Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 1 SC456347 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a large private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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: 31 January 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make positive progress in relation to their attendance and engagement in education, training and employment. Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 2  Young people form positive and caring attachments to staff and managers. They feel able to share their views and any concerns openly.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Parents, local police and placing social workers speak positively about the care and support offered to young people by staff.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Staff support young people particularly well in relation to preparing them for their eventual move to independence and adult life. They support them to learn the necessary skills to make a positive and successful transition.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people report feeling safe, and they feel that staff genuinely care about their welfare and safety. This view is supported by local police who work closely with staff.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The statement of purpose should be regularly reviewed and revised to reflect any relevant changes, and a copy should be provided to Ofsted.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Any actual or potential safeguarding concerns should be promptly and clearly responded to by senior managers in the organisation. This is in order to demonstrate what measures and actions have been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of young people.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The home should operate in accordance with the stated aims and objectives in its statement of purpose. This document should reflect how staff can and will provide care and support to young people, and should include details of staff experience and training.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 When a young person has been missing from care or away from the home without permission, staff should ensure that independent return home interviews are undertaken by the placing authority, and are clearly recorded.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/09/2016 Full Good 29/10/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/06/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 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 procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular, describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children. (Regulation 34(2)(e)) 09/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 09/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16(5)) 09/02/2018

p.3

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

‘I get on well with all the staff. They are very lovely and supportive people. I always feel safe at this home.’ This view from one young person reflects the positive care and support provided by staff. Young people form positive and caring relationships with staff. Staff support them to express their wishes, views and feelings at all times. Young people develop an increased sense of self-worth and make positive progress as a result. Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 4 Staff support young people to attend and engage with education and training provisions. When young people struggle to do so, staff make concerted efforts to re-engage them. They consider young people’s interests creatively. They support young people to apply for local part-time jobs. Staff and the manager have forged very positive relationships with local education and training providers. Several young people have expressed a

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

desire to remain living in the local area when they leave care. This reflects how well staff and managers enable them to integrate into the local community, and to feel part of it.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people know how to complain and do so with confidence. The manager responds quickly and thoroughly when any issues are raised by young people. They feel confident that their wishes, views and feelings will be taken seriously and acted on. Their views are regularly sought by staff, and this influences the care they receive.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A key strength relates to how well young people are prepared for their eventual move to adult life. Clear and focused independence work enables them to learn new skills in a sensitive and planned manner. They learn how to budget and how to manage their own food shopping and food preparation. Targeted key-work sessions focus on their current skills and knowledge, as well as what they will need to improve on. The manager has excellent links with local accommodation providers. She has successfully been able to source semi-independent accommodation for several young people.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people engage well in the local and wider community. Staff support them to take part in activities in the local area. This has enabled them to form peer friendships and to feel well integrated in the community. Some young people have also secured paid part- time employment in the local area. This reflects how well staff support them to integrate, and is good preparation for adult life.

p.4

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

Staff understand the complex needs of young people and their potentially risky behaviours. Staff devise and implement detailed risk assessments to consider their needs. One placing social worker commented: ‘All efforts have been made to keep the young person safe and, so far, such measures have had the desired effect.’

p.4

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

The local police community support officer (PCSO) regularly visits the home. She reports that there is a very positive working relationship with staff. Communication and information sharing is reported to be very good. The PCSO states that staff know the young people well and respond proactively to any safety issues. Staff encourage close partnership working with the police, who visit every month and informally meet with young people. This enables young people to discuss and consider any concerning or risky behaviours with staff and police.

p.4

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

Physical restraint has been used since the last inspection. Staff display real and commendable skills in understanding and knowing the behaviour of the young people, and responding to this well. They use de-escalation techniques to very good effect. When young people present with challenging or dangerous behaviours, staff use Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 5 consequences and restorative practices. They seek to engage the young people in key- work sessions, where they discuss their issues and concerns. This enables staff to monitor and track the behaviour and emotional state of young people, and leads to a reduction in concerning behaviours.

p.4

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

Staff follow agreed missing-from-care protocols well. They provide a prompt and professional response to any missing-from-care incidents, working very closely with the police, parents and placing authorities. Further work is needed in relation to ensuring that placing authorities provide an independent return home interview for young people. This would enable the manager and staff to gain a better understanding of the reasons why young people go missing, and would inform their support and care planning.

p.5

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

There is a need for senior managers in the organisation to more robustly and clearly consider and act on any concerns which are reported to them. The safeguarding policy for the home has not been followed on one recent occasion. Concerns reported to senior managers have not led to clear measures being put in place, or action being taken. The concerns have no direct impact on the young people living in the home, but require a clear response from the responsible individual.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager displays a strong commitment to meeting the needs of young people. She is well regarded by the staff team. One staff member stated: ‘I love my work. It is like a home-from-home for me. The manager is great and really supports us all. She listens to us and acts on what we say.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records reflect the commitment of staff and managers in identifying and meeting the complex needs of young people. Plans reflect their current and changing needs. Staff diligently consider and discuss with young people what their needs are, and how best to meet them. The views of young people are central to the care and support provided to them. Involved agencies, professionals and parents speak very positively about the support provided to young people, and the progress they make. One parent said: ‘This is the best placement my child has had. The staff are geared up to meet his complex needs. They are very calm and this makes me feel calm.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers involve young people in all aspects of their care. They seek their views and act on them. Young people feel able to raise any issues or concerns they may have. They report confidence in their views being taken seriously at all times. Staff really try hard to support and encourage young people to achieve, and to have aspirations for their futures. Staff include parents, placing authorities and other agencies in their work. Communication between staff, managers and stakeholders is consistently reported to be excellent.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular and detailed supervision sessions. They have annual appraisals of their performance. A wide range of training and development opportunities are provided. Staff report high levels of satisfaction and feel that their training equips them well to Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 6 provide good care for young people. The manager has good systems in place to ensure that staff keep up to date with any changes to plans and risk assessments for young people. Staff are expected to read and sign all relevant documents. They demonstrate a good understanding of the young people, and follow plans and assessments diligently.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose for the home is out of date and needs to be revised. It does not reflect the current responsible individual, or the current staff team and their qualifications. It is important that Ofsted receives a copy of any revisions to the statement of purpose to assist in monitoring the service.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose states that the home provides care and accommodation for young people who have social, emotional and mental health needs. The home is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The registered manager has confirmed that the staff have not received training regarding learning disabilities. There are no young people currently living in the home who have a learning disability. The manager is aware that if the home was to take such placements, this would be inconsistent with the home’s statement of purpose.

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.

p.6

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: SC456347 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector(s)

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456347 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.

p.7

Inspector(s)

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.8

Inspector(s)

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

p.8

Inspector(s)

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

p.8