Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Middlesbrough

Inspection report children's home: SC465079 1 SC465079 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person aged between eight and 18 with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 23 February 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC465079 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Good support and guidance ensure continued progress for the young person.  A stable and dedicated staff team advocates continuously for the young person, ensuring that much needed support and guidance are provided.  Persistent effort and daily support by staff ensure that the young person is accessing mainstream education.  Good-quality and regular training maintain and enhance the skills of staff.  Staff are skilled at managing and defusing volatile situations without the use of physical intervention.  Good-quality risk assessments that are regularly reviewed ensure that risks to young people are minimised and managed well.  As a result of good relationships with staff, quality care plans and targeted key working sessions, young people do not go missing.  A robust staff recruitment and probation procedure ensures that appropriate staff are appointed to care for the young person.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 An allegation against a staff member has not been reported to the regulatory body. Investigations following the allegation have not been recorded.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/05/2016 Full Outstanding 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC465079 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(vi)) In particular, the registered person must ensure that any allegations made against staff are recorded properly. 31/01/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The notification of serious events means that the registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) In particular, the registered person must report all allegations against staff to the regulatory body. 31/01/2018

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person enjoys living in a spacious, detached house located in a quiet suburb of a large town. The home is warm and inviting and decorated to a high standard. Photographs of the young person and his achievements adorn the walls of all the rooms. Consistent gathering of his views ensures that he is consulted about all aspects of the home. The young person chooses his food and helps to plan for ‘themed nights’. As a result, the young person feels settled and included in the general running of the home. Robust and thorough care planning ensures that the young person’s needs are identified Inspection report children's home: SC465079 4 and met. The young person is included in his planning and his views are present throughout his planning documents. Monthly reviews of his progress mean that the young person benefits from a dynamic plan that is adapted to his changing needs. As a result, he makes measured progress in all aspects of his life.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is the sole focus of the staff team. He benefits from good-quality one- to-one interactions. This gives him the opportunity to build positive relationships with the staff. The manager and staff team show genuine care and concern for the young person. They want him to do well and are proud of his progress. Staff work hard to build the young person’s confidence and self-esteem with positive responses to good behaviour. Prior to this placement, the young person was not accessing regular education. The young person wanted to be back in a mainstream provision. As a result of the manager’s tenacity, the young person now attends mainstream education. Daily support provided by staff enables the young person to take part in school. This ensures that the young person is able to make continued progress. Collaboration with key agencies secures targeted help for the young person. This has resulted in much-needed weekly clinical intervention. The young person benefits from

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

bespoke therapy that addresses key issues. The young person is making progress in understanding his behaviour and regulating his emotions. In addition, staff align their support with the therapy and reinforce the coping methods that he is learning. As a result of this approach, behaviours seen in previous placements are no longer a feature. The young person is completely engaged with his therapy. The young person enjoys participating in a wide range of activities. Regular consultation and discussion with him ensure that he continues to enjoy his interests. As a result of the progress the young person makes, he is now enjoying regular time with friends. This is very important to him. Work around appropriate friendships is an ongoing feature. The home forges good working relationships with the young person’s family. This ensures that important bonds are maintained. The young person has strong attachments

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

to his family. Staff recognise this and work well with the local authority to support this contact. As a result of the work completed by staff, there is an increase in contact and a reduction in supervision. Relationships within the family have improved, meaning that cultural links and associations are maintained and the family can repair important bonds. One young person has moved on to a new placement and one has moved in since the last inspection. Specialist assessments identified that the previous young person needed higher level support than staff could provide. The manager is capable of identifying the complex needs of young people. As a result of this, he raised a successful challenge with the local authority and advocated for more appropriate care services. Although the placement did not end as predicted, staff supported the move ensuring that the young person continued to feel valued and important.

p.4

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

Staff are skilled in de-escalation techniques. They use these methods to defuse volatile situations. The previous young person provided significant challenges. He exhibited high levels of aggression and threatening behaviour. Due to the staff’s skills and relationship with the current young person, there has been no need to use physical intervention to Inspection report children's home: SC465079 5 manage his behaviour. Staff continue to receive updated training alongside advice from the company’s clinical team. This ensures that staff’s skills and knowledge remain current. A good-quality locality assessment ensures that the manager and staff are aware of potential risk in the area. Partnership working with local police and safeguarding agencies ensures that this information remains up to date and relevant for the home and the young person. In turn, this informs individual risk assessments for the young person.

p.4

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

Regular and consistent reviews of all risk assessments identifies any emerging risk. This means that staff can pre-empt potential danger and manage this. Open discussion with the young person ensures that he has an understanding of risk. As a result, the young person can recognise risk and take steps to keep himself safe. In addition, he follows rules and boundaries. The home is equipped with a sensor system that alerts staff when the front door is opened. This is coupled with discreet CCTV coverage of the front and rear of the property. The young person plans his free time with staff and agrees an appropriate time to come home. As he abides by the boundaries, his free time increases. In previous placements, the young person had regular episodes of going missing from home. As a result of the established trusting relationships, the young person has not gone missing here. Although young people do not go missing in this home, staff can accurately

p.5

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

describe the procedure they would follow. Staff use a targeted approach to behaviour, building on the therapeutic support that the young person receives. Reflective discussions empower the young person to develop appropriate ways of managing their behaviour. Following volatile episodes, he shows genuine remorse and engages well in reflection with staff. A professional said, ‘The staff have made good progress with (Name). He is learning to manage his behaviour and there are no safeguarding concerns.’ Complaints information is available in the home. A good-quality children’s guide shows clear instructions on how to make a complaint. Independent advocates are accessible and available for the young person. One complaint by the previous young person has been made. Although he did not want to make a formal complaint, the discussion and advice is recorded in the correct documents. This shows that all concerns, formal or

p.5

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

informal, are listened to and addressed, ensuring that young people feel important and valued.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been at this home since April 2017. He has a proven record as a registered manager in two previous homes and he has worked within residential children’s services for over 10 years. The manager holds a level 5 management qualification. The manager has recently resigned his post to pursue the opening of his own children’s home. A new manager has been appointed. No requirements or recommendations were made at the last inspection. Two breaches of regulation were identified at this inspection and requirements have been made as a result. A historical allegation was made by a previous young person against a member of staff. Although this was referred to the appropriate agencies, it was not reported to the Inspection report children's home: SC465079 6 regulatory body. In addition, there is no paper trail to show the investigation. The investigation was concluded resulting in no further action and the allegation was deemed

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

to be malicious. On this occasion, the full process was not followed. This incident occurred during the time of the previous registered manager. No further issues were identified at this inspection. A systematic recruitment process coupled with an extensive induction and probation period ensures the appointment of quality staff. The staff team is stable and there has been little change for the last two years. There is currently one vacancy which is covered by staff from other homes who are known to the young person. The manager takes action to ensure that high-calibre staff work with the young person. Good-quality training is provided and refreshed. Added to this, the manager has procured extra training in order to provide improved care for the young person. Staff are supported well by their manager. In addition to receiving regular supervision, he is accessible and approachable at all times. The manager benefits from the support of

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

a competent deputy who can step into his role in the event of an absence. A staff member commented, ‘He (the manager) manages problems as and when they arise. However, he gives us autonomy to run the home. He trusts us to do a good job.’ The manager and staff forge good-quality relationships with placing agencies and services for the young person. Effective challenges are raised promptly. In particular, a significant challenge to the local authority was made when they suggested a young person have a reduction in contact as a sanction for inappropriate behaviour. The manager and staff are strong advocates for the young person and make sure that his voice is heard. If services are not forthcoming, requests are escalated to senior members of the service. External monitoring of the home by an independent visitor contributes towards the young person’s progress. The manager uses any recommendations made to make

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

improvements. The manager’s own monitoring methods are systematic and robust. This ensures that he can identify any issues and make changes when required. As a result, the young person receives consistent care that adapts to support his changing needs while maintaining his progress .

p.6

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. Inspection report children's home: SC465079 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

p.6

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: SC465079 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Abigail Maspero, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC465079 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9