Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 1 SC457175 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for one young person who has emotional and 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: improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people benefit from personalised care provided by a dedicated and nurturing staff team.  Staff are skilled in fostering trusting relationships with young people. These mutual relationships help young people to feel safe and secure at their home.  With staff’s continued care, support and guidance, young people make noticeable progress in all aspects of their lives.  Staff are good advocates for young people. As a result, young people have a strong voice at this home and are meaningfully engaged in decision-making.  Staff work in partnership with other professionals to make sure that any major changes in the young person’s life are well planned and that transitions are smooth.  Young people are safe because staff come to know the young people well. The staff are fully alert to potential dangers, taking effective action when necessary to minimise harm.  A dedicated and child-focused registered manager leads the team exceptionally

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Key findings from this inspection

well. She leads by example, and the high standard of care provided by staff reflects this.

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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

 Supporting young people to develop a better understanding of the potential consequences of discrimination upon themselves, as well as others.  Moving staff between homes can potentially compromise continuity in care and can unsettle young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/07/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 3

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Recommendations

 Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards others. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11) In particular, supporting young people to understand, accept and tolerate difference.  Staffing structures should promote continuity of care from the child’s perspective. If children complain, or give a view on how the staffing structure could be improved to promote the best care for them, appropriate action should be taken. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15) In particular, moving staff between the company’s homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A key strength of the home is staff’s commitment and ability to nurture warm, trusting relationships with young people. The young person living at the home described staff’s care as ‘excellent’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff invest time in coming to know and understand young people’s individual needs, strengths and interests. As a result, young people benefit from personalised care that reflects their uniqueness, as well as their needs. This, coupled with consistent partnership working with all professionals, secures young people’s continued progress in all areas. The young person living at the home recently attained GCSE results, higher than he had expected, including a distinction in his favourite subject of technology. Additionally, staff’s collaborative working with teachers and tutors supports young people to move from school to college successfully. A college tutor said, ‘Staff made us well aware of (young person’s name) support needs, so we know exactly how to support him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s physical and emotional health improves significantly because of staff’s diligent support and care. Staff invest time in helping the young person to understand how and why it is important to maintain good health. With staff’s determined support and encouragement, the young person’s attendance and engagement with health professionals have improved. Furthermore, staff take great care to ensure that young people’s medication is stored and administered safely and as prescribed. When appropriate and safe to do so, the young person takes responsibility for administering his Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 4 own medication to enhance his independence. Staff link young people to specialist services, including child and adolescent mental health service when needed. Likewise, staff can access the company’s therapist for expert guidance and training in response to young people’s specific needs, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff expertly consult with young people on a regular basis to establish their views, wishes and feelings. When necessary, staff act as strong advocates to ensure that other professionals carefully consider the young person’s needs and views, particularly when they are making important decisions, such as on moving on from the home. A detailed independence plan is helping the current young person to develop essential life skills, such as cooking, shopping and budgeting, at a pace that fully considers their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how important it is for young people to keep in touch with their family. They facilitate family contact in line with the agreed contact plan to ensure that the young person is safe. When it is not suitable for a young person to keep in touch with some family members, staff help the young person to understand why.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s case records reflect a complete picture of their background and life experiences. They benefit from having regular key-work sessions with staff, who are sensitive to their family history and who are helping them to overcome difficult childhood experiences. However, staff can work more proactively to enable young people to embrace their own culture, as well as accepting and tolerating others. This will help young people to develop a more positive self-identity and a better understanding of the negative effects of discrimination and inequality.

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

Trusting relationships with staff, comprehensive risk assessments and an experienced and knowledgeable team are central to enhancing the young person’s safety. The young person said, ‘I trust staff, they trust me and that is why I feel safe.’

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

Missing from home, child sexual exploitation, substance misuse and radicalisation are not concerns at this home. However, staff have received training in these areas so that they are competently equipped to tackle such matters, should they arise.

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

Staff are alert to the potential risks of the internet and try to help the young person to recognise dangers while playing games online. Staff have drawn up a contract agreement with the young person that outlines their expectations and boundaries around internet use at the home. Consequently, the young person is clear about the internet rules and reasons behind them. This mutually agreed contract therefore enables staff to monitor and supervise the young person’s internet use without opposition or conflict, which in turn, enhances everybody’s safety.

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

An experienced and suitably trained staff team manages young people’s behaviour extremely well. Again, staff’s ability to build and maintain positive and trusting relationships is the key to their success. Staff approach challenging situations in a calm Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 5 and non-confrontational way. Young people feel listened to, valued and respected by staff, and this helps them to accept staff’s guidance and support. Positive praise and reassurance are the team’s preferred behaviour management approaches, which are proven to be effective. The home’s behaviour management records confirm this and demonstrate that rewards far outweigh sanctions. Moreover, staff have not had to use physical intervention measures, such as restraint, because they are skilled in deterring potentially harmful behaviour.

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

There have not been any allegations against staff or incidents of abuse at this home for some time. Staff are well trained in child protection, so they know how to deal with disclosures and report any allegations of abuse, should they arise.

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

The manager has completed a home location assessment. Consequently, the risks associated with the home’s location are clearly understood by staff. This annually updated assessment is helping to ensure that the location of the home remains a safe and suitable environment for young people. Consultation with the police informs the location assessment, providing an overview of the local crime figures and crime types, including the risk of sexual exploitation. During inspection, discussions took place with the manager about strengthening the location assessment by assessing the potential dangers of a local bridge.

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

Young people benefit from a warm, comfortable, physically safe and homely environment. The manager ensures that health and safety checks are routinely carried out and repairs are swiftly actioned.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced registered manager leads the service well. She is currently in the process of completing the required qualification for this role. She is the registered manager of another home. Her efficient time management skills and ability to prioritise tasks ensure that she is able to lead both homes successfully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced deputy manager supports the registered manager in the daily running of the home. The management team is extremely caring and fully committed to helping young people to progress and achieve. Without a doubt, the young person living at the home is the manager’s and team’s priority. The young person’s ongoing and sustained progress confirms this. The young person’s progress is largely down to the high standard of care provided by the well-supported team. A professional’s comments demonstrate this: ‘The home provides an excellent standard of care to (young person’s name). The team provides him with the stability, security and boundaries that he needs.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has established strong links with the local community police officer, safeguarding agencies, schools, colleges and health services. This ensures that all relevant partners are working together to promote and protect the young person’s welfare. Staff consistently commend the registered manager’s support and leadership skills, and the team’s stability and ongoing commitment prove this. Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 6 The team benefits from working in an environment in which reflective practice and ongoing learning are valued. A wide range of training, including specific training in response to young people’s changing needs, ensures that all staff are knowledgeable and capable of fulfilling their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular professional supervision that places the young person at the centre. In addition to this, staff have annual appraisals. It was discussed at inspection how staff appraisals could be strengthened further by identifying specific areas of interest and expertise, for example domestic abuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In the main, the staff team is consistent and stable. However, on one occasion the relocation of staff between the company’s homes unsettled the young person. Greater consideration can be given to how staff changes can have an impact on young people, especially when they have established trusting relationships with all members of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal and external quality assurance systems are further improving young people’s progress and safety, as well as sustaining a high standard of care at the home. The young person’s care and progress are tracked through detailed monthly monitoring by an independent visitor. In addition, the manager proactively seeks the views of the young person and other stakeholders, and this informs her regular service monitoring and development plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths, which include a dedicated team, effective team working, consistent nurturing care and strong partnership working. She demonstrates a good understanding of the young person’s specific needs and ensures that he receives appropriate support from a range of services. The registered manager and her team are highly enthusiastic to continuously develop the service and improve.

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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: SC457175 7

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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 Group, 4th floor Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Marina Tully, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457175 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 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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