Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered for up to 16 children who have ongoing mental health needs and present with challenging behaviours that may prevent them from functioning in the community without continued support. There is a separately registered school on-site. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 July to 1 August 2019

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Following the full inspection on 19 June 2019, Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation on 27 June 2019. In addition, on 2 July 2019, Ofsted served a compliance notice under Regulation 13. Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2019 Full Inadequate 23/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 3

p.2

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.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.3

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.3

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(iii)(vii))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the environment is clean and homely. 26/08/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.3

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 26/08/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 05/08/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

p.3

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; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.4

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.4

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.4

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.4

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 05/08/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

p.4

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be 19/09/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 5 equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.4

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

p.5

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.5

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 19/09/2019

p.5

improvement to be good

At the last inspection, Ofsted found serious shortfalls that left children at risk of harm. As a result, Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation and a compliance notice in respect of the leadership and management of the home. At this inspection, inspectors found that the managers have complied with the restriction of accommodation and have met the majority of the actions set out in the compliance notice.

p.5

improvement to be good

The management team has made progress in addressing some of the shortfalls that were identified at the last inspection. However, shortfalls remain, and children are not yet receiving a good service.

p.5

improvement to be good

The experience of the staff team remains fragile. However, the manager has reviewed the staffing arrangements. She has adjusted staffing deployment to provide a better balance of experience. The manager has transferred experienced staff from similar services in the organisation to the home. This has bolstered the number of staff and the overall skills and experience in the team.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children and professionals have raised concerns about a culture of smoking at the home. A number of staff smoke just outside the gate to the home. Children can see this. This is particularly frustrating for children who are trying to stop smoking. Staff have not offered smoking cessation services to the children. This does not encourage children to be healthy or provide them with the support that they need to give up smoking.

p.5

improvement to be good

The quality and cleanliness of the physical environment has improved. The environment no longer presents a hazard to health. However, there remain some areas of the home Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 6 that are neither clean nor homely. These include one communal bathroom, as well as bedroom and shower room floors. Dead insects have built up in light fittings and on windowsills. Children find this unpleasant.

p.5

improvement to be good

Some children are making progress. This progress includes improved attendance at school and a reduction in self-harming behaviours. For some children, this is a significant improvement from their starting points.

p.6

improvement to be good

Managers have improved risk management plans. These have been updated regularly and provide clear instruction for staff.

p.6

improvement to be good

The number of serious incidents is reducing. There have been no incidents of children going missing from care.

p.6

improvement to be good

Children said that bullying is not a significant issue. When incidents do occur, staff provide follow up and discuss these incidents with the children.

p.6

improvement to be good

Incidents of physical intervention have reduced. The staff reported receiving debriefs in a timely manner following incidents of physical intervention. They said that they are supported after incidents occur.

p.6

improvement to be good

Senior managers acted to reinvestigate a serious incident. Investigations have concluded and actions have been identified.

p.6

improvement to be good

The manager did not share an allegation with senior managers or the designated officer within an acceptable time frame. This was despite good working relationships with the designated officer. Failure to act in a timely way to report allegations is not in line with expected safeguarding protocols and can put children at risk of harm.

p.6

improvement to be good

The children are able to raise concerns and do so. Managers take these concerns seriously and respond formally and in a timely manner.

p.6

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

The management team has acted to address the shortfalls raised at the last inspection. Although further work is necessary, progress is clear and proportionate. However, some other managerial shortfalls have been identified.

p.6

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

Supervision frequency has improved. All staff who were expected to have supervision have received it. However, there are numerous staff who have not had an annual appraisal within the expected time frame. This does not provide the staff with the full support that they need.

p.6

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

Staff who have transferred to the home from another provision do not have the full Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 7 information required in their recruitment records. This means that statutory safe recruitment requirements are not met.

p.6

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

An independent person visits the home. Their reports offer scrutiny and challenge. This has the potential to support the further improvements that are necessary.

p.7

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

The management team has a good understanding of the children. Managers understand the children’s needs and their experiences.

p.7

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

Senior managers have ensured that staff have a clear understanding of the managerial on-call arrangements. They have also ensured that staff have a good understanding of missing from care protocols and behaviour management plans.

p.7

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

Feedback from professionals was mixed. Some professionals noted good relationships and communication. Others were less positive about the service.

p.7

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.

p.7

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: 1257796 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspectors

Ashley Hinson: social care inspector Deirdra Keating: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1257796 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

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.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9