Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Somerset

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240802 1 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

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home is dedicated to providing safety, care and therapy to children who have experienced or are at risk of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. The statement of purpose has been reviewed and updated. It now includes the option for family and friends to visit the home where this is appropriate.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Arbitrary restrictions on the rights and freedoms of children are no longer applied in the home. Any restrictions are assessed and meaningful in protecting the children, and all are subject to regular review and consideration.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

All children now have access to an independent advocate. These have been provided by the placing authorities; they are in touch with the children, offering support and attending meetings if required. Children say that they get on with the adults in the home and can express their feelings and wishes directly. One child has made significant improvements in Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240802 2 being able to express their feelings and frustration in a way which is not dangerous or challenging towards others.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

The storage of medication is now safe and records of administration have improved. Additional checks are in place and the frequency of monitoring has increased, so if any mistakes are made they could be rectified quickly.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Agency staff recruitment records are now complete and demonstrate that safer recruitment checks are in place. The home keeps the use of agency staff to a minimum, using the same adults to care for and provide consistency for the children.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, a child who was very keen to live back with family has been spending every weekend with them. The child has now completed a therapeutic programme and understands how to keep themselves safe. Following school exams, they are due to return to live with family. Contact has been reinstated for another child who was estranged from their family.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation has recently appointed an occupational therapist to provide guidance and direction to adults and to work directly with children. Their knowledge is helping the adults develop a greater understanding of behaviour as a consequence of trauma, alongside improving understanding of children’s sensory needs. Practice to meet children’s needs is constantly evolving and improving.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Supervision is now being provided to the manager on a regular basis. They are accounting for the home’s care and the progress of children and provided with formal opportunities to raise concerns. Supervision also allows for consideration of personal development and training needs.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Efforts are made to help children feel at home and valued. One child who had chickens when she lived with family has recently got some fancy Polish hens. She was also excited to receive t he BHS Riding and Road Safety qualification level 2 and continues to engage regularly in work with and riding horses.

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young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the constant and continuing efforts of the manager, it has not been possible to secure an appropriate education provision for one child. They attend an alternative to school provision two days a week but continue to miss out on formal education and are likely to be getting further and further behind peers. Efforts by the adults to try and persuade the child to attend the organisation’s school or to engage in academic work in the home have not been successful.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2017 Full Requires improvement Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240802 3

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Recommendations

 Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240802 4

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240802 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 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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