Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in County Durham

Inspection report children’s home: SC066127 1 SC066127 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

The home is run by a private company and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to four children and young people who have learning disabilities, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, sensory impairments or mental disorders. The manager was registered in August 2011 and is appropriately qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC066127 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2018 Full Outstanding 19/02/2018 Full Outstanding 28/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC066127 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children who live in the home are nurtured, cherished and exceptionally well-cared for. They are well supported by the staff, who know them well and the children succeed and grow in confidence. The children are happy and say that they love living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff have a comprehensive knowledge of the children. The child-friendly care plans are developed on an individual basis. They meticulously evidence the journey and progress that the children are making. The ability and needs of each child are taken into account to enable them to actively participate in decision-making. The staff team uses a range of imaginative techniques to ensure that children who experience communication difficulties can make meaningful contributions. This eclectic approach respects and values the opinions of the children, making them feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff team are committed to providing wide-ranging and memorable experiences for the children. Barriers that can hamper such experiences are vigorously challenged. The home has an ‘enjoy and achieve’ champion within the staff team and all the staff are committed to ensuring that the children have fun and learn from their experiences. A virtual visit to France was very popular. This included the home’s version of the Tour de France, creating the Louvre Museum in the home and trying French food, such as snails and French cheese. The children enjoy these activities immensely. The children are involved in local charity projects that help others. They are encouraged to have an active and healthy lifestyle and are involved in activities such as swimming, gardening and trampolining. The staff devise activities around healthy eating, including sugar swops and a display board showing the hidden sugars in many popular soft drinks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This helps children to build a clear understanding of how to live a healthy and happy life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Many of the children’s achievements are captured in photographs, which are displayed throughout the home. The staff take great pride in the children’s achievements, no matter how small. The WOW of the week award and well-established reward schemes are effective in ensuring that achievements are acknowledged and celebrated. This enables the children to grow in self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children all have an excellent 100% school attendance records. Communication between the home and schools is consistently effective. A headteacher said, ‘Communication is excellent. The staff are caring and professional. They all go the extra mile for all of the children.’ Effective links with school staff ensures that a consistent approach to behaviour management is used in both settings. This increases the sense of safety and security felt by the children.

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

The children at this home are exceptionally well protected. There is an effective safeguarding culture within the home. Consistent safeguarding procedures ensure that Inspection report children’s home: SC066127 4 staff have the knowledge and confidence to act promptly if there are concerns for a child’s welfare.

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

There are high levels of supervision at all times, both inside and outside the home. This supports the children’s needs, ensuring proactive responses to situations and reducing risk. The staff are highly skilled in communicating with the children. Staff are attentive to indicators such as facial expressions, body language, gestures and behaviour. They are vigilant and have a thorough understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities and risks. Staff consistently achieve a good balance between minimising risk and enabling children to develop independence skills, allowing them to take appropriate risks.

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

The staff team successfully ensures that to date children have not gone missing from this home. Sanctions are not used by staff to manage behaviour, and there is a well- established and effective incentive and rewards scheme. Regular praise and encouragement significantly enhance the children’s feelings of self-worth.

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

The staff have undertaken safeguarding training relating to children with additional needs. This ensures that they have a clear understanding of the children’s added vulnerabilities and enables them to provide an exceptionally safe and secure level of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly motivated and committed. She actively seeks to improve the outcomes for the children. She is well supported by a dedicated senior team and highly effective staff team. Collectively, they share the same values and vision for the children. Their enthusiasm means that the children receive nurturing and consistent care. The manager and staff team have put considerable effort into creating a culture and ethos that are consistently successful. The manager is an excellent role model and is ambitious for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates sound insight into areas of strength as well as areas that could be improved further within the home. Her commitment and enthusiasm are highly effective at sustaining and driving forward improvements. She is innovative and encourages this in the staff team. She clearly uses a wealth of research to inform practice. This is helping the staff to develop and learn, enabling them to understand the individual needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a great deal of evidence that demonstrates how staff successfully work in partnership with others including health and education specialists. Professionals spoken to confirmed this and complimented the staff team for its professionalism and immense dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes for the children. Another strength is work with families, who are encouraged to contribute and be part of the children’s lives, as appropriate. A family member said, ‘The staff are fantastic, they genuinely love and care for the children. They keep me well informed on progress and events.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC066127 5 The staff are qualified and highly experienced in providing care for the children. They benefit from an extensive training programme that equips them to meet the needs of the children. The staff feel supported, valued and motivated. A member of staff said, ‘I love working here; the manager and the other staff are extremely supportive, and we are a

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are established monitoring and auditing systems, which are carried out on a regular basis by the manager and her senior team. These systems are robust and ensure that practice achieves the aims of individual placements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager, senior and staff teams work successfully to ensure positive outcomes for the children. They understand the importance of developing the children’s self-esteem and confidence. The home is warm and nurturing, enabling the children to thrive, have fun and flourish.

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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: SC066127 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

Dot McGough, Ofsted Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC066127 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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