Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 1 SC450992 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated children’s home is registered to provide care for up to six young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties and who may also have a learning disability. The manager is experienced, suitably qualified and has been registered with Ofsted since March 2017.

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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

Date of last inspection: 4 February 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/06/2018 Full Good 13/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 31/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 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 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 on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 29/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— the privacy of children is appropriately protected; any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and if necessary revised. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)) This is in specific reference to the use of bedroom door alarms. 29/11/2019

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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 registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). 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. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(d)) In particular, ensure that there is specific reference to documentary evidence of any qualifications which the registered person considers relevant to the position. 29/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in many areas of their development. This is because the manager and staff support children well. They also work closely with parents, social workers and education professionals to obtain the best possible care and outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy the time that they spend with staff and develop positive relationships with them. Children engage in activities with staff, who work hard to ensure that they are able to pursue their individual interests such as attending cadets and local football groups. Staff support children to participate in their local community and to take part in volunteering opportunities, for example at local food banks and dog walking. Consequently, improvements in children’s confidence and self-esteem are evident.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are engaging in education. Staff have successfully supported children to return to full-time school. When children are not in school, the manager and staff are active in ensuring that they have access to alternative educational provisions. Staff help children to address any issues that arise in school. This approach enables children to overcome any barriers to learning, so that they can achieve academic success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children learn skills that they require to become independent and to progress into adulthood. They take responsibility for tasks around the house. As they become older, they learn to budget, shop and cook.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff know the importance to children of maintaining family relationships. They work closely with parents and others to enable children to maintain those relationships that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to contribute their thoughts and ideas in weekly meetings with staff. In addition, children engage well in key-work sessions with staff. These sessions focus on identifying and prioritising areas of need and risk, based on ongoing assessment and review. Consequently, staff help children to improve their behaviour and to discuss any worries they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and cosy. Children take pride in their bedrooms, enjoy their own personal space and have an array of personal possessions. However, the use of bedroom door alarms does not contribute to a homely environment or enhance a sense of belonging for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children benefit from planned moves into the home. Staff support children to settle and to become familiar with the local community. However, managers do not always make sure that initial risk assessments of children who are new to the home consider staff’s ability to meet their needs. This means that the needs of some children may not be appropriately met, and the progress of others may be limited. Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 5 Since the last inspection, some children have experienced unplanned placement endings. However, staff have supported children to make smooth transitions to their new homes by facilitating visits and keeping in touch with them after they have moved. This has helped children to settle into their new homes and has ensured that key information is effectively shared with new carers.

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

Staff work hard to understand children’s behaviour and the risks that they may encounter. They seek advice from the organisation’s therapist to understand the impact of children’s past experiences. This contributes to clear assessments that reflect children’s current risks and needs.

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

The risks of children going missing from the home have continued to reduce. When children do go missing, staff respond appropriately and swiftly to ensure their safe return.

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

Staff receive training in a variety of safeguarding areas and are clear about the measures they need to take to safeguard children. Children say that they feel safe and secure in the home. This is because staff are consistent in setting boundaries for children. Behaviour management plans are clear and individual to each child.

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

The complex needs of some children have led to some serious incidents that have required the assistance of the police. Staff have supported children involved in these incidents to move to placements that are more suitable to their needs. Following any incident of challenging behaviour, the staff carry out individual work with the children involved. There is oversight and review by the manager, who seeks to learn lessons to prevent any future occurrences.

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

When children have raised concerns about staff behaviour, the manager has taken swift action. The manager contacts all relevant agencies and takes the actions needed to keep children safe.

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

Safe recruitment practice is not consistently followed by managers. Staff qualifications relevant to their roles are not always evident. This means it is difficult to assess someone’s suitability to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the staff and children extremely well. Both the manager and the deputy manager hold appropriate management qualifications. They choose to lead by example, which staff appreciate. They are both passionate about achieving the best outcomes for children and advocate strongly for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the running of the home. This ensures that she has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. She is keen to drive forward improvements. Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 6 There are adequate staff to safely provide care for the children in the home. Staff are motivated and feel well supported by the manager. The staff are inexperienced but are supported by experienced team leaders. Those who are unqualified are working towards their level 3 diploma and are within the required timescales to complete this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supportive supervision and an annual performance appraisal. The manager prioritises training and development opportunities for staff. Managers supplement training with workshops and team discussions. These develop the staff’s knowledge of the issues that affect the children who they care for. This helps to motivate staff, who demonstrate a commitment to working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Arrangements for working in partnership with others, including parents, social workers, and educational professionals, are particularly positive. The manager seeks advice and support from the team around the child. She advocates well on behalf of children when the responses from other services are not effective.

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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: SC450992 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Drakes Road, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Anne Daly: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC450992 8 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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