Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 1 SC457308 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

This privately run children’s home is registered by a large national organisation. The home is registered for up to five young women who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The provider also runs a school in the local area that young people attend if it meets their needs. There is a flat attached to the main house for one young person who is working towards independence.

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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: 22 December 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people live in a very homely and friendly environment. They experience Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 2 good levels of stability and security.  The manager and staff work hard to develop trusting relationships with young people.  Young people benefit from a staff team that is caring and supportive. Consequently, young people make good progress with their achievements and development.  Young people have a good say in their care and the running of the home.  Staff keep young people safe. The high quality of care and safeguarding practice leads to a reduction in risk-taking activity when considered from young people’s starting points.  The manager and staff team work closely with a wide range of professionals to give young people the best all-round support.  The manager is a strong leader and implements research-based practice to support young people’s care.  The staff have high aspirations for the young people and empower them to make

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2016 Full Outstanding 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 3

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Recommendations

 In accordance with regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met), homes must have proactive relationships with appropriate schools and educational support services (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.7). In particular, personal education plans should be complete, up to date and detail how individual pupil premium is spent to improve the educational outcomes of children.  The registered person is responsible for leading a team which provides high quality care for all children living in the home. They must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose. They should also play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to

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Recommendations

the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4) In particular, there should be clear and detailed records of the decision-making about accepting referrals and thorough analysis of the potential risks that young people may pose to each other.  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) In particular, use the regulation 44 and 45 review processes to analyse the

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Recommendations

reasons for unplanned placement endings and safeguarding incidents in an effort to improve future placement stability.  The whole review process should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4) In particular, reviews completed under regulation 45 should include young people’s views, the impact that these have had and Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely (SMART) targets for future improvements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from a friendly and safe environment. They respond well to the sensitive and nurturing care they receive and the emotional warmth of staff. Young people trust staff and accept their help. Consequently, young people’s emotional well- Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 4 being, hampered by past trauma and adversity, significantly improves. Young people make good progress in different aspects of their lives from the time of admission to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how the past can affect young people’s social and emotional development. Staff are able to put their knowledge and understanding to good use and give young people stability and security. This empowers the young people to overcome emotional difficulties and consider new opportunities. For example, they experience fewer placement moves, reduce the times they are missing, they are safer, and go to evening classes when there are issues with attending school during the day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are good, detailed care plans for each young person. Staff frequently review and amend these plans. Young people are included in this process so that they take ownership and have a say in their own progress and development. They also have an effective voice in the running of the home, daily routines, meals and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear expectations that young people go to school or college. Staff support and encourage young people to maintain good attendance and make progress with their learning. Despite the best efforts of staff, some young people struggle to achieve this. The individual approach to care is reflected in all young people going to different schools and having their own timetables. The manager is proactive in communicating with schools and arranging meetings to consider young people’s needs and progress. However, not all young people’s personal education plans are fully completed and it is not clear how all pupil premium money is spent to try and improve young people’s educational outcomes. At the inspection, the manager undertook to address this matter to ensure that young people get the best educational support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive very good support with their health, particularly with their emotional well-being. The manager has developed a very strong network of relationships with professionals from different agencies. There are specialist support services available direct to young people and staff receive regular guidance from trained mental health professionals. Consequently, there is a positive impact on young people’s complex health needs. Other support includes dietary advice and help to reduce substance misuse. Staff engage young people in regular discussion about health and encourage attendance at routine and specialist appointments. Young people take part in physical exercise, such as football and going to the gym.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family and friends are welcome in the home, which is important for young people. The manager ensures that this is safe and organised carefully, taking account of any potential risks. The staff support young people with life-story work to help them understand their past, reasons for being in care and why contact may be limited. Consequently, young people develop their sense of identity and become more resilient.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make progress towards supporting themselves independently. They learn to complete household tasks, budget, shop, cook and travel by themselves. The separate flat provides young people with opportunities to live with less staff supervision and to experience a semi-independent lifestyle. Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 5

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

Staff treat the safety of young people as a top priority. There is a very effective approach to risk management that promotes young people’s independence, development and enjoyment. Young people have a hot tub in the garden, take part in different activities, go on holidays abroad, and are able to explore their sexual identities safely. They learn about the dangers of being exploited and those from alcohol and substance misuse. Staff make sure that young people receive ongoing support from specialist agencies that help them reduce risk-taking behaviours.

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

Staff use person-centred strategies that enable young people to feel more in control and included in decision-making about their levels of independence, safe choices and risks. Staff regularly engage with young people and let them know why staff are worried about them. The manager and staff team are experienced in supporting young people who are in exploitative or abusive relationships. They understand the nature of these relationships and do their utmost to help young people to keep safe.

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

There has been a recent upward trend in the amount of times that young people are missing from the home or are absent without permission. However, compared with previous placements and difficulties that young people have experienced, they are much safer as a result of the committed efforts of the manager and staff. The staff team is persistent in disrupting patterns of risk-taking behaviour and keeping young people safe. For example, staff members will follow young people and wherever possible prevent them from getting into unknown cars. There is excellent information sharing about potential risks with partner agencies, including the local authority, placing authorities and police. The manager is resourceful in planning multi-agency meetings and holding partner agencies to account so that young people are robustly protected.

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

The manager considers admissions of young people to the home carefully. Decision- making takes account of young people’s individual needs and whether the home is the appropriate place for them to live. This process includes assessing the likely impact that young people might have on each other’s welfare and safety. Risk analysis in determining appropriate admissions is not sufficiently recorded, which may compromise the effectiveness of the decision-making process. If risks emerge later, after admission, the manager takes action to minimise these. She strives to reflect on and review all decisions in an effort to keep all young people free from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted for five years. She is very experienced and appropriately qualified. She is a strong and confident leader and manages the home very effectively. She knows the young people very well and is committed to keeping up to date with their experiences and progress. She maintains a thorough oversight and she uses this very effectively to provide young people with good-quality care and to keep them safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 6 The manager’s dedication to giving young people the best support makes her a strong advocate for their welfare. She regularly communicates with other agencies and professionals and promotes effective multi-agency work to keep young people safe and improve their outcomes. For example, this has helped a young person receive specialist input with her emotional well-being, have more family contact and this has supported a plan to return to live with her relatives in an effective manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s passion and commitment help motivate the staff to work cohesively and this is a strong driving force to help young people achieve their potential. The manager and staff are very reflective and carefully consider young people’s needs, along with risks to their welfare. For example, they have explored different ways of helping a young person spend less time in bed during the day and help her improve her educational achievements. Practice is informed by theory, research and input from clinical specialists. There is a core group of staff that lead on promoting young people’s emotional well- being. Furthermore, staff are developing and using a growing resource library that includes topics such as attachment, child development and eating disorders. Consequently, young people receive care that is founded on best practice and is well informed by a strong evidence base.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the manager through formal systems of supervision, appraisal and informal direct support. They undertake a wide range of training that includes workshops about the specific needs of young people. A small number of staff have not completed the required qualification within an appropriate timescale. The manager is aware of this and there are plans in place to support staff to achieve this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a thorough monitoring process to ensure that young people receive good standards of care and that they are safeguarded effectively. This would be further enhanced if the six-monthly quality assurance reviews included young people’s views, the impact these have had, and SMART targets for future improvements. An independent visitor (IV) assesses the home on a monthly basis in terms of how well young people’s welfare and safety are promoted. Subsequent reports highlight a number of strengths and the IV has made a small number of minor recommendations which the manager has addressed. However, these would also be improved with more analysis of unplanned placement endings and safeguarding incidents to support the process of continuous practice improvement.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 7 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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC457308 8

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Susan Fitzsimmons

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Inspector

Simon Morley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457308 9 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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