Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dorset

Inspection report children’s home: 1159868 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is operated by a large national provider of children’s services. The home is registered for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered on 2 December 2019.

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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

At the full inspection on 2 April 2019, two requirements and one recommendation were made. This was because at that time the home had no registered manager. There were also concerns about whether all the children and young people’s needs could be met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection found that both requirements are now met. The manager was registered with Ofsted on 2 December 2019. The mix of children and young people in the home is now appropriate. As a result, the relationships between them are generally positive. The recommendation is also now met because the staff have successfully persuaded a previously reluctant young person to attend all his healthcare appointments.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people feel happy, safe and cared for. Relationships between the Inspection report children’s home: 1159868 2 staff and residents are the main strength of this home. Staff are exceptionally nurturing and supportive. They help children and young people to enjoy a wide range of activities. One young person is taken to play rugby for his home town’s youth team. This helps him to maintain an important link with his own community.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection took place shortly before Christmas. The manager has consulted the children and young people about their own family traditions, so that these can be incorporated into the celebrations. For example, the youngest child is happy that on Christmas Eve, there will be a glass of milk for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer, left by the chimney.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no restraints and no incidents where children and young people have gone missing. There has been one complaint, which was an allegation against a member of staff. Because this complaint was retracted, the manager did not report it to the designated officer. However, it was necessary to report it, in order to comply with locally agreed child protection procedures. A requirement has been made to guide future practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people have all made good progress since their arrival. They Have matured, gained in confidence and have developed their communication skills.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the children and young people attend school daily and are achieving their potential in education.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another young person, who became looked after in his late teens, has not received a formal educational and psychological assessment of his needs. For this reason, he is not in education, training or employment and has no qualifications. The manager is working closely with the independent reviewing officer, social worker and virtual school to make effective plans to remedy this situation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of the environment continues to present a challenge in this home. Since the previous inspection, there have been major improvements, for example to the bathrooms, but the kitchen and thatched roof still need to be repaired. The home’s decoration and furnishings should reflect the standards found in a family home. A recommendation has been made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children and young people have moved in and one has left since the last inspection. The manager ensures that staff and current residents are fully involved in discussions about who should come to live in the home. She ensures that introductions are managed sensitively to increase the chances of a successful move.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person’s placement had to be ended quickly due to increasingly extreme, distressed behaviour. Staff continue to support this young person and several other former residents through phone conversations and Christmas cards, so that the children and young people know they are remembered fondly.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report children’s home: 1159868 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/04/2019 Full Good 21/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/11/2017 Full Good

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all allegations are reported to the designated officer in line with locally agreed child protection procedures. 15/01/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, and that they are homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). In particular, continue with plans to refurbish the kitchen and review the quality of the decoration, furnishings and fittings, which should reflect those likely to be found in a family home. Inspection report children’s home: 1159868 4

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

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Inspector

Heather Chaplin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1159868 5 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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