Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Plymouth

Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 1 SC471058 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for one child or young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 12 January 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The child is making very good progress in many areas of his life. He is very settled and has a real sense of belonging. He has excellent relationships with staff.  The child does not participate in risk-taking behaviour. Due to good boundaries and expectations, he is learning to behave well in a variety of situations. Staff Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 2 do not physically restrain him. They manage behaviour in a very nurturing and positive way. The child has not gone missing from the home. Staff provide personalised care and support. They know the child well and are ambitious for his progress. Staff understand the importance of the child seeing family members regularly and provide excellent support to make this is possible.  Following the shortfalls identified at recent inspections, the company has responded very robustly to make improvements. A new manager is in place, and considerable training and support have been provided to ensure that the

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

child’s needs are fully met and he is kept safe. The children’s home’s areas for development

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The child has made very good progress in the target areas initially identified, including education and behaviour. Going forward, more focus is now needed to help to improve the child’s diet, and expand his opportunities to mix with other children and develop friendships with others of a similar age.  The physical environment of the home is a work in progress. More attention is needed to provide good standards throughout that reflect the tastes and wishes of the child living there.  Records and documentation are being reviewed to ensure that they are fit for purpose. Staff training records require improvement as, currently, they do not accurately reflect all of the recent training that staff have undertaken.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/01/2017 Full Requires improvement 05/12/2016 Full Inadequate 12/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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.3

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure - that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6(1) and (2)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the physical environment of the home, namely the kitchen and decor and furnishings throughout, should be maintained to a good standard and reflect the tastes and wishes of children who live there. 30/06/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure - that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1) and (2)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, up-to-date records must be maintained of staff training and the qualifications/certificates they have achieved. 31/05/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 4

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8)  Ensure that children have appropriate opportunities to form friendships with other children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 32, paragraph 6.10)

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This children’s home is having a positive impact on the progress and experiences of the child living there. Staff act as good parents, and provide very nurturing and positive care and support. During the past 18 months, considerable progress has been made in many key areas. Both family and professionals are delighted with how well the child is doing in this placement. For example, the social worker said: ‘ the child’s journey has been amazing, and started when they moved to the children’s home. Staff know him really well, and what they are achieving with him is testament to their commitment.’ A family member expressed equal satisfaction, and said: ‘I couldn’t be more pleased. He is making great progress in his education and at home with all of the activities that he does. Staff are all great, and I feel that he is safe and really well cared for.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, it was apparent that the child feels completely at home in this setting. He enjoys positive relationships with all staff, whom he identifies as representing a variety of family-type members. The child told the inspector that he ‘thinks that the home is great and staff are great’. Staff ensure that the child has access to a wide range of educational and recreational opportunities. They see the therapeutic benefits of sporting activities such as trampolining and allow unrestricted access to this. Being able to have pets at the home has helped the child to feel at home and provided him with positive learning experiences in helping to care for others. Staff ensure that the child has a voice, and they listen and respond to his requests and make decisions that are child centered.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is benefiting from a bespoke educational package, and this is enabling him to make excellent progress. The special educational needs coordinator at the school told the inspector how impressed she is with the children’s home and the staff’s commitment to working with the school positively. This had made it possible to work through difficult periods and sustain the child’s placement at their school, and this is now reaping rewards.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work effectively with a wide range of professionals. They advocate well for the child in their care and take their responsibilities seriously. They understand that, in order to do their best, they must harness external support. For Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 5 example, staff are benefiting from monthly clinical support provided by a children and adolescent mental health psychotherapist, who told the inspector that he was impressed with the way that staff are developing reflective practices and working in a psychodynamic way. The newly appointed manager has also sourced a level 2 distance learning qualification in mental health awareness that all staff have been registered to undertake.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are proud of the progress that the child is making. They provide appropriate incentives and celebrate his achievements. Going forward, staff will need to demonstrate their impact on helping the child to develop healthier eating habits, and establishing positive attachments and friendships that are less adult focused.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The shortfalls identified at the last full inspections in December 2016 and January 2017 have been thoroughly addressed. There has been a period of reflection, and robust action has been taken to improve the help and protection that the staff team provides to children in its care.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

An extensive range of new and refresher training has been provided, along with discussions during supervisions and team meetings. Staff now clearly understand the procedures for responding to any concerns about the safety of a child in their care. They understand the importance of sharing child protection concerns and that any internal investigations have to be carried out in a thorough and timely way. The newly appointed manager has ensured that unhelpful documents have been discarded and that staff are clearer about their responsibilities. Better consideration has also been given to the particular issues around lone working. This has resulted in a new policy whereby senior on-call staff will contact lone workers to facilitate more open communication and to offer support and guidance.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All staff have recently had refresher training in safeguarding children and young people (level 2), and the deputy and manager have been awarded advanced certificates from an external provider. In addition, staff have had training in investigation skills, attachment awareness and techniques, and how to respond effectively to a child who self-harms. Further training, including in post-traumatic stress disorder and child and adolescent mental health, has been identified from a range of external providers, and specific training from the designated officer.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour is well managed, and the child’s behaviour is improving significantly at home and in school. In turn, this is affording increased opportunities and positive experiences which will enable further progress to be made.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager has been appointed and he has applied to be the registered manager. This manager is very experienced and appropriately qualified, with a track record of managing successful children’s homes. Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 6 The previous manager has taken on the role of deputy and is enjoying the increased opportunities that this has provided to work directly with the child living at the home. In turn, the child is delighted with this arrangement, as he has a very strong attachment to this member of staff, who has known him from the start of his placement. The consistency of the staff team is a particularly positive feature of this home. All of the staff who work with the child on a one-to-one basis have done so since he was admitted 18 months ago. This in an especially important factor in the life of this child, who, through past experiences, struggles with change and loss.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have achieved a level 3 diploma in residential childcare, and benefit from ongoing training and support through supervision, appraisal and team meetings. The company has a good focus on succession planning, and offers level 5 training to staff who are likely to be interested in senior or management positions in the future.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The physical environment of the home reflects the child who lives there. It contains plenty of books and toys, as you would find in any family home where children and young people live. Greater attention is being focused on how to improve the quality of furnishings and decor, including replacing the kitchen, while maintaining a child-friendly environment.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The newly appointed manager has been reviewing records and documentation to ensure that they are fit for purpose. This includes both children’s files and other records such as the location risk assessment. During this inspection, it was identified that the staff training records are not up-to date, and these require improving.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian, Waterfront, Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road, London W6 9RU

p.7

Inspector(s)

Norma Welsby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC471058 8 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector(s)

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector(s)

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

p.8

Inspector(s)

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

p.8