Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 1 SC456543 Registered provider: The Cambian Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a number of privately run children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may need support with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The registered manager also manages another two homes within the company and these are in close proximity to this home.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 December 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Good 31/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, repair all of the damage caused by young people and redecorate and refurbish those areas of the home that are not homely. 11/02/2019

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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

Specifically, ensure that all risk management strategies are clearly identified in relevant plans. 11/02/2019

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Recommendations

 It is essential that homes understand what will be required of them before they accept responsibility for a child’s placement, to avoid disruption and instability for the child in future and for other children in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5) Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection in December 2017, two young people have moved on from the home. One young person successfully moved to independent living in the local community. He made exceptional progress in the home, particularly in areas of education and there was a significant reduction in his risk-taking behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Unfortunately, not all transitions have been positive. Notice to close the placement was served quickly on one young person. This was done because the manager recognised that her risk taking and challenging behaviour were detrimental to both the staff and the young person herself. The registered manager has since recognised that the information gathered prior to admission did not enable him to make a full analysis of this young person’s specific care needs. Leaders and managers have undertaken some learning from this and have identified ways of strengthening their admission process. Moving forward, this will enable the registered manager to make more informed decisions about future admissions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person was recently admitted to the home. This young person benefited from a planned move from another home within the organisation. This young person was positive about her care experience. She told the inspector, ‘I’m glad I moved here. It’s nice and homely and I already know lots of the staff. I think this is a good place for me to be.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between staff and the young person is a key strength in this home. Staff work hard to develop trusting and caring relationships with the young person. Over time, this allows the young person to express their feelings and to come to terms with past experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When educational progress is interrupted, there is clear evidence that every effort is made to challenge barriers and to promote the young person’s participation. Staff have effective links with the relevant agencies. This ensures that the young person can access the correct placement and has every opportunity to achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that young people are able to maintain contact with their families and friends. Staff will facilitate contact by providing transport, so that these important family connections are maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the young person’s views and opinions are central to the development and review of how care is delivered. This is achieved through regular meetings and consultations with staff. Every effort is made to ensure that the young person is able to contribute to the decisions being made about her life. This is important for future planning and helps to make sure that the young person has ownership of decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the young person has ample opportunity to take part in activities in the Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 5 wider community. This enables the young person to have new experiences and to develop hobbies, skills and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The general decor and maintenance of the home require some attention. Damage caused by a young person who previously lived at the home is evident throughout. This includes damaged doors and walls and general wear and tear to paintwork and furnishings. This detracts from the overall atmosphere and homeliness of the environment.

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

The young person is safeguarded effectively by suitably trained staff. Care practice is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures that are designed to protect the young person from harm.

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

Partnership working with external agencies is good. This is used effectively to manage emerging concerns, such as allegations against staff, of which there has been one since the last full inspection. This was dealt with quickly and effectively by the registered manager.

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

Staff demonstrate patience and high tolerance thresholds when managing challenging behaviour. This has included them being assaulted on occasions. However, mostly, staff make good use of de-escalation techniques and their relationships with the young person help to defuse and manage challenging behaviour without the use of restraint.

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

When restraint has been used, detailed records are maintained. This helps the manager to evaluate the effectiveness of the measure and to monitor care practices within the home.

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

There are risk management plans in place. However, not all strategies to manage risky behaviour are clearly identified. For example, the guidance around adjusting the environment to ensure the young person’s safety is unclear and confusing. To date, there is no evidence to suggest that this has compromised a young person’s safety. However, the registered manager accepts the need for further clarity.

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

When a young person goes missing from the home, prompt action is taken to report, to seek and to return the young person safely to the home. There is always a return interview completed by an independent person and when required strategy meetings are held, so that all learning can be shared.

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

Managers ensure that safe recruitment practice is in place and that all staff are subject to essential checks before starting work. This promotes young people’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified for the role. He leads by example and demonstrates good knowledge and skills. Staff spoken with gave positive Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 6 comments about the registered manager’s supportive leadership of the service. Staff say that he is child-focused and offers visible leadership to the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable, diverse and cohesive. Staff report a very supportive culture and structure. This is achieved through regular supervision, team meetings and daily handovers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff induction and training are thorough and equip them for their work with young people. There is a core training programme and staff also access training in the light of the identified and emerging needs of the young person living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet as a team on a monthly basis. These meetings are well structured and meaningful. Meetings are facilitated as a forum to discuss practice and safeguarding issues. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and to identify any learning needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff team establish good relationships with the young person in their care, their family and professionals. They pride themselves on being able to deliver the best possible care for the young person. One social worker said, ‘I can’t fault the team. They have been brilliant and made such a positive difference to [young person’s name] life. I really can’t speak highly enough of the team and how they helped change things around for [young person’s name].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems help to develop the service. The registered manager makes good use of evaluative tools to assess areas of good practice and areas of need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The monthly independent visitor’s reports are sufficiently detailed. They give a clear overview of the operation of the home and highlight good practice as well as shortfalls. Recommendations raised are addressed quickly by the registered manager.

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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: SC456543 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Ceri Evans: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456543 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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