Children's home run by Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC034775 1 SC034775 Registered provider: Cambridgeshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides residential care for up to six children who 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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has undergone a change in service provision and now operates as part of the local authority’s hub approach. The hub approach involves the residential staff working with a multi-agency team that includes outreach workers and a police officer. The period prior to the changeover caused the staff a degree of uncertainty. However, the staff say that with the more cohesive multi-agency relationship they feel that they can now achieve the best for the children. One child has lived at the home throughout these changes, and he says that the home is much improved and that it feels a better place to live.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The former manager had been off work for a lengthy period prior to officially leaving in October 2017. The new manager began covering the post in August 2017 and is in the process of applying to become the registered manager. She is due to commence a Interim inspection report children’s home: SC034775 2 relevant level 5 qualification course. This manager has overseen and implemented the changeover to the new hub model. The staff describe the manager as supportive and enthusiastic, and they say that she leads by example. The staff team consists of a mix of staff who have worked at the home for some time and others who are new to the work. The manager has ensured that all of the staff undertake training together to assist them to build positive working relationships. Consequently, the children are cared for by staff who work cohesively. Parents and professionals are positive about the home and the work of the team.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some physical changes at the home, with a number of rooms switching use. For example, the former dining room has become a games room and the relocated dining room now occupies a former lounge. The changes in the layout are more practical, and the change in decor gives the house a more modern feel. When asked if he liked living here, a child cheekily said, ‘No it is not good here.’ However, he said it with a beaming smile to indicate that he was joking.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has a school place and the other receives home tuition. At present, neither of the children is regularly engaging in their education. The staff consistently attempt to help the children to see the importance of their education in relation to their future ambitions. The children are supported to complete tasks that will increase their levels of independence. The tasks include cooking, doing laundry and negotiating increased amounts of free time. One child spoke proudly of winning a ‘chilli cook off’ against the manager. Each of the children was interacting with the staff in a warm and jovial way that demonstrated the level of mutual respect between them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s location risk assessment is out of date. It does not demonstrate what actions are in place to safeguard the children from any current risks in the local area.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement and recommendation made at the last inspection have been met. The notifications of significant events are now being received in a timely way. The staff supervision is now occurring at the required frequency, with notes of reasons for any delays such as annual leave or sickness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been four emergency admissions for children who moved in for very brief periods, such as one to three nights. Two other children have lived at the home since the last inspection. Both of these placements led to a significant increase in the number of incidents and missing-from-home episodes. It is clear that in one of these cases the manager had questioned the suitability of the placement and identified through the home’s matching process that the needs of the new child, coupled with those of the children already placed, were not compatible. The child still moved in, which negates the purpose of the matching exercise. Fortunately, the staff, with the support of the child’s family, were able to identify strategies that minimised some of the difficulties as they arose. There have been a minimal number of incidents and missing-from-home episodes since these children moved out.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two physical interventions since May 2017. The use of any physical intervention is minimal because the staff successfully use de-escalation techniques such Interim inspection report children’s home: SC034775 3 as humour when the children’s behaviour heightens. The staff skilfully use their rapport with the children to ensure that the children feel safe and secure. This is enabling the children to begin to trust the staff members. This sense of security has led to children agreeing to attend specialist medical appointments, discuss past experiences and be open to advice about matters such as cessation of smoking and managing substance misuse.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When allegations have been made against staff they have been responded to promptly. This ensures that the children know that the team is responsive to their concerns.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2017 Full Good 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 04/01/2016 Interim Improved 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 the 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 assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) 02/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking 28/02/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC034775 4 into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1))

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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 address: Shire Hall, Cambridge CB3 0AP

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC034775 5 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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