Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Devon

Inspection report children’s home: SC458352 1 SC458352 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have complex care needs. It is operated by a private national company.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC458352 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/05/2018 Full Good 08/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC458352 3

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Recommendations

 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. Homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ appearance; in particular, ensure that window restrictors fitted in the home are of a domestic appearance. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  Ensure that each child is provided with the support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning; in particular, ensure that the views, wishes and feelings of each child are documented in their care plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.8)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people reported that they feel loved, settled and safe. Trusting relationships built between the young people and the staff form the foundation from which the young people make progress with improving their self-esteem and self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The moves of young people into and out of the home are carefully and sensitively planned by the manager and the staff. Since the previous inspection, one young person has returned home to live with their family, having made very good progress. A strength of the home is how young people quickly settle in and remain at the home for many years, following multiple moves and disruptions to their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The complex healthcare needs of the young people are fully met. The staff obtain extensive guidance from relevant professionals to inform healthcare plans. The young people are encouraged to be as independent as possible and manage their own medication if this is risk-assessed by the staff as being safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make progress academically because of the hands-on support and encouragement they receive. Young people who have previously felt unable to go to school now regularly attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff make sure that the young people have lots of things to look forward to and enjoy, including a range of activities and holidays. The staff’s planning is discrete and well thought out, which helps the young people to develop their potential and independence. Inspection report children’s home: SC458352 4 The young people are fully consulted about all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home. Their wishes and feelings are gained by the staff and acted on. However, care plans do not document the views, wishes and feelings of the young people and how they think their care needs are best met.

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

The staff fully understand the potential risks that the young people in their care may present. Comprehensive assessments of risk and control measures are in place to help to keep the young people safe. The manager and staff learn from any incidents that have taken place but could have been managed differently, and implement the learning.

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

The staff are vigilant and monitor the use of the internet and social media by the young people to ensure that they are keeping themselves safe.

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

Routines in the home run smoothly and the young people are clear about the expectations of them and which behaviours are not acceptable. The staff are effective in supporting the young people to learn from their mistakes, and praise and reward them for positive behaviour and achievements.

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

The young people rarely go missing because they have developed a sense of safety and well-being as a result of living at the home. If they do go missing, the staff promptly respond by following the comprehensive missing-from-home procedures. Incidents in the home have reduced in number and the use of restraint is rare.

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

Comprehensive staff recruitment procedures are in place and are implemented by managers effectively. This helps to ensure that only suitable people are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since January 2019. She is currently undertaking the required level 5 management qualification. She succeeds in creating a culture in the home where all the staff have high aspirations for the young people and are effective in supporting them to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is consistent and stable. The staff reported that they feel very well supported by the manager and benefit from regular, good-quality supervision. Regular training opportunities in a variety of topics, such as safeguarding, first aid and restraint, are available. This training equips the staff with the skills they need to support the young people in their care effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from other professionals is positive. Placing authorities praised the quality of care and how their young people are settled and are making good progress. Inspection report children’s home: SC458352 5 The home provides a comfortable and homely environment for the young people, who reported that they really like their bedrooms, which they can personalise. Throughout the home, windows are fitted with restrictors that are institutional in appearance. This detracts from the otherwise homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of care provided in the home is comprehensively monitored through regular visits to the home by an independent person. Any recommendations from these visits are promptly acted on by the manager. A comprehensive development plan for the home is in place. This details how the further improvements that have been planned will be carried out within the specified timescales.

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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: SC458352 6

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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

Tina Maddison: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458352 7 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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