Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC457068 1 SC457068 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have been subject to early life trauma causing social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 2018 and holds her level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC457068 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/04/2018 Full Good 26/04/2017 Full Good 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457068 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The way that children are supported to move in is a strength of the home. Careful planning, visits and information-sharing take place before children move in. As a result, children quickly settle into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm and nurturing relationships with the staff. Children are keen to share experiences, whether that be about events that took place at the weekend or the new clothes they have bought with the staff. When children have left they have written fun notes to the staff about their memories of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to stay in touch with their families and friends. For example, one child’s wider family were welcomed to the home for their own pre-Christmas celebration. As a result, children sustain important relationships with people who are important to them. Inspection report children’s home: SC457068 4 Children’s school attendance and engagement have improved. As a result, children have future aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment has a cosy feel and has recently benefited from a new kitchen. There are photographs and lovely pictures drawn by the children proudly displayed around the home. This all creates a welcoming environment where children can flourish.

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

Staff are knowledgeable about children’s health conditions and have provided support to ensure that children’s ongoing health needs are met. For example, staff have supported one child who has been in hospital and have liaised with other professionals to ensure that everyone is aware of a child’s new diagnosis and actions that need to be taken.

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

Allegations and complaints have been dealt with promptly and are shared with other professionals. There is currently one live investigation. This is being overseen by all appropriate agencies.

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

Staff manage children’s challenging behaviours well. Staff understand children’s triggers and can de-escalate incidents quickly. As a result, the staff rarely need to use any form of physical restraint.

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

There have been times when children have gone missing from the home. Staff work closely with other professionals and put in place strategies to try to prevent this from happening. The police commented that staff were ‘exemplary’ in their management of these events. However, on one isolated occasion, a member staff did not fully understand a child’s behaviours. This led to an opportunity for the child to go missing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has clear aspirations that help to ensure that children continue to make progress in all areas of their development. The registered manager has a clear development plan in place. This is helping to strengthen staff practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from well-informed inductions and from having regular supervision and frequent training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are complimentary about each other and about the level of support that they receive from the registered manager. Staff told the inspector that they ‘love’ coming to work and feel valued within their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are complimentary about the level of ‘excellent’ communication that they receive from the staff. This good communication ensures that children receive the help and support they require promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On occasion, there has been a lack of challenge from the registered manager. This has been when other professionals have not carried out their role appropriately or when Inspection report children’s home: SC457068 5 incorrect information has been recorded. As a result, there has been a missed opportunity to improve practice.

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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: SC457068 6

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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

Louise Battersby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457068 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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