Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children's home: SC456330 1 SC456330 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns and operates this children’s home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children aged between 11 and 18 years who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff team engages with the children and makes continued efforts to build relationships.  Each child has an individual education plan. Clear incentives encourage Inspection report children's home: SC456330 2 attendance.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children understand the clear boundaries and expectations set by the staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff help the children to make progress in their independence skills.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children have the opportunity to engage with group or individual activities.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home actively supports the children to maintain positive relationships with their families.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children have clear health plans and the staff support them to be fit and healthy.

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Key findings from this inspection

 When the children go missing, the staff work proactively to look for them to ensure that they return home safely as soon as possible. The number of incidents of missing from home has reduced significantly.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Behaviour plans reflect the needs of the children and identify potential triggers. The staff promote positive behaviours with incentive charts and rewards.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff use de-escalation techniques effectively.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Fire drills for new children do not routinely take place.

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Key findings from this inspection

 There are gaps in the supervision of new staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Agency staff are not consistently reading the plans for the children before their shifts.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children’s records are brief, incomplete or not signed by the staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

 One recruitment file did not have photographic identification of the staff member.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff do not consistently sign medication sheets for the children. Inspection report children's home: SC456330 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/11/2016 Full Good 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC456330 4

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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.

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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)) 03/07/2017

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Recommendations

 Make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should consider agency staff’s skills, qualifications and any induction necessary before they commence work in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.16)  The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20) This is with particular regard to all new children taking part in a fire drill.

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) This is with particular reference to ensuring that records of recruitment are complete.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children's home: SC456330 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three new children have moved into the home. Some of the children have moved in quickly due to safeguarding concerns. This has meant a relatively swift period of adjustment for the children as they get to know the staff and each other. The staff team engages well with the children and makes continued efforts to build relationships. At times this is difficult due to the children’s challenging behaviours, but the staff are consistent and work in a non-judgemental way. This means that the children settle, and start to get used to their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children understand the clear boundaries and expectations. The staff help them to understand how the home works, gently reminding them that the adults can help and support them. This means that the children feel safe and secure, and start to build relationships with trusted adults. One child said, ‘They [the staff] do help me and I get on with them. They are OK and I can talk to some staff. It’s alright here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to complain. They know their rights and that they can talk to the adults around them if they have any concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make their views known through regular communication with the staff. If there are misunderstandings, these are quickly rectified. The staff defuse potential areas of conflict and the number of serious incidents are reducing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have significant gaps in their learning, as they were not engaging in education consistently prior to living at the home. The staff support the children to attend the company’s local school. Each child has an individual education plan, and clear incentives encourage attendance. There is a focus on education for the children as soon as they arrive at the home. The children engage in a learning programme adapted to suit their needs and abilities. This improves their outcomes and future life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have the opportunity to engage with group or individual activities. One child said that a positive part of the home is the range of activities that she is able to participate in, and that she can suggest these herself. This helps the children to have new experiences, as well as building their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help the children to develop their independence skills. This provides them with the tools to become more responsible as they learn to use their initiative and make good choices. One child has been supported to move on to semi-independent living successfully.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good multi-agency working. The staff and manager update the local authority in a timely way. Strategy meetings take place when there are escalating concerns. This approach provides increased protection for children at times of crisis.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A social worker said, ‘Communication is brilliant and I cannot fault them [staff].’ The Inspection report children's home: SC456330 6 staff facilitate engagement with specialist resources as part of the individualised care of the children. This coordinated approach ensures that the children are able to access the help that they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home actively supports the children to maintain positive relationships with their families. There are clear contact plans in place and the staff actively facilitate and supervise contact. The staff share information with placing authorities and work proactively to promote the best interests of the children. The staff recognise the importance of the children’s relationships with family members and actively oversee this. Therefore, links remain in place despite the children living long distances away from their families and carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have clear health plans and the staff support them to be fit and healthy. The children are encouraged to attend all health appointments. Substance misuse is an ongoing issue. The staff operate a zero-tolerance approach. They identify concerns through discussion with the children and carry out appropriate room checks if needed. A local drug-project worker attends the home to discuss the impact on the children’s health. This demonstrates a proactive approach to tackle this issue and reduce drug use through education and advice.

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

The staff implement and follow robust safeguarding processes. The staff understand the whistle-blowing procedure and know how to report concerns. Any potential issues in relation to bullying are dealt with, and the staff monitor the children closely. The children feel safe.

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

The children present with a number of needs and risk-taking behaviours. Prior to moving to the home, several of the children were missing for long periods, placing them at risk of child sexual exploitation. They also experienced a number of placement moves. A social worker said, ‘He [my child] is extremely challenging. He is responding well to the clear boundaries in place and this is positive. He knows what to expect.’

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

When the children go missing from the home the staff work proactively to look for them to ensure that they return home safely as soon as possible. Staff look for the children, keep in contact with them if possible and alert the authorities as required. The staff talk to the children when they return and the children have the opportunity to speak to an independent person. Ongoing direct work and consequences further address this issue. The periods of children going missing have decreased significantly. This is a key area of work as the risks are high and ongoing. Clear risk assessments identify hazards and the strategies needed to address and reduce the risks. The staff work closely with the police. This ensures that a consistent and robust approach protects the children on a daily basis.

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

The children have meetings with the registered manager once a month; this enables them to talk about their views and wishes. Inspection report children's home: SC456330 7 The children are beginning to engage positively in residents’ meetings. As well as enabling them to develop their social skills and confidence, the meetings give them a voice and an opportunity to say how they would like their home to improve.

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

The manager completes impact assessments prior to admissions to the home. These assessments consider each child, as well as taking into account the needs of the group. The impact assessments identify potential risks and the action needed to manage these risks. There is careful planning and consideration of the group dynamics to promote each child’s well-being and safety.

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

Behaviour plans reflect the needs of the children and identify potential triggers. The staff promote positive behaviours with the use of incentive charts and rewards. Consequences are in place to reduce negative and risk-taking behaviours. The manager oversees the use of consequences to ensure that they are fair and proportionate.

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

The staff use de-escalation techniques effectively. Consequently, there have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. A social worker said of her child, ‘She has made progress over the last few weeks. The risks that she was previously exposed to have significantly reduced.’

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

Fire drills take place monthly when there are new staff and/or new children. Although new children are made aware of the evacuation procedures, there was no fire drill for a new child who had been in placement for over a week. The staff undertook a fire drill during the inspection with all of the children and the staff on duty.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has the relevant level 5 qualification and a wealth of relevant experience and skills. She is committed to improving children’s experiences of care and helping them to make positive changes in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the manager has only been in post at this home for a relatively short time, she has made a significant impact on the staff team. She will not tolerate poor practice. One staff member said, ‘She is like a breath of fresh air.’ Another described her as a good role model. The manager is having a positive impact on the level of care provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Complaints are progressed in a timely way with the outcome clearly recorded. This ensures that the children’s needs are a priority. Their views are listened to and acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a training programme in place for the staff. New staff have an effective induction period and can access ongoing support on shift from the staff and manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In addition, the manager identifies additional training to help the staff to meet the needs Inspection report children's home: SC456330 8 of the children. She monitors the staff’s attendance at training. The staff are equipped to provide a good level of care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff rotas are well covered and all of the children have one-to-one support. Waking- night staff are in post to provide additional overnight support. Recruitment is ongoing. The manager is supporting the staff to reach high standards, though advice, role modelling and training. There is a clear workforce development plan to raise standards and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are qualified or working towards a level 3 diploma and new staff will commence on completion of their probation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The internal and external reporting is effective and contributes to the progress of the home. The manager seeks views from other agencies, children and parents, and this helps to drive improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are areas that the manager has identified to improve, such as record-keeping and supervision. This inspection identified these shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are gaps in the supervision of new staff. The registered manager has ensured that all senior staff are now suitably qualified to carry out staff supervision. The staff said that they feel well supported by the manager, with whom they have contact daily. The staff are confident that they can access support at any time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two staff oversee the medication administration. Staff are not consistently adding their signatures to the paperwork. This does not provide a clear paper trail. However, the children receive the medication that they require safely and there are no reported medication errors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are a number of new staff in post and appropriate pre-employment checks are in place. Although most of the recruitment files are in good order, one file did not have photographic identification. The manager swiftly dealt with this issue during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses agency staff to cover gaps in the rota. The agency workers are familiar to the home and have prior knowledge of the children. However, agency staff are not consistently reading plans for the children prior to their shift. This means that there is insufficient preparation. The manager is now preparing an easily-accessible file for all of the agency staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are often brief, incomplete or not signed by the staff. The manager has identified additional training for recording to be delivered in supervision and team meetings. This an ongoing area of improvement. These errors are relatively minor and they are not compromising the standard of care. Inspection report children's home: SC456330 9

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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 differences 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.

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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: SC456330 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Debbie Young, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC456330 11 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 (Carcass), 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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