Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Norfolk

Assurance visit report: SC459168 1 SC459168

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for four children. The children may have experienced neglect and/or emotional abuse or had traumatic experiences that have left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 16 September 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC459168 2

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The care of children

The children said that the staff have helped them to understand the COVID-19 pandemic. The children are provided with the personal protective equipment that they need to maintain their safety. The staff have provided a good variety of activities to occupy the children during lockdown. Activities took place at the home and in the community when safe to do so. The staff used the ample grounds to their advantage during lockdown. They purchased a swimming pool and new outdoor games, which the children said they really enjoyed.

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The care of children

During lockdown, the staff helped a child to bake cakes for a nearby residential home for the elderly. The cakes were accompanied with a card that said, ‘From our home to yours’. This was a lovely gesture that was very much in the spirit of being together despite being apart. These kinds of gestures increase the children’s well- being and self-esteem while giving purpose at a time when this could have easily been lost.

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The care of children

The children were able to continue going to school throughout lockdown despite many schools closing or reducing their education provision. This ensured that the children’s educational needs were met. This also provided the children with structure in a time of uncertainty. The staff said that this reduced the potentially negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the children.

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The care of children

The children have kept in touch with their families and social workers. The staff have used skype and other electronic formats to ensure that the children kept in touch with people who are important to them.

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The care of children

The home has a welcoming and nurturing feel. It presents as a family home with homely features and furnishings.

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The care of children

A new reward system is in place that aims to improve behaviour using incentives. Rewards are highly individualised, and the children understand what they need to do to gain the rewards on offer.

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The safety of children

The children’s risk-taking behaviours have reduced during their time at the home. The staff discuss risks openly with the children. This educates the children and helps them to make informed decisions about their actions. The manager and the wider team write the children letters to commend them on their achievements but also to discuss negative behaviours that they have displayed. The letters are personalised, provide guidance and encourage the children to be accountable for their actions. The staff team has a solution-focused approach to working with the children.

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The safety of children

The staff work collaboratively with external professionals to ensure that the best interests of the children are central to their work. The location risk assessment has been created in liaison with the police. The enhanced information gathered about Assurance visit report: SC459168 3 the local area ensures that the staff are well informed about any nearby hot spots for crime or anti-social behaviour. This safeguards children effectively.

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The safety of children

The frequency with which the children go missing has reduced over their time at the home. External professionals said that the staff team responds to missing-from- home episodes well. The staff are vigilant when children are missing and follow the correct procedures to promote children’s swift and safe return.

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The safety of children

Allegations and safeguarding concerns have been managed well. The manager liaises with the designated officer and social workers in a timely way to ensure that information is shared in line with policy.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s presence and influence are evident in all areas of the home and aspects of practice. She has a can-do attitude that has driven improvements since the last inspection. With the ease of lockdown, the manager arranged for the children to have a holiday. The children said that they enjoyed the holiday, and it was evident that the staff worked hard to make this a positive experience, despite continuing restrictions in relation to COVID-19.

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Leaders and managers

Managerial monitoring has greatly improved. Records are reviewed frequently and coaching is provided to the staff to improve the records when, and if, needed. The manager’s six-monthly review of care features professionals’ feedback and identifies the strengths of the home as well as areas for development.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is respected by the staff team and has established good relationships with the children. The manager is a strong ambassador for the children and a strong role model for the staff.

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Leaders and managers

Transitions in and out of the home have been managed well. One child who left the home in recent months had a leaving party. They were provided with an impressive gift and a scrapbook that held happy memories of their time at the home. The manager is acutely aware of the importance of positive endings for children. This gives children a sense of belonging and meaning despite moving on from the home.

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Leaders and managers

Staff shortages persist. The staff continue to build on their skills and experience. However, there are still very few qualified staff. The manager has implemented appropriate gatekeeping to ensure that there is an adequate number of staff to support the children safely. One staff member has failed to achieve a suitable level 3 qualification within the required timescale. Most of the staff are working towards a level 3 qualification. This is a shortfall that has previously been identified. Assurance visit report: SC459168 4

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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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained–

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)(6)(a)(b)) 01/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC459168 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Child Care LTD, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC459168 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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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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