Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

Inspection report children’s home: SC457573 1 SC457573 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider. There is currently no registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are progressing because of living at this children’s home. The reason for some children and young people moving to the children’s home was to keep them safe. This meant that they had to move away from their home and families. Staff have welcomed these children and young people and formed good relationships with them. This enables the children and young people to feel cared about and emotionally secure.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all the children and young people are in education. However, the staff are actively Inspection report children’s home: SC457573 2 pursuing education placements, working alongside local education authorities and the children and young people’s social workers. This good inter-agency working ensures that the children and young people will be placed in school or college as soon as is possible. While waiting for a school placement, the children and young people are supported by staff to take part in educational activities. This helps the children and young people to get used to a school routine and to learn through home-schooling.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people’s health needs are met, including their emotional and psychological health needs. The provider employs a mental health practitioner, who supports the staff to look at positive strategies to meet the children and young people’s needs. She also, on request, carries out direct work with the children and young people. This added resource promotes good health outcomes for the children and young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are safe in their home and in the local community. The staff understand the needs of the children and young people, and risk management is good. There have been occasions when the staff have had to contact the police to manage unsettled behaviours in the home, but this has been done as a last resort. Restraints are rarely used, and when they are good records are kept so that the use of restraints can be closely monitored. This protects the children and young people’s welfare.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is currently no registered manager in post. The provider has arranged an acting manager to oversee the home before a newly appointed manager can take up her post. The acting manager is an experienced practitioner who has the relevant qualifications and skills to manage a children’s home. Since taking up this post, the acting manager is having a positive impact on improving the home’s operation and the outcomes for the children and young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager ensures that any referrals are scrutinised to ensure that the home can meet the needs of those children and young people. Impact risk assessments are undertaken, which consider the children and young people currently living at the home and the impact that a new young person may have on them and their progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The policy regarding the staff searching the children and young people’s bedrooms has been reviewed. The staff understand that, where possible, the child or young person should be present during any search and understand why the search is being carried out. Written records are kept following any search carried out and any items found that should not be in the child or young person’s bedroom. This way of working promotes the children and young people’s rights and privacy where possible unless there are safeguarding concerns, when the staff will act to prevent being harmed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The administration of nonprescribed medication is improved. Better written records are kept when a child or young person is given this medication. Accurate recording ensures that the registered person can monitor all medication given to the children and young people. This promotes the children and young people’s health and well-being.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are consulted about their care and support, and their Inspection report children’s home: SC457573 3 views are sought about the home’s operation. The acting manager is introducing new child-friendly documentation to further enhance the children and young people’s inclusion and their understanding of why they are living in the children’s home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s home is a large building with a private, enclosed garden. It has a homely environment. However, there are parts of the home that need updating, repairing and replacement. This is due to general wear and tear and minor damage to the property.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is also some statutory documentation missing from a young person’s file. The young person is making the transition into adulthood, but there is no local authority pathway plan that sets out the transitional needs and how these will be met. Failing to have good, agreed plans in place potentially jeopardises a positive transition.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2019 Full Good 05/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2017 Full Good 11/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 30/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC457573 4 registered person to ensure that staff ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii)) The care planning standard is that children— 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 arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; and that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation (14) (1)(b)(2)(b)(iii)(c)) In particular, the registered persons must ensure that each child moving into adulthood has a relevant local authority pathway plan that is known to and understood by the staff. 30/11/2019

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC457573 5

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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 Darkes Road, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Debbie White, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457573 6 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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