Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 1 SC456729 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people aged 10 to 17 years old.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Full Good 27/10/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 3

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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

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—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that immediate risks are identified and strategies are implemented to reduce the risk. Further to this, the safer area report needs to be used in conjunction with a young person’s impact risk assessment to ensure the area is safe for them. 30/06/2018

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to evidencing the steps taken to ensure young people have additional services and information to enable them to be safe. 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(b)(2)(b)(iii)) 30/06/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 4 This is specifically in relation to ensuring that transition plans are in place for young people when leaving the home. The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to having proof of identity including a recent photograph. 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to bank staff receiving formal supervision. Further to this, supervisors require training to deliver effective supervision. 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Further to this, members of staff should understand the importance of clear recordings. 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

must include details of— the matter; 30/06/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 5 the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to being succinct in the information provided and giving further information on the actions the home has taken to safeguard young people.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 30/06/2018

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been a period of instability at the home. Seven young people have been admitted to the home only to leave subsequently. The majority of these admissions were made on an emergency basis. In some instances, young people were inappropriately placed. In addition, insufficient consideration was given to the compatibility of young people and the impact of their behaviours on each other. This led to safeguarding concerns that resulted in the manager ending young people’s placements.

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improvement to be good

In conjunction with this, the registered manager left, and several members of staff were promoted within the company. These changes left a shortfall in staffing. During this period, young people negatively influenced each other, and their progress was limited. Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 6 On a more positive note, a new manager has been registered with Ofsted and improvements have been made in ensuring that there is a full staff team. Three new young people have been admitted to the home recently. Some young people were able to visit the home prior to coming to live here. One young person said that this lessened his anxieties.

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improvement to be good

Previously placed young people had poor attendance at school due to being persistently missing from home. The manager has worked with a range of educational professionals to ensure that all of the current young people have an educational placement. As a result, all the young people attend school or an alternative education provision and their attendance is excellent.

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improvement to be good

Young people have good access to a range of health services. One young person had previously refused to attend the dentist, and within the first three weeks of his placement he was supported by staff to attend for a check-up. A professional said, ‘He has refused to go the dentist for three years. I am amazed that he went and this was down to the staff clearly discussing things with him and being patient.’ The young person said, ‘The staff explained that I did not have to consent to any treatment if I did not want to. It was just a check-up. So I went. I did not need any further treatment, so I am happy.’

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improvement to be good

Young people said that members of staff listen to their views, wishes and concerns and help them if they can. Young people said that they choose their activities, that they are encouraged to try new things and that they are involved in the running of the home and the plans for their future.

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improvement to be good

Members of staff work closely with the young people, their parents, their family members and professionals so that they see each other regularly. This focus on positive contact means that important relationships are maintained and built upon.

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improvement to be good

Regardless of the young people’s age, they are encouraged to help around the home and take responsibility for their bedrooms, and they are supported to cook for themselves on occasions. This helps prepare them for adult life. In the past, transitions out of the home have been poor. The manager served notice on seven young people’s placements but did not complete transition plans for them. As a result, it is difficult to see how young people were supported through this period, or whether they were involved or given a choice in the decisions that were made about their moves.

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improvement to be good

Prior to the current admissions, the new registered manager looked at each young person’s vulnerabilities and how they would interact with each other. However, the registered manager did not consider the home’s safer area location assessment to ensure that young people would be safe in the community. Further to this, the manager has not identified immediate risks in the local community. For example, the home is on a busy main road, and there is a derelict barn next door and a public house 500 yards Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 7 away from the property. Therefore, no consideration was given to potential risks or the implementation of strategies to reduce them. At this time this has not had an adverse impact on the young people, but if not addressed it has the potential to do so.

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improvement to be good

Young people spoken to said that they feel safe at this home. They could identify a member of staff to talk to if they were worried or concerned about something. Young people said that staff discuss issues of safety with them and that they are learning from these conversations; for example, they know to telephone staff when they are going to be late in or need a lift. Some young people have restrictions on the use of their mobile phones, the internet and spending time in the community, as identified by their local authority. However, these restrictions are regularly discussed and young people are working towards lessening these.

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improvement to be good

Between October 2017 and February 2018, young people were persistently missing from the home. The young people had disengaged with members of staff, and while they were missing they were increasingly involved in criminal activity, drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis. Their placements subsequently ended because members of staff could not keep them safe. The manager and staff worked closely with the missing from home coordinator from the police and several strategy meetings were held. Return interviews were completed, and a substance misuse worker visited the home to talk to the young people involved. In addition, professionals said that the home’s staff followed the agreed protocols and took suitable action in searching for the young people. However, information in the home does not show whether young people engaged in work with either the home’s staff or other services or whether alternative strategies were

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improvement to be good

explored to reduce the risks that young people place themselves at. Further to this, notifications, while describing some helpful detail, such as when people were contacted, lacked detail about the impact of the actions taken by staff to ensure young people’s safety.

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improvement to be good

There are appropriate procedures in place should young people or members of staff need to raise a safeguarding concern. Since the last inspection, three allegations have been made against members of staff. These have been reported and closed in line with safeguarding procedures. Young people and professionals confirmed that they are happy with the outcomes.

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improvement to be good

Individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans identify known risks to young people’s safety and welfare. However, in the past, behaviour management strategies have not always been effective because previous young people disengaged with members of staff and their routines. This resulted in some young people needing to be held for their own or others’ safety. Members of staff are trained in restraint and de- escalation techniques. Clear recordings show that the intervention was necessary and the young people were debriefed on the incident. The debrief gives the young people the opportunity to reflect on their behaviour.

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improvement to be good

The current young people are responding well to agreed strategies, rewards and incentives. One young person said that he was saving for a console and had nearly reached the required amount to purchase it. Another young person had earned a trip to Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 8 the hairdresser. Young people said that sanctions for poor behaviour were fair and that they had the opportunity to earn a sanction back.

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improvement to be good

The company follows the safer recruitment guidance. All checks are completed and verified to ensure that members of staff are suitable to work with young people. However, some recruitment records do not have a photograph of the person to check their identity. Regular health and safety checks ensure that the home is physically safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staffing levels have increased. There is a new registered manager and there are more clearly defined roles within the staff team, such as two team leaders and a deputy manager. This means that continuity of care is good. Members of staff hold, or are working towards, a relevant childcare qualification. The manager is undertaking his level 5 diploma.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Members of staff complete all mandatory training as part of their induction, and this is refreshed accordingly. The training provides members of staff with the skills and knowledge to look after young people well. The staff members who are permanent benefit from monthly supervision and annual appraisals of their practice. However, team leaders have responsibility for supervising care staff, and they have not received training in this area. Further to this, a bank member of staff has been regularly covering shortfalls in the staff team. She has not received any formal supervision this year. This means that she has not had the opportunity to discuss her practice or to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Overall, children’s records reflect their care plan and the progress they are making. However, some documents are unsigned by the author or social worker. This does not ensure that all parties are in agreement with the plans. In addition, some recording errors have been scribbled out. This practice does not ensure that records are clear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Several members of staff said that poor matching of young people and the lack of staffing made last year a difficult time for them. In contrast to this, they now feel supported by the new manager and are happier in their roles. A member of staff said, ‘We have refocused, and the young people we have now are benefiting from this.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External monitoring of the home is good. The visitor regularly consults with the young people and professionals to ascertain their views about the quality of care in the home. Constructive actions are highlighted in the reports so that the registered manager can improve and develop the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Effective action has not been taken to address all of the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Regulation 45 reports are now sent in a timely way to Ofsted, but the manager’s monitoring report lacks evaluation and consultation, and it does not identify any actions to develop the service. Therefore, there is not a critical reflective view to help the home drive forward improvements. Photographic identity has not been obtained for all staff, and members of staff still need Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 9 to ensure that they record clearly in young people’s records.

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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

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: SC456729 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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

Registered manager: Christopher Parkinson

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley: social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456729 11 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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