Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456800 1 SC456800

p.1

Cambian Childcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is part of a large private organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not operational in the home at the time of the monitoring visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged declined in effectiveness at the interim inspection on 28 February 2019. Following this inspection, Ofsted issued the provider with three compliance notices under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. The compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and regulation 14, the care planning standard of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to the home on 8 April 2019 to monitor the actions that the provider had taken to comply with the notices issued following the last inspection. At this visit, it was identified that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the required actions identified in the regulation 12 and 14 compliance notices. The provider had not, however, taken sufficient action to meet the required actions set out in the regulation 13 compliance notice. As a result of this, a further compliance notice has been issued under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a further unannounced visit on 23 May 2019 to monitor the actions the provider had taken in respect of the regulation 13 compliance notice. At Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456800 2 this visit, it was found that the provider had not taken sufficient action to meet the required actions in this notice. A number of further regulatory breaches were identified during this visit, which compromise the safety and well-being of the young people in the placement.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Young people have been admitted into the home at a time when there has been an absence of a stable management team and consistent staff. This has had an impact on the ability of the staff to manage the complex needs and risk-taking behaviour of the young people. The provider has failed to ensure that impact risk assessments are compiled that consider all known risk factors for the young person moving into the home and the young person already in placement. Assessments do not include all relevant details, including all known risks, to enable an informed decision about the placement match. Consequently, young people placed together have become involved in risk-taking behaviours both in the community and in the home. This has placed them at risk of harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The placing social worker for one young person has also raised concerns about matching and the negative impact of poor matching on the young person in placement.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There has been a significant increase in the number of times young people are going missing from the home. At times, young people have left the home in the early hours of the morning. Staff are not always aware of the whereabouts of young people and have failed to follow their own internal procedures. When young people go missing, staff do not always follow actions set out in the individual risk assessments to keep them safe, for example by searching for them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There are clear indicators that young people are at significant risk of harm when they go missing. Despite the risk factors of child sexual exploitation, staff failed to take appropriate action to ensure that the safety and welfare of the young people were prioritised and safeguarding procedures followed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The police have reported significant concerns about the matching and safety of the young people. The police also confirmed that they are concerned about the lack of action taken by staff to protect young people, for example, when a young person returned with monies and ‘love bites’. Staff were reported to have known that the young person was leaving the home to meet an unknown male. Staff failed to take effective action prior to, during or after the incident despite the risk factors.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There is a deprivation of liberty order in place for one young person in the home. Staff have failed to comply with this or take appropriate action as advised in the order to protect the welfare and safety of the young person. The young person has left the home on numerous occasions, and staff have lost sight of her. This does not ensure that she is kept safe from harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There have been three incidents of fire setting since the last monitoring visit. There Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456800 3 has been no learning from these incidents and no changes to the staffing arrangements or risk management plans to manage or minimise this risk. Staff working on shift during the monitoring visit did not identify fire setting as a risk factor for the young people in the home. On one occasion, young people set light to a canister. Staff only became aware of the incident when they heard an explosion. On another occasion, the young people set a fire in the garden area and have also threatened to burn the vehicle of a staff member on shift. Despite this, no immediate action has been taken to minimise the risk.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leadership and management arrangements in the home are poor and ineffective. In November 2018, the registered manager finished work for maternity leave. Since that date, there have been three interim managers in place. More recently, the acting manager has been covering shifts in the home to cover staff shortages. This has resulted in a lack of management oversight of staff practice.

p.3

This monitoring visit

There has been continued inconsistency in staffing since the last monitoring visit. In addition to permanent staff, there have been 13 further staff on shift who do not normally work in the home. This results in inconsistency for young people and does not offer continuity of care.

p.3

This monitoring visit

Staff working on shift are not always aware of the individual risks for each young person and are therefore not able to keep them safe. Some staff on shift lack the required experience to work with young people with complex needs.

p.3

This monitoring visit

A number of further requirements have been made to address the shortfalls identified during the monitoring visit. Due to the serious safeguarding concerns identified, Ofsted has issued an emergency suspension notice. A further unannounced inspection will take place to continue to monitor the quality of care provided.

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 18/10/2018 Full Good 27/09/2017 Full Good 29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456800 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.4

Requirement Due date

in particular the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure ─ that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(iii)) 03/07/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered provider must ensure ─

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.4

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)) 03/07/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out 03/07/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456800 5 in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)(2)(a)(c)(e)(h)) The care planning standard is that children ─

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 03/07/2019

p.5

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Waterfront, Manbre Wharf, Manbre Road, Hammersmith, Middlesex W6 9RU

p.5

Inspectors

Sarah Billett, social care inspector Jenny Brady, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456800 6 to 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.5

Inspectors

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.6

Inspectors

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

p.6

Inspectors

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

p.6