Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 1 SC450992 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

The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The accommodation includes two flats for semi-independent living. The provider is a large private limited company.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 July to 1 August 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home requires improvement to be good because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people’s health needs are not being consistently met.  Young people do not live in an environment that is homely.  Staff do not receive timely supervisions or annual appraisals to support them in their practice.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The registered manager has strong leadership skills and has made significant improvements since the last inspection. She is aware of the weaknesses within the home.  A newly appointed staff team is ambitious and aspirational for young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 09/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 3

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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 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff –

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(2)(b)(iii)) 02/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that the health and well- being needs of children are met. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)) 11/09/2017

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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; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 11/09/2017

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improvement to be good

The progress and the experiences of young people have improved since the last inspection. However, this still remains variable for some young people. There have been six young people who have moved into the home who then subsequently moved to alternative placements. One young person has remained living in the home. During this inspection, there were three young people living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not make sure that young people follow a good routine and have structure in their daily lives. For example, when young people do not wake up until early afternoon, staff do not take action to challenge this. They do not encourage young people to be involved in activities within the home during the daytime. As a result, young people are not supported to achieve consistently. However, young people do enjoy activities of their Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 4 own choice, for example going to the cinema and go-karting. This gives young people enjoyable experiences while building up their self-efficacy.

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improvement to be good

Young people’s health needs are not consistently met. Young people are registered with medical practitioners and attend routine appointments. However, important significant medical information about some young people is missing. Staff have not tried to resolve this. For example, staff do not make sure that young people have all the necessary immunisations. This means that young people are not fully protected from diseases. Young people do not always attend follow-up hospital appointments after an injury. As a result, young people’s health needs are not being fully met.

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improvement to be good

Some young people have done extremely well with their education attainment and attendance. One young person has achieved nearly 100% attendance. He was very proud when he received his certificates for a Level 1 and level 2 Award in Performing Arts and IQ functional skills qualification in ICT at Level 2. The young person said, ‘This is the longest I have lived in a care home.’ Other young people’s educational needs are being assessed for the forthcoming academic year. A health worker stated, ‘Living at the home has made a difference to the life of [young person], particularly in respect of his confidence.’ This enhances young people’s future career prospects and gives them a sense of achievement.

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improvement to be good

Young people’s relationships with staff were observed to be positive. Overall, young people’s relationships with each other are acceptable. Young people enjoy spending time with their family and friends. Staff will drive young people to see their family and friends. Staff welcome young people’s friends to the home. This helps to provide young people with a sense of identity and belonging.

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improvement to be good

Young people do not live in a homely environment. For example, although some improvements have been made, the maintenance and furnishing of the home are not of a good standard. Specifically, lighting, fire doors, high fencing, the heating system and safety windows all contribute to an institutional feel. Young people’s bedrooms require further decoration, personalisation and furnishings. A settee is old and in a poor state of repair. An upstairs window has offensive graffiti scratched into it. One window had a young person’s sick on it following an incident on the first day of the inspection. A window blind has a cigarette burn in it. These shortfalls mean that a recommendation made at the last inspection has not been met. The manager has applied for funding to make the environment more homely. However, senior managers have not yet agreed this. The registered manager and responsible individual have challenged this on

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improvement to be good

numerous occasions and are currently awaiting a decision. Consequently, young people continue to live in a home that does not treat them with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

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improvement to be good

The manager is taking action to challenge poor staff practice. However, she acknowledges that it will take time to embed these changes and that improvement is still Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 5 required. Young people are safe. However, this is mainly due to the diligence of the manager rather than strong practice from a new staff group.

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improvement to be good

Young people have risk assessments that include strategies to help identify when a young person is struggling. Some staff are able to recognise how young people are feeling by their mood and behaviour. Consistent boundaries provide young people with some security. Negative consequences, when used, are appropriate and individualised to each young person. Staff use a reward scheme to promote achievements for young people. Physical intervention is used appropriately and only when necessary. Overall, behaviour management strategies are managed well. This means that young people are supported to develop their self-confidence and social skills and have an understanding of what is acceptable behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Proactive and effective working relationships are in place with appropriate professionals, for example a substance misuse worker, the police coordinator for missing young people and a child sexual exploitation worker. Because of this collaborative working, the safety of young people is further promoted. The child sexual exploitation worker says, ‘I was really impressed with the home as the staff knew [young person] really well. The registered manager always notified me when she was missing.’ However, the number of missing incidents since the last inspection remains high at 46. The risks associated with going missing are well understood by the manager and staff. The manager has agreed measures with the local police that make sure that they receive a fast and effective response from the police. This is particularly pertinent for young people who are at risk of child sexual exploitation. Staff have worked closely with the police to share

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improvement to be good

intelligence. As a result, young people are returned to the home sooner and potential perpetrators are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A dedicated and suitably qualified registered manager leads the team. She has a lot of experience working with children and young people in residential care. She is a committed and knowledgeable manager who demonstrates strong leadership and high aspirations for young people. The registered manager has worked hard to improve the culture of the home. Since the last inspection, there is a new staff team. Not all of the staff have attained the appropriate qualifications to work with young people. However, they are in the process of completing these qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is robust in ensuring that significant incidents are swiftly addressed and learning reviews are undertaken; for example, there has been a breach of data protection. This was immediately investigated and rectified. Appropriate measures have been taken to make sure that data is now secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of staff are supported through regular supervision and have training opportunities. However, there are a few staff whose supervisions have not been as frequent. This has hindered them having their practice formally reviewed. One member of staff who has remained in post since the last inspection has not had an appraisal for over a year. This means that any development needs are not addressed at an early Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 6 stage before they become potential practice issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Collaborative working with external professionals is positive. Feedback has been exceptionally complimentary about the changes that the current registered manager has made. A police officer said, ‘[Registered manager] is a very good manager who has done a lot since she started... she has done a lot to manage young people.’ A substance misuse worker stated, ‘The communication is brilliant and much better than it was.’ This ensures that young people are receiving a holistic approach to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Significant improvements have been made since the last inspection. The manager is aware of the continuing journey of the home to strengthen the shortfalls. She is aware of the progress that young people make. This is monitored through independent monthly reports and reflected in the internal six-monthly monitoring record. Because of this, the manager is meeting the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose. The one regulatory requirement from the last inspection has been met. Young people’s bedroom door alarms are now not routinely set. Young people only have alarms on their doors should the risk warrant it. The manager acknowledges that this regulation was not met by the agreed date; this was due to a delay in the work being completed.

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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 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: SC450992 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Group, 4th Floor, Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Sandra King, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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