Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Assurance visit report: SC457434 1 SC457434

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child or young person who has social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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:  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: SC457434 2

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The care of children

The child in this home has good relationships with members of staff. The staff team understands the impact on the child of her previous experiences and how these influence her behaviours. The work of the staff team, to understand and meet the child’s needs, means that she is making good progress.

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The care of children

The child speaks to members of staff about the issues that matter most to her. She trusts members of staff and responds well to their support. As a result of this work, the child is making progress with her emotional development and well-being.

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The care of children

Members of staff help the child to keep in touch with her family, and they have built good relationships with key family members. These arrangements have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the child is open to advice and support from the staff team about how to maintain good relationships with her family. This has resulted in more consistent family time. This is significant for this child, for whom family relationships are a priority.

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The care of children

The child takes part in a wide variety of leisure and educational activities. Members of staff use their knowledge of the child’s likes and dislikes to arrange safe and enjoyable pastimes. This has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides the child with routine and support. The child is building positive memories of her time in the home, as well as broadening her experiences.

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The care of children

Members of staff lock some areas of the home at night. There are no safeguarding risks that would prevent the child from having access to these areas of her home. The manager accepts that this practice should not happen and is unnecessary.

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The safety of children

The child says that she feels safe in the home and in the community. Members of staff work with the child to help her to develop insight into her vulnerabilities. As a result, she is learning to make good decisions that help to keep her safe. This is significant progress for this child and means that her self-esteem and confidence is growing.

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The safety of children

Members of staff regularly review the child’s individualised risk assessments and her behaviour plans. These plans are clear and effective and help the staff team to provide the child with consistent care and support. The child is making good progress because she understands her support plans and what is expected of her.

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The safety of children

The manager makes sure that members of staff complete essential training to improve their knowledge around child protection, safeguarding and the management of risks. This learning focuses on the needs of the child. For example, the staff team learn how to educate children on the possible risks of social media. As a result, the child receives effective support from members of staff, and this support reflects her needs. Assurance visit report: SC457434 3 Members of staff understand and implement the home’s policies for managing risk. For example, they know what to do if the child is missing from home. This means that should the child’s risks increase, members of staff know how to respond to help to keep her safe.

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Leaders and managers

The manager of this home is not yet registered with Ofsted. Her application for registration is in progress.

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Leaders and managers

The manager prepares good-quality risk assessments when new children are referred to the home. She considers the skills in the staff team, and any potential risk factors in the local community, alongside the needs of the child being referred. As a result, children who live in the home receive care and support from members of staff who have the skills and experience to meet their needs.

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Leaders and managers

Partnership working between the manager and staff and other agencies, including the child’s social worker, is good. These professionals praised the quality of the information that they receive about the child. This means that other agencies have accurate information about the good progress that the child is making.

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Leaders and managers

The manager ensures that members of staff receive training that reflects their role. In addition, an experienced mental health practitioner also supports the staff team. As a result, members of staff have the skills and knowledge they need to understand the child’s emotional and mental health needs.

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Leaders and managers

The requirements made at the last inspection are met. The manager knows the strengths of the service and the areas for development. She considers the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s progress and makes suitable adjustments to the day-to-day routines in the home, when necessary, to keep children safe. Consequently, the child lives in a home that continually improves to reflect her needs.

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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, the 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

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and 30/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC457434 4 any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare LTD

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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

Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC457434 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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