Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Devon

Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 1 SC457132 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private national provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/10/2017 26/01/2017 Full Interim Requires improvement Declined in effectiveness 03/05/2016 Full Good 01/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 2 17/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 3

p.1

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

12: The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that 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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) In particular this refers to taking additional precautions to store medication, confidential records and car keys securely. 20/07/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— 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). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; and 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)(a)(d)) 20/07/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive highly personalised care that is tailored to their individual and complex needs. The manager and staff act as strong advocates for the child in their care. They are child focused and endeavour to act as a good parent would. This results in children receiving the services and support that they need in order for them to have a sense of belonging and make good progress.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has given good attention to the assessment and the admission of the child who is currently living in the home. This was especially important as neighbours were unhappy about the negative impact the behaviour of a previous child had on their day-to-day lives. Other professionals, external to the home, have commended the manager for how hard he has worked to ensure that a new child did not ‘experience negativity and discrimination as a result of the situation with the previous child.’ The manager and staff build strong and positive relationships with children. They are sensitive and show empathy. A local authority professional described the team as operating with ‘dedication, compassion and commitment’. Children are supported to enjoy their hobbies and interests and their achievements are celebrated. They are helped to see their families regularly and the manager and staff understand the value of

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

building positive relationships with families too.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff recognise how important it is for children to have a good education. They have supported the child to make a formal complaint to state that his right to an education had not been satisfactorily addressed. This has resulted not only in a suitable education placement being identified, but also in the child having a sense of achievement and feeling listened to. Going forward, the manager is focusing on how best to prepare the child to successfully return to school following an extended period of absence. The manager will involve support from parents and the child’s social worker.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team members value the provision of specialist support to help them to meet the needs of children in their care. For example, they work closely with the company’s clinician and have escalated the need for additional external support. One member of staff introduced his puppy to the home; a positive, therapeutic contribution to helping the current child to settle in and feel more confident in his interactions with the staff. With external specialist help the child has also been able to stop smoking, which is an excellent achievement in the four months he has lived there.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are cared for by team members who are knowledgeable and competent in their safeguarding practice. They place the well-being of children at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges they may face. For example, if team members feel that a child is not receiving the specialist help that they need, and that the child’s Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 5 safety and well-being are being compromised, they will escalate their concerns to achieve the outcome that is in the best interests of the child. This occurred in relation to a former resident, who would not have received an assessment, diagnosis and treatment without the tenacious efforts of the manager and other leaders within the company.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no incidents of children going missing or physical restraints since the last inspection in October 2017. While sanctions are used minimally, staff mainly use incentives and these result in positive behaviour. The child has a detailed care plan, including smart targets and risk assessments. The manager and staff are diligent in keeping records up to date.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home is in the process of changing the profile of the office/staff sleeping-in bedroom, so that children do not feel that it is an area from which they are excluded. This is a positive development, but careful consideration is needed of how best to manage any risks that may arise as a result, such as the safe storage of medication, confidential records and car keys.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Rigorous checks are generally undertaken before a new member of staff is allowed to work in the home. However, one file contained references that really did not provide very much helpful information. Additionally, it is deemed good practice for registered managers to satisfy themselves that all of the staff files contain evidence of safer recruitment practices, including a written rationale for employing any individual who has previous convictions.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders and managers are having a strong and positive impact on the operations of this children’s home. Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed and registered. Along with the responsible individual and a new staff team, which was put in to place to coincide with the arrival of a new child, the registered manager has put several improvements in to place that have benefited the child, the staff and the neighbours.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has several years of experience of working with children. He has a level 3 qualification and is due to commence a level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. He feels supported in his role by the regional managers, and has recently been appointed by the provider to manage another single-occupancy children’s home, which is located nearby. The manager is fully aware of the requirement to submit an application for registration to Ofsted.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy being part of the team and feel supported by the good supervision and training opportunities. They like that the manager delegates areas of responsibility to them, as in this way they are able to improve their skill range and feel confident about pursuing promotion opportunities. One member of staff described the manager as ‘fantastic’, providing ‘brilliant support’ that enables them to do their job well. Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 6 Previous requirements and recommendations have been addressed and the manager is keen to embrace further improvements that will benefit the children in his care.

p.5

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.6

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: SC457132 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian, Waterfront, Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road, London, Middlesex W6 9RU

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

p.7

Inspector

Norma Welsby: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457132 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8