Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Tameside

Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 1 SC430239 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Interim 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 is registered to care for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home and another has recently been admitted. Staff do not plan well for these transitions. For example, staff admitted a young person to the home, despite not having sufficient knowledge of the young person’s level of need or presenting behaviours. Because of this poor planning, the young person is not a good match for the existing young people. Consequently, the provider has asked the local authority to explore alternative placement options for the young person as they are unable to meet her needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff planning and reviewing of risk are not robust. Specifically, staff allow young people who are identified as being at risk of child sexual exploitation to have unrestricted access to the internet. Similarly, staff do not actively review the suitability and duration of young people’s free time. For example, following an incident in which a young person Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 2 suffered significant harm in the community, staff did not assess the appropriateness of her levels of free time. This means that the young person is at ongoing risk of harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people misuse substances, both in the home and in the community. Staff have engaged specialist services to address this, although this has not yet been successful. Staff have attempted to utilise input from the police; however, links with the police are not well established, and the police only attend the home in response to emergency calls. Young people’s ongoing substance misuse impacts negatively on their health and well-being. Untenable risks, including the harbouring of a weapon in a bedroom, place young people and staff at risk.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff planning for, and review of, fire safety are weak. For example, the inspector found an upstairs fire escape padlocked and barricaded with furniture. Staff do not demonstrate that they have the skills to identify and act upon the potential risks to occupants of the house.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are not effective at managing young people’s behaviours. A member of staff told the inspector, ‘Young people rule the roost here. Staff cannot handle them.’ Staff are inconsistent in using consequences and rewards as means of promoting positive behaviour. As a result, young people do not learn to take responsibility for their behaviours.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have caused damage throughout the home and have repeatedly broken into the office in order to steal staff keys. The staff’s response to such incidents is not robust or consistent. For example, following the most recent incident, staff were unaware that, for three days, one of the house keys was missing. The young people used the key to enter a restricted area in the house.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered provider has been slow to rectify the damage caused by young people in the home. As a result, there is damage to walls and doors throughout the home. A member of staff described the home environment in negative terms and a young person told the inspector, ‘I wouldn’t want to bring my friends back here.’ The registered provider does not afford young people a pleasant and homely space to live in.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people express mixed views about life at the home. Young people told the inspector that they like the majority of staff, they think it is a good home and that they want to continue living there. Despite this, young people say that staff do not listen to them, and when they complain the registered manager does not respond to them. The registered manager does not ensure that young people feel empowered to share their views and wishes.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are unsuccessful in encouraging young people to read and contribute to case records, such as their placement plans. This means that there are missed opportunities for young people to have input into the care that they receive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are unhappy about the turnover of staff and use of agency and bank staff. A young person told the inspector, ‘I don’t want strangers in my house.’ The home has experienced a lot of staff changes over the last six months which has been unsettling for both staff and young people. The staff currently in post lack experience, with only the Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 3 registered manager and deputy manager holding a relevant qualification. One member of staff has been in post for over two years without achieving the required qualification. Staff lack the depth of skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements were made at the last inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Outstanding 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, they challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should evidence their challenge to local authorities and the Police when they do not work collaboratively to meet the needs of the young people. 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet 28/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 4 the needs of each child. (Regulation (6) (1) (2) (c) (i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that damage to walls, doors and door frames is repaired and items repainted. The positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviours, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1) (a) (b) (c) (2) (a) (iii)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) and (2) (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that they assess young people’s potential vulnerability to go missing, use substances, have access to weapons, and risk of sexual exploitation. Risk management plans should provide clear guidance for staff on how to manage and reduce these risks. Decision-making should include input from all relevant parties including social workers. 19/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 28/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 5 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (a) (b) (2) (a) (b) (c) (e) (h)) The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving from the home. (Regulation 14 (1) (a) (b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that they obtain all relevant information about a young person before they make a decision to admit them to the home. 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the requirements of Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home (Regulation 25 (2) (b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that all fire exits are clear and there are no restrictions on their use. Any decision to decommission a fire exit should be fully assessed, documented and informed by input from relevant fire safety professionals. 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the level 3 diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma.

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Requirement Due date

The relevant date is— in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the 28/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 6 date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)d)(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that all staff obtain the relevant qualifications within two years of the relevant date. When this has not been achieved, the registered provider should demonstrate their understanding of the reasons for this, outline any exceptional circumstances and identify a plan to manage the shortfall. The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, with staff supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19) Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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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

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC430239 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 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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