Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warwickshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476249 1 SC476249

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Cambian Childcare Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home offers support, education and care for up to five children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma which has left them vulnerable. It is part of a large, nationwide social care organisation. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged to have declined in effectiveness at an interim inspection on 28 February 2020. The purpose of the interim inspection was to follow up on concerns that Ofsted had received about the home.

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This monitoring visit

The inspection found a series of shortfalls around safeguarding of children and the leadership and management of the home. This resulted in nine regulatory breaches. Four of these breaches resulted in compliance notices being served. The home was also served a restriction of accommodation notice, which meant that no more children could move into the home while the restriction was in place.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place by telephone on 31 March 2020 due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Managers sent requested documentation to Ofsted for review. The purpose of this inspection activity was to ensure that the provider was complying with the restriction of accommodation and to review progress made on the four compliance notices and the five other requirements raised at the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit found that the provider has met all four of the compliance notices. Three of the five requirements have also been met. The grounds for the restriction of accommodation have been addressed and, as a result, this restriction has now been lifted. Two requirements and two recommendations have been raised again. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476249 2 Following Ofsted receiving concerns about the home and the interim inspection on 28 February 2020, two children moved out. No children have moved into the home since then. The restriction of accommodation has contributed to the organisation having the capacity to make the necessary improvements.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is not currently working at the home. An interim manager, a regional quality assurance manager and the responsible individual have been overseeing the day-to-day management arrangements of the home. They have worked hard to address the shortfalls identified at the most recent inspection. Management arrangements have been bolstered. Management oversight of the home and monitoring analysis of the home’s records have improved.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received additional training in safer recruitment and advanced safeguarding practice. Additional support has been provided for staff to identify similarities between indicators of abuse and childhood illnesses, and the importance of sharing this information with social workers and other professionals. Feedback from social workers is that communication has improved and work is ongoing.

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This monitoring visit

Learning from training has been further embedded through individual and group discussions with staff. Safeguarding quizzes are now a feature of staff meetings and safeguarding records and processes have been updated and disseminated to staff. Learning from shortfalls in safer recruitment of staff has been shared across the wider organisation. Staff are now clear of their safeguarding responsibilities and the policies and processes to follow should any concerns need arise.

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This monitoring visit

In addition to addressing four compliance notices, managers and staff have ensured that all fire doors close as they should. The recording of physical interventions has improved and all eight physical interventions since the interim inspection have been recorded appropriately and in full. The children’s register has been updated and now contains all the information it should.

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This monitoring visit

Two unmet requirements and two recommendations have been restated. These will be reviewed at a later inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 24/07/2019 Full Good 29/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476249 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— seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (1)(a)(d)) 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if— the person is of integrity and good character; having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children— the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 31/03/2020

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Recommendations

 Staff should provide a nurturing and supportive environment that is homely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476249 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we inspect. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of Coronavirus by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476249 5

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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 Road, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Ricky D’Arcy, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476249 6 to 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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