Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 1 SC457433 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 home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The current manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2019. However, she has recently resigned from this position.

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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 requires improvement to be 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2018 Full Good 08/11/2017 Full Good 16/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(d)(e)) 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(1)(3)) 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revision and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and lives. (Regulation 7(1)(c )) 30/06/2019

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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— 30/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(g)(i))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the bathroom is in good order.  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has lived at this home for over three years. He is settled and is making measurable progress. The young person said, ‘I like living here, and the staff are good.’ Earlier in the year, the young person raised concerns with several members of staff about staff being moved to cover shortfalls in other homes. The young person said that this did not impact on his contact arrangements or social activities, but that he enjoys the security of two staff caring for him. The acting manager has not recorded these concerns as a complaint. As a result, the acting manager was unable to demonstrate the action taken to show how the home has responded to the young person’s views, wishes and feelings. The young person said that things had been better for the last few months. However, staffing shortfalls and responding to complaints were highlighted at the home’s last inspection. Therefore, these requirements have been repeated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person attends mainstream school. His attendance has significantly improved. There are times when his attendance can be sporadic due to his anxieties, but the staff quickly respond by having regular meetings with the school and completing work with Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 5 the young person. An incentive has been agreed by the school, the home’s staff and the young person to maintain his attendance. At the young person’s last personal education plan meeting, it was identified that the young person would benefit from additional support. A professional said, ‘Staff pushed for a tutor.’ Accordingly, a tutor was identified, and the young person has engaged positively with them. As a result, the young person is now achieving in line with his peers. Further to this, the young person has been supported to build his confidence in social situations. He has made new friends and enjoys spending time with them after school

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

and on activities. For example, 10 friends went with him on a go-karting activity for his birthday. This was very successful, and the young person received a gold award for winning the race. Staff have a good understanding of the young person’s health and development needs. The young person attends all regular check-ups and appointments. When the young person’s anxieties have been heightened, additional support has been requested from the child adolescent mental health team and clinicians within the company. Staff have prioritised healthy eating in the home. This has been successful in changing the young person’s eating habits away from fast food and snacks. He now enjoys home cooking, and staff often make and freeze his favourite dishes so that he has easy access to them. As a result, the young person has lost weight and is more active. Likewise, with the support from staff and the routines in the home, the young person’s overall health and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

well-being have significantly improved. The young person is encouraged to engage in a range of social and recreational activities that are specific to his interests. For example, he has a keen interest in superheroes and fictional characters. He is looking forward to attending a comic convention event soon. This is to celebrate his progress at the home. The young person likes to play games on his console against his friends in the evening. The young person was able to identify that unsuitable material affected his emotional well-being. He said, ‘I do not like violent games because they wreck my head. The staff have gone through loads of stuff with me and I feel I can protect myself online. I would not hesitate to alert them to anything suspicious.’ Staff support the young person to develop and maintain good relationships and regular contact with people that are important to him. An agreement is in place between the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

young person, a relative and the local authority for overnight stays when the young person’s behaviour has been good. The young person understands and accepts the consequences when this is withdrawn. The young person lives in a homely environment that meets his personal needs. At the last inspection, the manager was asked to ensure that the bathroom was in good order. The bathroom has been re-tiled. However, it was disappointing that the remainder of the refurbishment was only completed on the day of inspection. The bathroom still requires attention. Therefore, the recommendation has been repeated.

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

The young person said that he feels safe and is kept safe from harm. The acting manager and staff help the young person to understand risk and how to keep himself Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 6 safe. There are good risk assessments and risk management plans that support the young person’s safety inside and outside of the home. The young person’s behaviour has significantly improved. All parties involved in the young person’s care, such as the young person’s social worker, teachers and staff, all complimented the young person on the progress that he has made. A professional said, ‘He (the young person) used to blame others for his behaviour. He can now recognise that he is responsible for his own behaviour. This is a massive change for him and is down to the hard work staff have done on getting him to reflect on his negative behaviour and the impact that it has.’ A member of staff said, ‘I have been here since he

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

first came. The change in him is remarkable. He is a pleasure to be with.’ Due to the young person’s improving behaviour, he has not been restrained for his or others’ safety for over a year. He has not been reported missing from the home, there have been no safeguarding concerns that have required reporting to safeguarding professionals, and the police have not been called to the home. This is a startling contrast to previous years. Staff receive regular training in these areas. This ensures that, if any of these events were to occur, that staff would be able to report, record and respond effectively. Positive behaviour of the young person is continually promoted and rewarded. A restorative approach is taken to managing negative behaviour. There are clear expectations and boundaries at the home that are outlined in the young person’s behaviour management plan. The good routines and structure have supported the young

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

person to take responsibility for his bedroom, his personal hygiene, getting ready for education and helping around the home. Good health and safety practice at the home helps to make sure the home is a safe place for the young person to live and for staff to work. Fire safety risk assessments and fire evacuations are completed regularly. All appliances and utilities are serviced as and when required. Safeguarding training is prioritised to provide staff with the necessary skills to keep the young person safe.

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

The manager has been on maternity leave and returned to work in April 2019, but resigned shortly after in May 2019. The deputy manager managed the home in her absence and continues to do so. The home is achieving its aims and objectives, as set out in the statement of purpose (SOP). However, some errors are noted in the current document; for example, it states that the age range is up to 17 years, but there is no starting age. This requires updating to accurately reflect the service provided. Further to this, the most recently revised SOP has not been sent to Ofsted. Similarly, the home’s workforce plan has some errors within it. The document states that new staff will be supervised bi-monthly and the acting manager said that this should read as bi-weekly. It states that permanent staff will be supervised regularly rather than giving a set timescale. The home has a full staff team that can offer the young person a two-to-one staffing

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

ratio as identified in his local authority care plan. Earlier in the year, the company moved Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 7 numerous members of staff to cover shortfalls across the company. This meant that the young person was left on a one-to-one staffing ratio for long periods. There was an agreement with the local authority that staffing could be lowered when the young person was completing independence tasks, but this is not what the re-allocation of staff was used for. The young person’s social worker was not aware that the staff had been used this way. The staff raised their concerns with the independent visitor over a three- month period, and these comments were recorded in the independent person’s report. The responsible individual for the home acted in March 2019 and informed all parties that staff were not to be allocated to other homes. As a result, staffing is now consistent. However, a requirement was given at the last inspection around this issue

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

and therefore it has been repeated. Most of the staff have a relevant childcare qualification. One member of staff is expecting to complete this award in September 2019. Staff benefit from monthly supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This provides them with the opportunity to reflect on and improve their practice. Staff meetings are regular. The meetings mostly cover the young person’s progress and there is a set agenda. However, there is no apparent discussion about recent developments in research, legislation or sharing of news items, social concerns or world events that would help to make sure that staff are up to date with social trends or developments that may impact on the young person or the care that is given. Overall, the young person’s records reflect his everyday life and the work that is undertaken with him. They show how the young person is progressing and what areas need to be focused on next. However, staff have changed mistakes by scribbling out

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

errors. This does not ensure that the young person’s information is clear and legible. A professional said that communication between him and the home is very good. He receives weekly and monthly reports that are informative. He was very complimentary about the home. He said, ‘Staff have a good rapport with the young person, and they have a good insight into his behaviour. They are excellent at unpicking negative behaviour and deliver messages in a therapeutic way. As a result, the young person has matured and now takes responsibility for his behaviour.’

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 8 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: SC457433 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, Middlesex W6 9RU

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457433 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 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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