Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Inspection report children's home: SC457182 1 SC457182 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children‟s home can accommodate one young person who has 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

Date of last inspection: 27 October 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC457182 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has only been at the home for a short time, but he was able to say with confidence that he was happy, safe and settled at this home. His mother described the home as excellent and exceptional.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has recently left school, although he did not attend school prior to coming here. He has a love of horses. The home quickly resourced a provision, where he is volunteering on a daily basis to care for a number of horses.

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Key findings from this inspection

 All safeguarding concerns are quickly reported and robustly investigated and detailed records are kept to show the actions taken, meetings held, work undertaken with the young people and outcomes of any incident.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home has a good record of being able to support young people to improve their behaviour. The home is proactive when identifying when a placement needs to end and it has worked closely with the relevant local authority to find suitable alternative placements once all avenues have been exhausted.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person currently in placement expressed his confidence in knowing how to raise a complaint and feeling that it would be listened to.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person lives a long way from his home town. The home has ensured that his mother has been able to visit the home. There are arrangements in place for him to go home for his birthday.

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Key findings from this inspection

 There is a new acting manager at the home. In the short period of time that she has been here, she has been very proactive in bringing the paperwork up to date and in line with her expectations. She has worked very closely with the staff team. There are frequent staff meetings and more rigorous handovers. This means that the young person is receiving continuity of care from a staff team that knows him well.

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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

 The acting manager needs to consider incorporating safety aspects into the young person‟s contact plan, such as having rest breaks scheduled into the journey.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Although the young person was happy with the outcome of a complaint he had Inspection report children's home: SC457182 3 made, the home‟s records do not show that all parts of his complaint were formally addressed. This does not ensure that there is a robust system in place.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The previous manager was asked to update the home‟s location risk assessment and this has not yet been completed.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people‟s missing-from-home records have not always been completed. Although, this shortfall was in regard to a young person who had previously lived at the home, it is important that all records are an accurate record, and are fully complete.

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Key findings from this inspection

 A new member of staff‟s recruitment file is not robust. His previous employment history has not been explored. In addition to this, his references only give a timeline of employment and do not discuss his integrity and character. This does not ensure that young people are fully safeguarded against unsuitable adults.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Members of staff discuss with young people the safety issues when they might encounter when they are accessing the internet or social media. However, not all staff have had e-safety training to equip them with the knowledge to be able to confidently help and offer guidance to young people so they are safe when online.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC457182 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‟s home. (Regulation 46(1))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to evaluating the impact of crime statistics on young people living at the home, especially when accessing the local community. Also, to ensure that all identified risks to young people are considered as part of any impact risk assessment for new young people. 31/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety –

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the past employment of all applicants is robustly explored and that every attempt is made to secure more detailed references. 31/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) setting out –

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is , or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34(4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to maintain full records of each incident including 31/08/2017 Inspection report children's home: SC457182 5 any debrief with the young person. 39: Complaints and representations

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 31/08/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert to any signs that may indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 43, paragraph 9.12). This is specifically in relation to ensuring that staff complete e-safety training.

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Recommendations

 The arrangements for contact and any contact details must be included in the placement plan agreed between the registered person and the child‟s placing authority and updated regularly. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 58, paragraph 11.15)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people often come to this home in an emergency. However, the acting manager ensures that she has the relevant local authority documents available so that she can make an informed decision on whether or not the home can meet the individual needs of the young person. Where the information is not provided, the acting manager will challenge the placing authority to provide information so that she can make sure the young person‟s placement plan is fully updated and accurate. This means that the home has the correct information to work with the young person successfully from the beginning of the placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person fully participated in this inspection. He said that he was happy and safe, and enjoyed living here. He told the inspector that the plan is for him to return home in a month. The young person‟s mother was very complimentary about the service. She said, „If I could pick this home up and put it around here, that would be fantastic. They have been excellent.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Currently, the young person does not have a named social worker. The acting manager is liaising with the team manager of the placing authority. The placement was requested for 12 weeks and the acting manager has requested a planning meeting to move things forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home‟s statement of purpose reflects the service offered at this home. Professionals Inspection report children's home: SC457182 6 say that the ethos of the home is evident in the good outcomes for the young people. The acting manager ensures that young people‟s reviews, initial placement meetings that happen after 72 hours and strategy meetings are completed on time. This means that plans are regularly updated and that everyone is working towards the same goals The statement of purpose has recently been updated to reflect the management changes and includes the new member of staff‟s details. This was sent to Ofsted on the day of inspection and this was in line with timescales.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Prior to coming here, the young person had not attended education for a significant period of time, although he did complete an equine-related course at level 1 in 2016. He is 16 next month, and has not been entered for any exams. He is judged as having finished formal education. However, the home has been completing some in-house education with him and an educational psychologist is scheduled to visit to undertake an assessment of his academic ability. In the meantime, the home has been proactive in looking at a prospectus for a nearby college where he could complete his level 2 in equine care. Alongside this, the home has been very proactive in ensuring that he is doing something he likes; staff hope this will keep him engaged in a purposeful activity that is related to his interests. The young person attends a stables on a daily basis. He helps to clean and care for 12 horses. As a reward he has gets free horse-riding lessons.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person said, „I love it and I want to work with animals when I am older.‟ The home has the young person‟s last personal education plan. The acting manager has challenged the content of this plan. It is very basic, includes no actions, and does not contain the young person‟s views, thoughts or wishes. She has requested another meeting to discuss a way forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is in good health. He is registered with all necessary health professionals. His placement plan states that he has an inhaler for asthma, but the acting manager said that he did not come to the home with any medication. The young person‟s mother said that he had it when he was young and only needs it when he has a cold. The acting manager has made an appointment with the doctor to have him reassessed for this condition. All staff are trained in administering medication and they all have a first aid qualification. This ensures that young people receive medication in line with their prescriptions and that members of staff can give first aid, if required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person said that he was very confident about his ability to raise a concern or complaint with the acting manager. He also said that he has an advocate who he can speak to if necessary. The young person made a complaint previously and was happy with the outcome. However, the home‟s records show that he raised three issues in his complaint. These were: that members of staff went into his room without his permission; that staff had said that bottles of liquid found were unhygienic; and that staff read his private letters. Only the first two issues were discussed in the home‟s outcome letter to him. In addition to this, the outcome letter was very formal. It states, „We will be completing a daily health and safety check on your room.‟ There was no other documentation that showed that this had been discussed and agreed with him. This shortfall detracts from otherwise sound systems for responding to young people‟s

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

wishes, views and feelings. Inspection report children's home: SC457182 7 The young person lives a long way from home. His mother has travelled to the home to see him. She said, „The staff were fantastic and it was lovely to see he was being so well looked after.‟ The young person was very excited about going home for his birthday. He said, „I cannot wait. It will be great to see everyone, especially my friends as they are like family to me. We are having a barbecue and my mum has invited the staff.‟ The young person has a contact plan, but this could be further enhanced by including, for example, the arrangements for travelling to the young person‟s home area, which is some distance away, and by ensuring that other key people, such as the young person‟s nan, are included in the plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is offered a range of activities. He said, „I have tried lots of things, such as ice skating, but I did not like it. I have not got the patience to sit in a cinema. I prefer to go horse riding and taking a member of staff‟s dog for a walk.‟ He has been to a theme park and really enjoyed this. He said that he likes to cook his own meals and enjoys baking. He was very clear about his ability to care for himself and that these things helped him with his independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person lives in a well-maintained and homely environment. Staff have offered to have his bedroom redecorated, but he does not want this at the moment. He said that he prefers to draw or write comments down on his wall and this helps him to express himself and settle. The acting manager is sensitive to what the young person‟s wishes are and is mindful that drawing or writing on the wall do help him to calm down. However, she is ensuring that any comments or pictures are not inappropriate, or offensive to anybody. She and the young person have also discussed making the main wall into a chalk board. The young person does not want this because he is moving on. However, if the plan changes, the acting manager said that this would need to be revisited.

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

The young person was very complimentary about the staff team. He said that they listen and try to make things happen. The inspector observed the good, humorous interactions between the young person and several members of staff. The young person‟s mother said, „I cannot believe the progress that he has made in such a short time. He is calmer and tells me daily what he has been up to. He talks about the staff team all the time and it is great to hear how well he gets on with them.‟ She continued to say, „I think it is their approach. They do not just say no. They fully discuss anything he wants and they make sure he understands why it‟s a no or try to give him alternatives.‟ This shows that good consultation brings about better understanding and positively influences the young person‟s responses and behaviour.

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

A core group of long-standing members of staff care for the young person. There has been one new member of staff since the home‟s last inspection. This means that the young person receives continuity from a staff team that knows him well. The staff pride themselves on the trusting, open and warm relationships that they make with young people. One member of staff said, „Honest and open conversations are the building blocks to secure trusting relationships. If you do not do this then there is no platform to Inspection report children's home: SC457182 8 work from.‟ Another member of staff said, „Because we ensured that we were truthful and gave him time to get to know us, he is making good progress.‟

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

The young person said that he was safe at this home. He compared this home to his previous home in a positive manner. He said that although he knew how to keep himself safe, members of staff still discussed safety issues with him and explained why adults were concerned for him, whereas the last home just told him that he could not do it. He was clear on keeping himself safe when online. He said, „It is not just about being approached by older adults, but that people can fraud you if you put too much information out there.‟ A member of staff told the inspector that the staff often go through safety issues with the young person when he is accessing the internet. However, he had not received any formal training in this area. This does not ensure that all members of staff are fully equipped with the training and knowledge that they need to provide the young person with informed and up-to-date information so that he can

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

keep himself safe when accessing social media and the internet.

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

There are no safeguarding incidents to report with regard to this young person. In the past, all safeguarding concerns have been reported quickly to the appropriate safeguarding professionals. Detailed records are maintained to show the action taken, the meetings held, the work completed with young people and the outcome of any investigation. Similarly, there is a robust procedure to follow if any young person makes an allegation against a member of staff or a professional. On previous inspections of this home, all safeguarding professionals have spoken about the home‟s good practice in keeping young people safe. However, on this occasion the safeguarding professionals were not available for comment.

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

One of the reasons that this young person was placed at this home was because of his high level of instances when he was being reported to the police as being missing. While missing, he was becoming involved in criminal activity. Since being at this home he has not been reported missing or come to the attention of the police. The young person put this down to being happy and settled here, but was also able to reflect that he was a long way from home and not in the company of his friends who influenced him. The acting manager is aware that that these improvements may not be down to the staffs approach but may just be due to the distance. Therefore, members of staff are ensuring that he understands these issues through completing safety work and having discussions with them about the impact that his decisions have, especially in terms of his future.

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

The previous young person was also placed at this home due to his high levels of being reported missing from home. He was given several chances by the courts to reduce these incidents and he understood that if they continued he would receive a welfare order. Initially, the previous manager thought that they could break this cycle and these episodes reduced briefly. However, the young person continued to be reported missing from the home and as a consequence was remanded to a secure setting. The records relating to this period lacked detail and were incomplete. For example, the outcomes of the young person‟s debriefs or return interviews were not recorded. This does not ensure that records are well maintained or that the reasons for the young person‟s missing episodes were explored with him. Inspection report children's home: SC457182 9 The behaviour of the young person currently placed has significantly improved. There

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

are good risk management plans that address all known concerns. They provide the history, and triggers regarding his behaviour and strategies to de-escalate situations. These plans have been fully discussed with the young person, and are updated regularly. Furthermore they are also shared with other safeguarding professionals. This means that members of staff work consistently with him and have the most up-to-date information, and that other safeguarding professionals are aware of the concerns for the young person at an early stage. Due to the good systems that are in place and the strong focus on positive relationships, there has been no need to use restraint. Sanctions are minimal, but when applied the young person said that they were fair. The young person has received several rewards for being well behaved or helping out in the home. This has included receiving a new tracksuit, additional money and extra horse-riding lessons.

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

There has been one new member of staff start since the home‟s last inspection. The human resources department collates all the required information. The department verifies the references and each member of staff has a recruitment file that contains a checklist, their application, interview notes, security checks, proof of identity and the offer of employment. However, some checks are not robust or have not been explored further. For example, the member of staff‟s employment history only goes back to 2014. In addition to this, two professional references only give information on the time that he worked for the companies and do not comment on suitability for the role. A letter was sent for further information, but has not been responded to or chased up. There is only a character reference from a family friend. This means that the member of staff‟s integrity and character have not been suitably explored and that measures to follow up

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

have not been as rigorous as they should be. This does not ensure that young people are fully safeguarded from potentially unsuitable adults.

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

All certificates for appliances are up to date and relevant insurance cover is in place. Health and safety checks are completed regularly. All members of staff and the young person routinely complete emergency evacuations. This ensures that they can leave the building safely in the event of an emergency. All visitors have to show their identification and sign in and out of the home, which helps to ensure that young people are supported safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left this home in May 2017. An acting manager was quickly identified. She has been proactive in ensuring that her application is ready to submit to Ofsted, but she is waiting for her Disclosure and Barring Service check number. The acting manager currently has oversight of three one-bed children‟s homes. She is being supported in this role by another experienced registered manager within the company.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager has been with the company for ten years. She has five years‟ experience as a line manager in a deputy role. She has worked in a solo placement and a multi-bed children‟s home. She has a degree in healthcare and a National Vocational Qualification in leadership and management at level 4. She is currently completing her Inspection report children's home: SC457182 10 level 5 in this area. She is supported by a well-qualified deputy and a stable staff team. Therefore, she is suitably qualified and experienced for this role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager has been at the home since May 2017. At the home‟s last full inspection, in May 2016, the inspector found that the young person‟s documents and the home‟s records required updating. Further there was discord in the team. Staff were not confident that the registered manager was working with them and thought that the young person was being given different messages by different people. At the home‟s interim inspection, in October 2016, the situation was improving. The acting manager was aware of these issues when she took over. She had a clear plan to address these shortfalls. First, she is holding fortnightly staff meetings and has completed all the staff team‟s supervisions. She has spent a considerable amount of time getting to know the staff and their strengths and weakness. She said, „I found that the staff team did not have any responsibility for completing tasks within the home. I have assessed them and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

delegated areas of responsibilities to them. This has been successful. It aids their development, practice and helps to familiarise them with all aspects of the home.‟ Furthermore she has brought all the home‟s records up to date. A member of staff said, „She is great, approachable and the change in the staff team is amazing.‟ Another member of staff said, „We are working together so closely, you would not know that there was an issue in the past. This is down to her management skills and her belief in us. Also, because we have a new young person we have been able to put everything into practice.‟ She continued to say, „We are solid and have agreed responses and strategies to care for the young person. This gives him continuity of care.‟ This shows that the acting manager‟s approach has benefited the staff team and more importantly has helped the young person to regulate his behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the home‟s last inspection the registered manager was required to update the home‟s location risk assessment with the information received by the police. It does not discuss the criminal statistics for the area and the potential impact of the crime rate on young people. It is a long and confusing document. It has a section on considerations for placements and then further down it has a section on risks to young people. However, not all of the risks noted are given due consideration. As a result, only some risks were assessed on the young person‟s referral to the home. This does not ensure that young people are suitably placed and therefore the requirement has been repeated. The acting manager was aware of this shortfall and had noted that this required updating.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people are central to the care that they receive at this home. This is because they are encouraged to discuss and comment on every aspect of their care. The young person said he fully understood his care plan and was confident that he could influence it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff are qualified in caring for young people. One new member of staff will be registered on a similar childcare course after he successfully completes his probationary period. All staff complete an introduction to the company. This includes completing mandatory training before starting work in a children‟s home. Additional training is completed throughout their employment. The home has a training matrix that highlights when training has been completed, and has an identified date to refresh it. As a result, Inspection report children's home: SC457182 11 all staff members were up to date with their training. The acting manager is currently looking at other training opportunities that may be available within the local community. Staff say that the supervision, training and development opportunities that they receive support them to give good, consistent care to the young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings have significantly improved because there is allotted time to discuss the home‟s policies and procedures. This means that all members of staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Furthermore the acting manager has ensured that the staff team learns from research and practice. For example, staff have been discussing recent televised documentaries on gang culture and child sexual exploitation. They have looked at these to see how these issues may affect young people in their care. They are also aware of new negative trends that have been highlighted on social media, such as the „blue whale‟ craze and the setting alight of wheelie bins for inhaling toxic fumes. This good practice shows that staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of these issues. This further protects young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent visitor monitors the home on a monthly basis. Ofsted receives these reports in a timely manner. This enables the acting manager to make improvements within the home or to assess where development is needed. The acting manager also completes a similar report on a six-monthly basis. She uses this document well to carry over any actions noted in her development plan for the ongoing improvement of the home. Good consultation with young people, parents, professionals and stakeholders also informs the development of the home.

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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 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 who 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: SC457182 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Childcare Limited, 4 th floor, Waterfront, Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley: social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC457182 13 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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