Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 1 SC456800 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 home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is part of a large private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 September 2017

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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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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people receive high-quality care from a stable and experienced staff team.  Young people have made good progress in their educational attendance and attainment.  Young people’s views are central to the running of the home. They have a say in decisions that affect them.  Healthcare is prioritised; consequently, young people have improved emotional health and well-being.  Young people with a history of challenging behaviour have settled in the home, and this behaviour has reduced significantly.  Risk management plans are comprehensive and provide staff with clear strategies to reduce risks to young people.  Staff report that they are well supported and experience good leadership in the home.  Leaders make good use of internal and external monitoring systems to drive continuous improvement in the home.  Placing authorities have provided positive feedback about the service provided at this home.

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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

 Leaders do not routinely evaluate the sanctions given to young people by the staff.  The home could benefit from maintenance and modernisation in some areas.  Young people would like greater access to computer equipment and the internet.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/12/2016 Full Good 08/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 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 registered person must ensure that- within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person

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Requirement Due date

to do so (‘the authorised person’)— (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(b)(c)) 31/10/2017

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases be homely, domestic environments. With particular regard to considering external maintenance needs, modernising the kitchen and reducing the amount of commercial signs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 4 paragraph 3.9)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. The home must make available suitable facilities, equipment and resources for learning and ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children wishing to use the home’s resources to study. Staff must support children with home study by encouraging them to learn independent study skills and helping them to practice those skills.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection in March 2017, the same young people have remained living at the home. One young person has lived at the home for four years and is happy, settled and thriving. She has developed a very close relationship with all of the staff team and said, ‘I see them as my family.’ One young person who moved into the home in March is settled and said, ‘I like the staff. They listen to us and spend time with us.’ Relationships between the young people and staff are based on mutual respect. However, on occasions, the relationship between the young people can become fractious. When this happens, staff work very hard to make sure that young people have constructive conversations and resolve any difficulties that they have with each other. Young people are encouraged to socialise together wherever possible, and staff ensure that they are provided with regular opportunities to bond with each other. This provides

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

a more harmonious environment in the home, and teaches them how to build and maintain positive relationships. Young people at the home are highly articulate and extremely vocal about their wishes and feelings. They participate in regular house meetings and discussions with staff. They know how to complain, and are encouraged to exercise the right to do so. When they have complained, the registered manager has responded promptly and appropriately, and has resolved the matter to the satisfaction of the young person. One young person has regular telephone consultation with an advocate. Both young people engage regularly with the independent visitor to the home, and it is clear that their feedback is used to inform changes in the home. Staff are strong advocates for young people’s education. One young person attends a local mainstream school. At his last education review meeting, he received extremely positive feedback about his good attendance and positive achievements. Another young

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 5 person is proud to have secured a place on her chosen course at college. Staff help young people to recognise that education is important in order to achieve good future life chances. As a result, young people develop personal goals and aspirations for their futures. Healthcare planning is excellent. Young people are registered with local services, and attend appointments to promote good physical health. Young people are encouraged to eat a balanced diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff ensure that young people with unmet emotional health needs are referred to appropriate local services. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘they really have complemented and supported the counselling and therapy that [the young person] has received.’ Staff ensure that wherever possible young people are able to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. If concerns around contact arise, staff support young

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

people to ensure that issues are resolved quickly. When appropriate, staff have supported young people to access an independent advocate. Staff encourage young people to explore new hobbies and interests. Staff take them to the cinema and on trampoline activities. One young person has a love of animals, and has received support to access horse riding lessons. This contributes to building young people’s self-esteem and confidence, and enhancing their social development. The home is comfortable, and is decorated in a modern style that young people have chosen. Young people have been able to make choices about the décor and furniture in their bedrooms. However, the kitchen would benefit from a programme of modernisation, and the exterior of the home could benefit from further maintenance. In particular, the roof of the conservatory and the garden area require improvements. During the inspection, young people raised concerns that the corporate wi-fi does not

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

always meet their needs in terms of accessing the internet. The home has one laptop, which both young people can use in the communal areas of the home. Young people wanted a review of these arrangements, and requested a greater ease of access to computer equipment to allow more time for independent study. Recommendations are made to consider resolution of these issues.

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

Young people say they feel safe at this home. A young person with a history of presenting challenging behaviour in other settings has not exhibited these difficulties since moving into this home. Staff have supported one young person with a history of self-injurious behaviour to access counselling services, which has resulted in a reduced number of incidents of self-harm. Another young person was frequently the subject of physical interventions in his previous home, but has had only one low-level restriction of movement since June 2017. This is excellent progress. Staff focus on de-escalation and redirection techniques in order to defuse situations between young people. This has been successful. Risk management plans are comprehensive and have clear strategies for staff to follow. Staff take appropriate action to reduce any potential risks, including undertaking direct key-work sessions and seeking

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

support from external services. When risks are identified, immediate action is taken to safeguard the young person. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 6 their own actions, and to reflect on their behaviour. When staff give young people sanctions to address behaviour, they are restorative in nature. However, leaders have not routinely scrutinised the sanction records, or spoken with both staff and young people afterwards, as required in regulation. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that any trends are noted, and that young people are fairly treated. A requirement is made to address this shortfall. Staff support young people to live together and respect each other. Young people have developed a sense of belonging in the home. Young people who have previously absconded do not go missing from the home. When young people have made an allegation, managers have ensured that they investigated the allegation thoroughly and

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

handled it in accordance with safeguarding procedures. In addition, staff attend appropriate safeguarding training and know how to raise any concerns. This ensures that young people are safeguarded. The physical environment in the home is risk- assessed regularly, and leaders ensure that young people and staff take part in regular fire evacuations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has a wealth of experience of caring for young people in residential care. At the time of the inspection, she had just begun a period of planned extended leave. She has identified an experienced member of staff to provide interim leadership and has completed a thorough handover with her. The interim manager is in the process of making an application to Ofsted for registration, until the permanent manager returns to work. The home meets the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose. Young people, social workers and family members are clear about the aims of the service and the support the home will provide. Staff report that the setting is well managed, and say that they feel supported and happy in their roles. Staff benefit from regular training opportunities that provide them with the necessary skills to care for young people who have complex behavioural needs. The registered manager conducts regular, effective

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

supervision, and holds team meetings that enable staff to contribute their views in care planning and behaviour management for young people. Internal and external monitoring systems are used effectively to ensure that young people make good progress and achieve good developmental outcomes. Detailed information highlights specific areas for development, and the registered manager’s action plan details the methods used to enhance the service. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress young people make, particularly in improved educational attainment and a reduction in risk-taking behaviour. Leaders and staff work positively with placing authorities. Placing authority social work professionals provided highly positive feedback. One social worker said, ‘I am happy with the progress that [Name of young person] has made and I feel that the support they have provided has made him ready enough to move on to a foster placement.’ This is an

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

excellent outcome. An independent reviewing officer commented, ‘Generally speaking, overall my judgement of the home is very positive. They have stuck with her throughout and she considers it as home.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 7

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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: SC456800 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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Inspector

Nicola Thomas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456800 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 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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