Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance visit report: SC436372 1 SC436372

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to care for six children and young people between the ages of 9 and 17 who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

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).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

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

p.1

Information about this visit

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

p.1

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.

p.1

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: SC436372 2

p.1

The care of children

Young people are settled and happy in their home. The atmosphere is relaxed. The home is comfortable and homely.

p.2

The care of children

There is always a trusted adult there for young people when they need to talk about their worries and problems. Young people reported good relationships with staff.

p.2

The care of children

However, young people have not been looked after by a consistent staff team because there have been several staff changes. A young person told the inspector that this has raised their anxiety at times. However, they were positive about the situation moving forward. They praised new staff, saying: ‘They are brilliant.’

p.2

The care of children

Each young person has made progress, despite the staffing situation and the pandemic restrictions. For example, one young person is now accessing mental health services and their emotional well-being is improving. Other young people are seeing their family more. There is also evidence of young people developing strategies to manage their own feelings, so that their behaviour improves.

p.2

The care of children

Education packages are tailored to the specific needs of young people. This enables young people to learn at their own pace and in accordance with their preferred learning style.

p.2

The safety of children

Young people are safe. Staff know how to protect them. When safeguarding situations arise, the correct procedures are followed.

p.2

The safety of children

Behaviour management strategies are positive and generally effective. When staff have had to restrain young people, records provide a full and detailed explanation of the incident. The manager and organisation scrutinise these records and talk to the young person to ensure that each incident has been managed appropriately.

p.2

The safety of children

The building is safer than it was before. The risk of fire is well considered. Areas where there is a higher risk, such as fire exits and staircases, are now fully assessed.

p.2

The safety of children

Episodes of young people going missing from the home have reduced. There has been an isolated incident in which staff did not look for a young person who was missing. The manager quickly identified this shortfall and lessons have been learned. One social worker was particularly happy with how staff now respond when young people go missing, stating that: ‘I feel they keep [the child] safe.’

p.2

The safety of children

When there have been concerns about staff’s practice, there has been a very robust response from the manager. Safeguarding is her top priority. She understands the importance of having the right staff in place to protect the young people. Assurance visit report: SC436372 3

p.2

Leaders and managers

The manager is a very effective leader. It is because of her efforts that young people have continued to make progress during a very unstable period of staffing. The staffing situation is slowly improving.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager is working hard to recruit staff who she knows will be right for the job. However, only two of the eight residential care workers are qualified. Six are still in their probationary period. Some additional staff have been redeployed from other homes, but many of these staff are also still in their probationary period. There is the potential for mistakes to be made because of the staff team’s overall inexperience and lack of qualifications.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager provides a high level of support for new staff. As a result, they do not feel out of their depth, feel well supported and have good relationships with young people. New staff are showing early promise. They are already making good decisions, as a good parent would. The manager makes sure that there is always a more experienced staff member leading each shift.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The organisation and the manager monitor the home very closely. This is an improvement from previous practice. The home has met five out of the six previous requirements. This has improved young people’s safety.

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 26/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC436372 4 ensure the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Child Care Ltd

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Inspector

Caroline Brailsford, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC436372 5 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.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5