Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

Assurance visit report: SC456850 1 SC456850

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 31 October 2019

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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:

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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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC456850 2

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The care of children

One young person has lived in the home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She has built good relationships with staff and feels able to talk about any worries she has. She often leaves notes for staff. One stated, ‘I want to say thank you. You have helped me through this rough time. You are my heroes.’

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The care of children

During the period of COVID-19, the young person has enjoyed trips to the beach, long walks, and made jigsaws. She has also been taken for a drive when she felt anxious. Staff have made a memory book for the young person with photographs and captions.

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The care of children

The young person speaks to her family regularly on the phone. This relationship is not always positive for the young person. A review meeting to discuss and agree plans has not yet taken place. Agreements for providing updates to parents need to be clearer.

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The care of children

Staff have worked closely with school and the virtual head to find a suitable education provision for the young person. As she had not attended education for a long time, this re-integration has been difficult. Staff have continued to support her and have helped her learn at home.

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The care of children

The young person’s wishes and feelings are a high priority. She is in the process of personalising her bedroom and has enjoyed making choices.

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The care of children

The young person’s emotional and physical health needs are addressed. During this period, the young person has presented as less anxious. Virtual support from mental health professionals and the company’s mental health team has been effective in supporting the young person and staff.

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The care of children

Staff work closely with other medical professionals to ensure that the young person is given accurate information. She is encouraged to make more informed, age- appropriate choices.

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The safety of children

Steps in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 include temperature checks, hand sanitiser and questionnaires to complete on arrival. The number of visitors to the home has been limited.

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The safety of children

Staff have detailed risk management plans that are specific to the young person. They are reviewed and updated regularly and agreed with other professionals. The young person is receiving care that is informed through research.

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The safety of children

Plans to manage the risk of self-injurious behaviour are clear. The number of incidents have become less frequent since the young person moved in to the home. Multi-agency meetings to discuss the risks have taken place virtually during this Assurance visit report: SC456850 3 period. Some areas of risk have not been considered and require additional strategies and appropriate recording.

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The safety of children

The risk posed by social media linked with self-injurious behaviour have not been fully considered or discussed as a team. Clearer plans are needed to prevent this risk from escalating.

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The safety of children

The young person was reported missing from the home on one occasion. Staff understood what to do and took the necessary steps to report and record the incident. Follow-up work was completed separately. However, the report of the incident lacks evaluation of the staff’s action and steps to be taken.

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The safety of children

Staff know the young person well and are able to adjust de-escalation methods when necessary to suit the situation. As a result, restraint has not been required in this period. One social worker said, ‘[Name of home] have shown they are willing to work through things and will not just give up on her.’

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Leaders and managers

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2008 and has been the manager of this home since 2019. Staff have received reflective supervision and attended team meetings throughout this period. As a result, they feel supported and have remained committed to their role.

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Leaders and managers

Daily debriefs take place between staff. This allows them the opportunity to be open and honest with each other and learn from any mistakes. One staff member said, ‘I feel like we are making a difference and helping young people achieve their dreams.’

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive training to help them understand the needs of the young person placed. They feel confident in working with the risks presented. Clearer recording of the welfare checks completed will allow more oversight into patterns, trends and times of increased risk.

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Leaders and managers

Professionals have a high regard for the team. A virtual head said, ‘[Name of young person] is a very complex young lady, but it was evident that she felt safe there when I visited. I have been very impressed with the placement.’

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Leaders and managers

The manager has clear plans for the development of the home. She advocates for the young person and wants to make a long-term difference to her life. The manager has challenged decisions made by the placing authority during the COVID- 19 period to ensure that they are made on an individual basis.

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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 Assurance visit report: SC456850 4 ‘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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff are aware of the risks of social media. Ensure that plans to manage self-injurious behaviour consider the risk in the night and agree protocols regarding potential ligatures. Ensure that staff record the welfare checks and complete them consistently. 30/11/2020

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Recommendations

 Evaluation of missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care (see paragraph 15.2). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  There may be circumstances where children’s home’s staff assess that restriction of contact is necessary in the interests of the child, to safeguard them or promote their welfare. This decision should not be taken lightly and must be agreed with the placing authority, where possible, except in an emergency situation, where Assurance visit report: SC456850 5 the placing authority must be notified within 24 hours (see regulation 22 (5) and (6)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.16)

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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

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC456850 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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