Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 1 SC457175 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 company owns this children‟s home. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2017.

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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 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

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2017

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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: SC457175 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/07/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child‟s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(v)). This is in relation to ensuring that the young person‟s risk assessments are clear, that they do not have unnecessary information in them and that any reduction or increase in the risk is clearly identified in the summary of their progress. 31/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)). In particular, ensure that all health information is recorded clearly in the young person‟s plan. 31/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child‟s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(iii)) This is specifically in relation to ensuring that there is a clear transition plan that identifies all considerations given to adult placements, independent living and any contingency plans. Further to this, ensure that over a period of time the plan 31/03/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 4 incorporates steps for financial independence. In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority‟s or a relevant person‟s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child‟s needs are met in accordance with the child‟s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 31/03/2019

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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. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; 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)) 31/03/2019

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children can maintain and develop their cultural or religious beliefs as far as practicable. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 17, paragraph 3.22). This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the young person‟s heritage is explored with him and that staff provide literature and information from his cultural background.  Ensure that the home‟s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.5). This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the steps taken by staff, to secure good progress and outcomes, are clearly recorded within the young person‟s documents. Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 5

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improvement to be good

The young person has lived at this home for over two years. He has made considerable progress, especially in education and in forming relationships, and there are no concerns about his behaviour. His records provide a summary of the progress he has made, but there is no information about what support or help he has been given by staff or professionals to achieve this. Therefore, it is difficult to see the journey he has taken throughout the placement. The young person has a dual heritage. He has not wished to explore his ethnicity and culture. However, staff have not been proactive in supplying him with information that he may want to explore at a later date.

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improvement to be good

The young person is very close to his 18th birthday. There has been much discussion about his future and whether he will receive support from adult services. A plan for the young person to move in June 2017, to a multi-bed home, fell through. Since this time, there has been no formal plan established for his independence provided by the local authority. Several professionals, such as therapists and a legal advocate, are involved in his care, but there has been a difference of opinion about the services that he may need. In the interim, staff have taken him to view private properties to rent. Very recently, the local authority identified a multi-bed placement. He viewed the home on the day of this inspection and there is a plan for him to move there within five days. There has been a wealth of emails from the manager to the local authority asking for meetings and information about the transition plan for him. However, the manager did not escalate

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improvement to be good

her concerns when there was no response, and drift occurred. Therefore, the young person has not received the support and services from his local authority, to ensure effective planning for his future, in a timely way.

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improvement to be good

In conjunction with this, a member of staff had put together a transition plan for the young person in readiness for when a placement was found. The plan sets out expectations regarding financial support and transport, as well as other daily living tasks to be achieved. This plan has yet to start, as the young person has refused to engage. However, the plan appears to be unrealistic and unachievable, to the extent that a therapist and his social worker asked the home to stop implementing the independence tasks in the plan as this was escalating his anxieties.

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improvement to be good

The young person said, „I love it here. Staff are very caring, and they have fought relentlessly on my behalf.‟ The young person said that his views, opinions, and feelings are sought as a matter of routine. He said that staff would take his concerns seriously and act on them. He said that he had been offered an independent advocate several times but had refused because he does not like new people. He also said that the manager had offered to support him to make a complaint against the local authority and his social worker, but it was something he wanted to do after he leaves the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensured that the young person was well supported to attend his school placement until he left in June 2017. A member of staff said, „He had been at this school since he Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 6 was six years old. He loved going. We understood that his school had been the most stable factor in his life. Therefore, we were happy to transport him and support him.‟ As a result, the young person gained several good exam results. He then went to a college to enhance his information technology (IT) skills and, although that placement did not last, he is now exploring options at two other colleges. He said, „I am really good at IT and this is where I see my future career.‟

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improvement to be good

The young person has good access to a range of health professionals. This includes therapists and a child and adolescent mental health worker. This has improved his psychological and emotional well-being. Staff provide the young person with suitable information around maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, the young person‟s health plan is unclear. For example, the details about the medication that the young person takes to support his health needs are disorganised. There was no explanation about why changes to medication occurred and whether healthcare professionals have been involved in these decisions. Also, the immunisation section is blank, although the children looked after nurse sent a record to the home. Furthermore, there was no explanation to account for a period of weight gain and then weight loss over a relatively short time. For example, it is not clear whether the changes in medication increased or

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improvement to be good

decreased his appetite, which may account for this.

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improvement to be good

Members of staff work closely with the young person‟s mother and the carers of his sisters. As a result, he sees his family regularly and he has recently stayed overnight at his mother‟s home for the first time. Details of the arrangements and any restrictions are clearly identified within the young person‟s plans. This means that important relationships are maintained and built upon.

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improvement to be good

The young person lives in a home that is maintained well. It is furnished and decorated to a good standard. Therefore, it is homely and comfortable to live in. The young person said, „I would recommend this home to other young people. It is great. Staff are caring, and they will go that extra mile for you.‟

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

The young person said that he was safe at this home. He could identify several staff and external professionals he could talk to if he had any concerns or worries about his safety. He talked with the inspector about how staff had alerted him to the dangers of the internet and that he felt confident that unsuitable people would not influence him.

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

Since the last full inspection in October 2017, there have been no safeguarding concerns, restraints or missing from home episodes. The staff have an excellent understanding of the home‟s child protection and safeguarding procedures. This means that they can act quickly and effectively to any emerging concern, such as a disclosure or an allegation made by the young person.

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

Staff receive an abundance of safeguarding training. They can recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and risks relating to criminality, child sexual exploitation and county lines. As a result, the staff have the knowledge and skills to support the young person Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 7 well.

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

The staff work with a range of professionals, such as therapists, to ensure that risk assessments and safety plans are in place for the young person. However, some risk assessments are unclear. For example, a scoring system shows that some risks have fluctuated each month from high to low and then back to high. There is no account to explain why this is the case and how the risk has been reduced or increased. Further to this, the home has completed a risk assessment on the young person‟s independence skills. The risk assessment does not show what skills he has currently or how these would mean that he was at risk going forward.

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

The young person‟s behaviour is usually excellent and has significantly improved over time. He gets on well with staff. He benefits from a nurturing and structured environment where positive behaviour is actively promoted through praise and rewards.

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

The staff have good relationships with the local community police officers. They regularly visit the home for a chat, a cup of tea, and to update staff on any issues in the local area. The young person said, „I have a high regard for the police and the job they do. I see myself as a law-abiding citizen.‟

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

The home‟s recruitment records were not viewed at this inspection. There have been no new staff, and previous inspections have found the recruitment process to be robust. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks around the home. The young person and staff regularly practise how to leave the home safely in the event of a fire.

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

An experienced and suitably qualified manager manages the home. A deputy manager supports her. The manager also manages another three-bedded children‟s home in a neighbouring area. She said that she had spent more time at that home, because of the complexities of the young people there, and relied on the competent staff at this setting. Therefore, she had not been aware of some of the paperwork issues; for example, she had not seen the young person‟s transition plan.

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

The manager and her deputy acknowledge that they have been through a difficult period in trying to get a formal plan in place for the young person to move on. Numerous emails have been sent requesting a formal plan and meetings. The manager said that the lack of response and the changing decisions between the professionals had been frustrating. In hindsight, the manager realises that she should have escalated her concerns in a formal way sooner.

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

There is a full, stable staff team. This means that the young person receives consistency of care and that staff know him well. Staff reported that the manager supports them well. They can discuss any concerns and are able to reflect on their practice during regular supervision sessions. All staff hold a suitable childcare qualification. Some staff are undertaking further childcare qualifications. As a result, staff said that development opportunities are good and that they can advance their career through the company if Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 8 they wish to. Staff said that team meetings are good and that they often discuss research-related practice, alongside how they are caring for the young person.

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

The statement of purpose sets out the ethos and objectives of the home clearly and it is kept under regular review. The home‟s workforce development plan clearly outlines the arrangements for induction to the home, the probation period, the timescales for supervision, and the disciplinary procedures for staff.

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

External monitoring by an independent person has been limited because the young person has refused to give consent for them to view their records. Therefore, the shortfalls highlighted in this report have not been raised by them. Similarly, the manager‟s internal monitoring has not been effective. This does not ensure that the home continues to improve and develop.

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

At the last inspection, two recommendations were made. The manager was asked to ensure that staff helped the young person to understand, accept and tolerate difference and that staff were not moved around the company‟s homes. The young person said that he now realised that some of his language and perceptions may have been offensive and that he fully understood this now. He said that the responsible individual came to see him and promised that staff would not be moved around. He was happy that the responsible individual had stuck to his word.

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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: SC457175 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Waterfront Manbre Wharf, Manbre Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9RH

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC457175 10 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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