Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 1 SC456535 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have additional social care needs. The registered manager is suitably qualified and was registered with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate in 2012.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: SC456535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2018 Full Good 15/11/2017 Full Good 20/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people build good relationships with staff and have positive outcomes. The home is a solo provision and staff provide support and guidance for one young person at a time. The home is situated in a residential area that is not easily identifiable as a children’s home. The home is clean and presentable. The inspector noted that the home lacks a cosy and warm feel due to insufficient heating during winter months. Simple measures, such as putting up pictures on the wall and removing signs that project an institutional environment, would help to create a homelier environment. Young people that have been resident at the home have made good progress. The young person who is currently living at the home is making steady progress. This young person experiences some symptoms of social anxiety. The young person spoke to the inspector regarding her experience since living at the home. She is happy and settled. She spoke positively of the home. The young person did,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

however, voice some anxiety about staff changes and building up relationships. A recommendation has been made to address this matter. Young people have bespoke education programmes to ensure that they continue with their education. Some young people have in-house tutoring provided by a specialist tutor. Regular teaching sessions are important to ensure that young people continue with their education and achieve their targets. In addition, some young people may benefit from an alternative education opportunity in the community, for example trips to museums and/or art galleries to help engage their interests, build their confidence in wider social settings, and help reduce social isolation. A recommendation has been made to address this matter. Young people are registered and have access to primary care services in the local area. Some young people have additional support from local mental health services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are required to have up-to-date health reports. Health reports are kept on the young person’s records and should be requested from the placing authority in a timely manner. A recommendation has been made to address this matter. Young people can choose their own menus and daily activities through their one-to- one meetings with staff. Young people should be encouraged to eat healthy options and a broad range of foods. Wishes and feelings work is important for young people so that they can express their placement choices. A recommendation has been made to address this matter. Some young people have had positive experiences with family members and have subsequently returned home. Fractious relationships with family members have improved, and young people now have good-quality family contacts. One young person was able to have a Christmas family contact with family who lived abroad. Young people have structured and successful transition plans including further

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

education/employment. Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 4

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

Young people feel safe and supported by staff. Each young person has an individual risk assessment and behaviour management plan. This helps staff to identify the risks. Clear risk assessments can be an effective tool to help young people feel safe and protected. Staff ensure that missing from care procedures are followed for those young people who leave the home without permission. Staff liaise with the police, social workers and family to ensure the safe return of young people. Staff use a recognised behaviour management strategy and offer regular praise, and unconditional positive regard to manage challenging behaviours. Physical restraint is only ever used as a last resort. The inspector noted that a recent incident was seen to be fair and appropriate action taken by staff to keep young people, and others, safe. Young people have individual sessions with their key worker to help address emotional issues and practical support. All young people can access therapeutic

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

services to help them understand more complex issues. One young person prefers that her key-worker continues to provide emotional support. In this instance, staff should consider utilising their in-house therapy team for specialist advice and guidance on how best to support the young person with her mental health and social anxiety. This would ensure an integrated approach to her emotional needs. Local area risk assessments ensure that staff and senior managers have a good understanding of any risks in the community. There is regular liaison with the local police to ensure good communication and awareness of concerns. This ensures that young people are kept safe in the local area.

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good

An experienced registered manager runs the home. She has been the manager of this home for some years. The registered manager is also responsible for managing another home within the company. The registered manager has a competent deputy manager who has the responsibility of the day-to-day management of this home. The registered manager, along with her deputy manager, has a good understanding of the needs of young people in the home. In addition, the manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of her home. Recently, there has been a change in the staff team and new staff have been recruited to the home. Some staff are building up their confidence in their new role as they familiarise themselves with policy and procedures. Other staff have returned to the home after a period of being away due to personal circumstances. All new staff are enrolled on an induction training programme during their probationary

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good

programme. Staff have ongoing training throughout their duration of employment. Regular team meetings and management support is available as required. Staff say that they are happy at work and feel supported by senior managers. Staff supervision takes place on a regular basis. Staff can request supervision more frequently if necessary. Supervision meetings are not reflective in nature. Further Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 5 discussion or techniques on how staff can enhance their skills to build relationships with young people would be useful. Staff are good advocates for young people. They ensure that young people receive access to all services. Good professional working relationships ensure that there is clear communication between professionals that work with young people and the staff team. There is some management oversite in ensuring that statutory health documents are kept on the young person’s file.

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good

There were several incidents relating to one young person during his stay at the home. Senior managers did not report serious incidents relating to this young person to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI) and, therefore, there was a breech with regulations. Although the young person had no known history of offensive weapons or ligature injury, his risk assessments were not updated to reflect the change in his behaviour. The failure to notify HMI did not result in serious harm to an individual. The manager utilises internal and external monitoring of the home to ensure good practice. External monitoring of the home is provided by an independent visitor who will make recommendations to improve the service. Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 6

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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 ‘Guid 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(3)(e)(4)(b)) 31/05/2020

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Recommendations

 Where children placed in a home are not participating in education or training because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities within the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 5.15, page 28)  Regulation 11(2) sets out the expectations on staff in building a positive relationship with each child and helping the child develop skills to have positive relationships with others. ‘Others’ includes individuals both inside and outside the home such as other children in the home, staff, family members, siblings, previous carers and friends (in accordance with their relevant plans). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 8.6, page 38)  The specific responsibilities of the home towards supporting the health and well-

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Recommendations

being of each child should be agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. It is the joint responsibility of the registered person and the placing authority that this is agreed at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 7.7, page 34)  Advocacy is the process of representing the views, wishes and feelings of the child in matters which affect the child, or, of enabling the child to express their views, wishes and feelings themselves. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 4.4, page 21) Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC456535 8

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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

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456535 9 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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