Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warwickshire

Assurance visit report: SC476249 1 SC476249

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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. The home is part of a large, nationwide social care organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 28 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Declined in effectiveness

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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:  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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC476249 2

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The care of children

The children continue to keep in touch with their families. This has changed from telephone calls to face-to-face contact as the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. It has been difficult for the children to have reduced contact with their families during lockdown. However, the staff have supported the children to understand the situation and the need to keep safe.

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The care of children

The staff have enabled the children to engage in educational activities during lockdown, when education provisions were closed. Some of the children’s education meetings were held virtually. The children have returned to their education provisions and are making progress in both attendance and engagement.

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The care of children

The staff have been creative while the children were unable to attend their weekly hobbies and off-site activities. The provision of extra toys, along with activities such as the children making a fairy garden and taking part in yoga sessions, have supported children’s weekly structure and stimulation. Recently, the children have begun to access external activities such as swimming, and have been on a holiday.

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The care of children

The staff understand the children’s complex needs. They have sought appropriate external support for the children’s emotional needs. Regular meetings with the organisation’s clinical team have supported the staff in meeting the children’s identified needs. Some children have been unable to access some of their healthcare appointments due to the pandemic.

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The care of children

A nurturing and supportive staff team is building strong and trusting relationships with the children. The staff have often worked extra shifts to ensure that the children receive care from staff whom they know. This was particularly important during the pandemic, as some staff movement resulted in a period of instability for the children.

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The safety of children

The management team promotes an open and honest culture in which the staff can challenge each other. All staff have refreshed their safeguarding training. Concerns regarding practice and allegations against staff are appropriately actioned in line with the home’s safeguarding policy. This action keeps the children safe.

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The safety of children

The children display some challenging behaviours. Behaviour management plans provide the staff with information and clear strategies to implement during these times. However, on occasion, some staff responses have failed to de-escalate incidents. The staff lack an in-depth understanding of one child’s history and the therapeutic model of working at the home. Therefore, the child’s behaviour has escalated.

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The safety of children

Detailed risk management plans inform the staff about all the known risks to the children and the action to reduce those risks. Therefore, all staff are aware of how to keep the children safe. Assurance visit report: SC476249 3

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Leaders and managers

The manager has the required experience and qualifications. During a period in which the manager was not at the home, an interim manager supported the staff. The staff spoke positively about the support that they have received since the manager’s return.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor continues to undertake monthly visits to the home to monitor the safety and well-being of the children. During the height of the pandemic, the visits were virtual. The visitor invited the children to share their views and raise any concerns using audio- and video technology.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has developed effective relationships with placing authorities. A social worker said that the staff communicate well and provide weekly reports and important information in a timely way.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has ensured that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted promptly. However, on one occasion, further required information was not included. This does not enable clear monitoring of all the actions required to reduce the risk of a recurrence.

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Leaders and managers

The recording of some paperwork requires improvement. One child’s placement plan fails to provide the staff with clear information on how to meet an area of the child’s needs. While the staff were clear about the actions required, lack of clear information has the potential to place the child at risk.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has met the two requirements and one of the recommendations made at the last inspection. One recommendation is still unmet and has been escalated to a requirement.

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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

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 30/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC476249 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; and

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ix)(x)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person notifies Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)–(d) occurs or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10) In particular, ensure that the information provided details all significant concerns.  The registered person must demonstrate every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1). In particular, maintain a stable staff team for the children. Assurance visit report: SC476249 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: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Natalie Burton, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 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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