range of training tailored to their needs and those of the young people. Recently, in a staff meeting, the team leader cascaded some training on the psychology of attachment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This has raised staff awareness of the different nuances of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

communication with young people who have learning disabilities. A core group of staff have training in using signs and symbols to communicate with young people, but all staff are to receive this training imminently. This will further improve the daily experiences of young people who are non-verbal and enhance their self- respect and feeling of inclusion in the group.

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates and provides care for up to four children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties; sensory impairment; learning disabilities; or mental disorders, excluding learning disability. It is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/06/2016 Full Outstanding 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/10/2015 Full Outstanding

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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.

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Requirement Due date

With particular reference to the qualifications of staff, the registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that— (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— (a) the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or (b) a qualification which the registered person considers to be

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Requirement Due date

equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (5) The relevant date is— (a) in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or (b) in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32(5)(b)) 01/09/2017

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300 123 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, 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,

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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

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

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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