Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 1 SC457327 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide accommodation for a maximum of three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a private provider that also operates other children’s homes in the local area.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, improved management and leadership have had a positive impact on the running of this home. The children living here have all made progress in their lives, some exceptionally so.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous registered manager returned to manage the home in June 2017 She reviewed monitoring systems and moved forward with the action plan to improve the home. Before agreeing that any new children could come to live in the home, the manager ensured that she had the necessary information to make the best decisions for all of the children involved. As a result of careful planning, the children are well matched with each other. Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 2 Children said that they feel safe living in this home. One child said: ‘I am cared for here and if I can’t be with my family, I only want to live here.’ The progress the children have made is significant: becoming fitter and healthier; attending school either full time or the majority of the time when they were not attending previously; going out when they were not able to go out previously; experiencing better family relationships; feeling happier,

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

more settled and talking about their feelings. Some children who self-harmed regularly do this much less frequently and confide in staff.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Social workers praise the home highly. They say: ‘The home are doing fabulously’; ‘The child knows they are valued. They have made huge, unexpected progress’; and, ‘I can’t fault the staff and how they go above and beyond, working to keep the placement going. They are doing everything they can.’

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has needed to raise a number of issues of concern with the local authority and other professionals. These concerns include: a lack of timeliness in independent return home interviews after children have gone missing; a lack of action with regard to keeping children safe; incomplete sharing of vital information and out-of-date education and health care plans. This escalation of concerns has secured the services required for children.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children find themselves in high-risk situations. The manager and staff are clear about what action they need to take to keep children as safe as possible. They have regular communication with the necessary professionals and formalise their concerns. Although some children still go missing, the time they spend away from home during these episodes has decreased. There have been no incidents of physical intervention or restraint since the previous inspection. The staff use effective strategies to avoid distressing situations occurring.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager works hard to make sure that children are properly involved in decision- making. All the children know their short- and longer-term plans. They choose their own goals and because of this approach they are more committed to achieving them. Staff keep a record of each time a child makes progress towards their goal. These recordings are reviewed with the child at the end of every month. Children can then easily see the progress they are making. The manager also seeks the children’s opinions and views by using discreet handwritten letters. These contain questions that are easy to reply to, and so children complete them. As a result, the manager can understand how children feel and can then respond accordingly.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home environment has improved considerably. Internal work has been completed resulting in the home being a much cosier and more comfortable place to live in or visit. However, some internal doors still have locks that are no longer used, which does not give a homely impression. One child finds the material on the duvet cover uncomfortable and staff have yet to find a cover he can tolerate.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the children have alarms on their bedroom doors. When this was discussed between the manager and the inspector, the manager was of the view that one of the alarms may not be necessary. Therefore, surveillance has not been reviewed regularly enough. Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 3 All requirements from the previous inspection have been met, bar one. This outstanding requirement relates to wi-fi being installed in the home. The manager has followed this up, and has been informed by senior leaders that there is a plan to install wi-fi. However, at the time of the inspection, there were no timescales for the implementation of this. Children connect to the internet via their mobiles, using 3/4G connectivity. As a result of the lack of wi-fi, parental controls cannot to be used, and therefore additional safety measures cannot be used. It also means that some of the children are not able to

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

access the electronic game activities that they would like to play.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2017 Full Requires improvement 29/11/2016 Full Inadequate 10/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.3

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 enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies (Regulation 9(1)(2)(b). In particular, install wi-fi in the home for young people. 06/03/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than 06/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 4 necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24(1)(d))

p.3

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. In particular: remove unnecessary locks from internal doors; where possible, source bedding that children find comfortable to use. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.4

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.4

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.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 5 Registered provider address: Cambian Group, 4th Floor, Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

p.5

Inspector

Sarah Canto, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 6 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.

p.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6