Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in North Yorkshire

Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 1 SC456477 Registered provider: The Cambian Group

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates and runs this home. It provides care for up to four children and young people who need to live in residential care after experiencing previous breakdowns of placements. The appropriately qualified registered manager has been managing the home since 2012.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2017 Full Good 02/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 2 15/06/2016 Full Inadequate 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‘s safety. The requirements are that— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (―the Level 3 Diploma‖); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. The relevant date is— in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32(1)(3)(d)(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)) 31/01/2019

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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 (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 15, paragraph 3.9). This is with particular reference to the urine stains on the upstairs carpet and the cabinets used to store the home‘s televisions.  The information set out in the statement of purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and placing authority that a placement in that home is the right one for that child, and that the home will be able to respond effectively to the child‘s assessed needs (‗Guide to the children‘s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 15, paragraph 3.6). This is with particular reference to the manager ensuring that she works in line with Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 4 the home‘s statement of purpose in relation to the clinician overseeing the children‘s documents.  Regulations 35–39 detail the records that must be kept in children‘s homes. All children‘s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children‘s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 62, paragraph 14.3). This is with particular reference to the availability of records for the

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Recommendations

children who have already transitioned from the home, and that their records remain available between inspections.  As outlined in 10.1, the registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. Staffing structures should promote continuity of care from the child‘s perspective. If children complain or give a view on how the staffing structure could be improved to promote the best care for them, appropriate action should be taken. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people are making progress and are gaining some positive life experiences. One child has lived in the home for many years and his progress since his admission is described as ‗exceptional‘. The children and young people present at the inspection were at ease with staff, and comfortably interacted with them. A social worker‘s view about a child was: ‗It is the happiest I have ever seen him, he is engaging in education and there has been no anti-social behaviour. This is very positive for him.‘

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff implement clear routines and boundaries, and this consistent approach is helping the children and young people to move forward. For one child, a clear night-time routine, which involves a bubble bath and a bedtime story, is helping him to settle. Another child is taking more responsibility for his own routines as he moves towards the transition to adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work closely with the company clinician to support a better understanding of the children‘s and young people‘s behaviours. This consultation enables the staff to implement changes to their care practices and thus provide the most appropriate support for the children and young people. Although the children‘s and young people‘s behaviours are being managed effectively, there remains some evident damage to the home. For example, the urine stains and odour on the landing carpet have a negative impact on the presentation of the home. Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 5 The children and young people display complex behaviours and this can mean that they struggle within social environments. To help a child or young person to develop their social skills and social inclusion, the staff effectively plan activities. They take the children and young people to places at quieter times to prevent them becoming anxious,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

which in turn reduces any potential risks. An independent reviewing officer said: ‗[Name of child] is very settled and he has even spent time in his review.‘ Despite one child‘s challenging behaviours, the staff help him to regulate his emotions through their care practices, rather than being reliant on medication to manage him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children‘s and young people‘s documents are personalised for them. Their memories are captured, including the difficulties that they have overcome and all the fun that they are having. The manager listens to the children and young people when developing the home. One child suggested that having sweets in his room on the day of his admission would have helped. Where appropriate, the manager has implemented this for recent admissions.

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

The dynamics among the group of children and young people currently living together in the home can lead to tension. To manage the risk and ensure the safety of all the children and young people, the staff provide them with constant attention and guidance. However, there are times in the day when the staffing levels are lower, which does not provide the staff with the opportunity to respond flexibly to the complex mix of children and young people.

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

The children‘s and young people‘s risks are reducing. The staff remain vigilant to the potential behaviours that could pose a risk and preventative measures are implemented. To reduce one child‘s risk, he is kept busy through positive social activities, including playing rugby and pool. This is reducing the opportunity for him to engage in antisocial and criminal activity. If children or young people should find themselves in a difficult situation, they can text the home‘s mobile phone with an ‗X‘ to indicate that they need the staff to help.

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

The children and young people have returned to the home under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Although this is not a frequent event, it remains a current risk for some children and young people living in the home, and for others who have been discharged. The staff are appropriately trained to respond to these situations and they ensure that the children and young people are safe. Any significant incidents are reviewed by the staff and the manager; this reflection is to prevent further incidents and highlight any safeguards that need to be put into place, including protection against exploitation. The children‘s and young people‘s risk assessments are clear and document the strategies for the staff to implement. However, although the staff receive regular guidance from the company clinician, it is not evident that she has reviewed these documents, as the procedure in the home‘s statement of purpose identifies.

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

The manager ensures that all admissions to the home are planned. Lessons have been Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 6 learned following one child‘s unpredictable hostility and aggression towards another child. To manage the complexities surrounding this group dynamic, the manager has not filled the home to full capacity. A social worker said, ‗The planning of [name of child‘s] placement was carefully done. It was not rushed, and communication was good. Together we looked at the impact of the children living together.‘ The manager openly addresses the risk when the staff are unable to meet the needs of the children and young people or keep them safe. In such cases, and in partnership with other agencies, the manager gives notice on the placement and supports a planned discharge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff work consistently together to help the children and young people. Staff members said that even during difficult times they remain a happy team. This is maintained by the support and guidance from the manager. One young person said, ‗The staff team give me lots of support. They are always there and easy to talk to.‘

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has clear monitoring systems in place. She is aware of the home‘s strengths and was described by a professional as running a ‗tight ship‘. She understands the needs of the children and young people, and works in partnership with professionals and families to create plans that support the children‘s and young people‘s current and future needs. For example, one young person‘s relationship with his family has improved and this will support his transition to adulthood. However, it has been difficult to review the plans of some of the children and young people who have left the home, as their records have been sent for archiving, away from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has revised the induction package for new employees. This is helping them to improve their knowledge and understanding of the role. Although the induction process has been strengthened, gaps were identified in staff members‘ recruitment records and their qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team shares the manager‘s passion and vision for the home. This means that the children‘s and young people‘s voices are heard. To ensure that their needs are consistently met, the manager challenges inappropriate practices and decisions. For example, the manager challenged another home, as it tried to change the placement plans for a child‘s admission.

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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 Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 7 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: SC456477 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Susan Fitzsimmons

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Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon: social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: SC456477 9 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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