Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good 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

Since the last inspection, the permanent manager has returned from maternity leave and is only responsible for this one home. The previous manager was covering two homes, which was negatively impacting on the stringent monitoring of this service. This meant that five out of the six requirements raised at the last inspection were in respect to shortfalls in leadership and management. These have all been addressed due to re-establishing more effective internal and external monitoring processes

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The timeliness, frequency and recording of fire drills have significantly improved since the manager returned to work. All the required health and safety certificates are in place to demonstrate a safe and well-maintained building, and the overall cleanliness of the home has markedly improved since the last inspection. Comments from staff include, ‘The management are very supportive. I have regular supervision and can request any training I need. All the staff are encouraged to contribute their ideas and any concerns at the team meetings,’ and, ‘I work in a supportive team which has helped my self-confidence. The management support is good and I can speak informally with them at any time, as well as having regular supervision which is beneficial.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The most recent report following a management review of the quality of care provided at this home was informed and enriched by the views of a wide range of stakeholders, who all confirm good partnership working. Feedback from social workers consistently highlighted ‘good communication and exceptionally detailed updates’ about their young person’s progress. The specialist nurse for children looked after complimented the staff on their ‘excellent support to a pregnant young person’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three out of the four independent monitoring visits undertaken since the last inspection include the views of young people’s relatives. Recent comments include, ‘I am kept up to date with all aspects of my grandson’s care. The staff are polite and professional and have organised our contact. My grandson is happy at this home and talks positively about the staff and the activities he has done.’ The gender balance and number of car drivers within the team have much improved since the last inspection. However, the vast majority of care staff are still unqualified. To address this imbalance, the company has commissioned a new training provider. Also, new staff now commence the minimum Level 3 qualification within two months of being employed. Previously, it was only after six months. Consequently, all staff have now commenced the required qualification for their respective roles, and the manager is closely monitoring their progression.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Moreover, moving forward, she has strengthened the selection process with the aim of only appointing qualified staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations were made at the last inspection. In response, impact risk assessments have been strengthened by considering the needs, vulnerabilities and risks of the young people already living at the home and the potential impact of any new admission on their experiences and progress. However, on two occasions significant information about young people had not been shared with the home by the relevant placing authority. This negatively impacted on the stability of the placements and contributed towards placement disruptions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

To counteract the fact that independent return interviews are still not consistently being undertaken in a timely manner, registered managers from other children’s homes within the company are speaking to young people on their return from being missing. However, records suggest limited engagement in this process, so this recommendation has been repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has established strong partnership working with the local police to help safeguard and protect all the young people. One officer said, ‘The communication with this home is excellent. The staff will always take on board any advice and guidance and are prepared to adapt their ways of working and are open to new ideas that are beneficial to the young people. They have done very well managing one young person’s highly complex needs.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team members are also strong advocates for the young people and will appropriately challenge other agencies that they believe are not working in the young person’s best interests. Examples include: formally complaining about individual police officers’ negative attitudes towards children looked after; and, ensuring a social worker secured regular, constructive family contact with family and friends for one young person which effectively stopped her going missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is good evidence of this home ensuring that specialist services are provided in a timely manner to help meet young people’s specific and more complex needs. A youth offending officer said, ‘The staff ensure he attends all his appointments on time, and the weekly updates I receive from this home are helpful because they allow me to work more effectively with my young person by challenging any particular behaviours and incidents.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This staff team clearly places the well-being of all the young people at the centre of its practice, irrespective of the challenges that they present. In particular, staff team members continue to effectively de-escalate some extremely challenging behaviours without the use of restraint and/or resorting to police intervention. Although there are some marked differences in the experiences, progress and outcomes for young people since the last inspection, their views about the home and the care provided were all generally positive. Examples include: ‘I am happy living in this home and I am treated fairly. I get on well with the staff, although some more than others, but that happens in life’, ‘I have a say in what activities I do and the food I eat, and I have just moved into my favourite bedroom which is the biggest’, ‘I chose the colours for my bedroom and decorated it myself so I really like it. I don’t really like to go on many group activities anymore, so I now

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

spend my activity money on hair and beauty treatments and products.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person recently moved to a specialist foster placement closer to home, which was her specific wish, and therefore this was a good outcome. In sharp contrast, notice was served on another young person to protect other young people living in the home. He was making good progress at this home from his starting point in respect to school attendance and not offending, and fully abided by his strict licence conditions. However, once extended family contact away from the home was established, the pull of previous gang-affiliated activities gradually proved too great for him to resist. His youth offending officer was highly complimentary of this home, confirming, ‘This was the first placement to have kept him safe and who were able to positively engage with him.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A key strength of this home is its proven ability to provide a warm, nurturing, homely environment, and to quickly establish open and honest relationships with the young people. This means that new admissions soon settle and feel safe. One social worker said, ‘I am really impressed how this staff team have been able to foster such a good relationship with my young person so quickly.’ To her credit, one young person actively helped another young person, who had never been in residential care before, to feel welcome and settle in, and they are now good friends. The new admission said, ‘We got on straight away and enjoy bowling, trampolining, cooking and baking together.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are particularly proactive in ensuring that young people who were previously disengaged from education return to school and thereby reach their academic potential. The staff have secured especially good working relationships with the company’s school, which some of the young people attend. This includes daily handovers between care and teaching staff, which are effective in ensuring consistent practice across both settings. Staff are also currently supporting one young person in a mainstream school. Two young people, who were not going to school at all prior to admission, currently have a 68% and 79% attendance record. One young person has made exceptional educational progress at this home. She successfully completed her GCSEs with good grades that will enable her to go to college.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person who was admitted with poor school attendance, a history of frequently going missing and at high risk of exploitation continues to make outstanding progress at this home and is now a positive role model for new admissions. She keeps herself safe and does not get embroiled in the negative behaviours of others. She attends college every day and has a part-time job. She said, ‘It’s much better now with the current staff team. I feel listened to by the managers, so I don’t get as angry because I feel listened to. I have matured and realise that the staff really care for me. They are taking me on holiday before I leave, which is so nice.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

More stringent management monitoring since the last inspection has ensured that all required documentation is now in place and maintained to a good standard, with the exception of medication records. Staff are not consistently evidencing that they are administering prescribed medicines as specified by health professionals to ensure safe and effective use.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of consequences show a good balance between rewarding positive behaviours and effort and appropriately challenging unacceptable behaviours. Also, the sanctions that are imposed are fair and proportionate to the particular misdemeanour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Individualised incentives that are put in place to support young people’s specific needs, have the desired effect. For example, one young person wanted to lead a healthier lifestyle. To her credit, she has successfully stopped smoking, enjoys regular exercise at the local gym with friends and is now a healthy weight. This is all excellent progress and has noticeably boosted her confidence and self-esteem and has further strengthened her sense of belonging.

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home, registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/10/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/07/2015 Full Good

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the home must ensure that they have all available information about a child’s risks and vulnerabilities prior to admission, in order to assess whether a child is at risk to themselves and/or others. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 31/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must demonstrate that any medicine prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed. (Regulation 23(2)(b)) 30/04/17

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 To meet the protection of children standard, there must be an effective system in place to ensure that a timely and meaningful independent return interview takes place when a young person returns to the home after being missing from care. The home should then take account of this information when reassessing risks and putting new strategies in place to try to prevent a recurrence. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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 who it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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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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