Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Assurance visit report: SC476261 1 SC476261

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to five children, aged between eight and 18 years, who have complex behaviours due to early childhood trauma. The home is privately owned.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who is currently completing his level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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. Assurance visit report: SC476261 2

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.

p.2

The care of children

Children enjoy positive experiences and activities while living in the home. Social workers state that their children enjoy activities in the home as well as new experiences such as going to the seaside. On this assurance visit, children had decorated the garden and house in preparation for Halloween. Staff helped children to create a house using a large painted cardboard box. The children took delight taking turns to show the inspector their version of trick or treat.

p.2

The care of children

Staff also help children to develop their confidence by promoting things they like doing. Two children enjoy playing for a local football club. Staff identify ways to help children create friendships outside of the home. During COVID-19 lockdown, the children played badminton together with their neighbour, using the garden fence as the net.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support children to stay in touch with their families. When children struggled with changes in arrangements, such as video calls during COVID-19 restrictions instead of face-to-face visits, staff helped them to feel confident using the new technology. This helped to maintain and develop relationships with people who are important to the children.

p.2

The care of children

Children formed a house bubble, which enabled them to attend their school part- time during COVID-19 lockdown. This helped children to maintain a daily routine. During this time, staff engaged children when they returned home from school in educational activities. They held a ‘Come Dine With Me’ event. After meal planning and preparations, children and staff enjoyed dressing up and having their dinner together.

p.2

The care of children

Staff meet children’s health needs well. The health and well-being of several children is improving and, as a result, their need for prescribed medication is reducing. This shows that children are more settled.

p.2

The care of children

There have been two recent incidents in which staff under-administered one child’s medication. Staff contacted health services who assessed that there had been no impact to the child from this. The registered manager has shown good oversight and learning from this. His response has improved staff practice and significantly reduced the likelihood of this error reoccurring.

p.2

The safety of children

There have been improvements in how the registered manager informs Ofsted of serious incidents. This helps Ofsted to understand the children’s needs and how staff Assurance visit report: SC476261 3 keep children safe. The registered manager demonstrates that he works closely with other professionals to safeguard children.

p.2

The safety of children

The clinical team prepares comprehensive behaviour management plans which guide the staff to therapeutically parent children. Staff provide care which is nurturing while also being aware of risks to children. Children access a range of therapies provided by the clinical team. One child is making significant progress, with a reduction in episodes of physical aggression.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff use a range of strategies to de-escalate children’s behaviour. Staff use physical intervention as a last resort when children are a risk to themselves or others. Staff complete a life-space interview to rebuild relationships after a physical intervention. This is integral to the physical intervention model staff use. The registered manager records his overview of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the measure. He does not, however, evidence in his recording that he has spoken to the staff members after they have used a physical intervention or that he has spoken with the child. The registered manager does not, therefore, confirm that the details of the measure used are accurate and that he, as someone independent from the physical intervention, has sought the views of the child.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff do not always show curiosity to protect children, as any good parent would. They failed initially to identify that children were communicating by dropping notes for each other into bins. Leaders review risk assessments and respond to incidents, like the note exchanges, with additional guidance and increased supervision to safeguard children where required.

p.3

The safety of children

The children spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in this home. Children spoke positively about staff and each other. However, some of the children expressed some frustrations about group living that they had not spoken to staff about. Staff have not recognised children’s frustrations through observation of their behaviour or shown professional curiosity when talking with children. In response to children’s feedback, leaders are now exploring advocates for children. This recognises that children benefit from the opportunity to have their communication supported by someone who is independent from the home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

At the last inspection, shortfalls with how leaders reviewed management oversight of the home, including the updating of the home’s review of premises and quality of care, were identified. At this assurance visit these requirements relating to these shortfalls were all met.

p.3

Leaders and managers

There has been progress in how the registered manager inspires his team to work together to provide good-quality care. The registered manager challenges staff when their practice, such as the setting of a consequence following challenging behaviour, can be more effective. This improves experiences for children. Assurance visit report: SC476261 4 This is a relatively new team, with four staff still being in their probation period. Staff and leaders told the inspector that new members have fitted well into the team. They are committed to working together to provide consistent care for children. There are enough staff to meet the needs of the four children in this home. The registered manager is not considering a fifth child due to current uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular and effective supervision. This includes single subject supervision, in areas such as recording or medication administration, to support their professional development. Staff told the inspector that they feel supported both personally and professionally by leaders.

p.4

Leaders and managers

The registered manager monitors all training and clinical consultations. Three staff have the qualifications required for their roles. All other staff are within timescales to complete their qualifications. In addition, while group training is restricted due to COVID-19, staff access required training online. The clinical team attends team meetings twice a month. This increases staff’s awareness of the impact of trauma on children and provides them with the psychological support and skills to care for the children living in the home.

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.4

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 11/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC476261 5

p.4

Recommendations

 Staff should have the skills and confidence to communicate easily and understand the importance of listening to, involving and responding to the children they care for. Staff should understand that they have a responsibility to observe, notice and respond to children who are expressing their views, acknowledging that this is not the sole responsibility of the child to ‘tell’. They should also understand how children might communicate their feelings through their behaviour, or non- verbally especially where the child has a disability which does not allow them to communicate as others might. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10)  Children must feel safe and be safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect

p.5

Recommendations

themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector

Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC476261 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.

p.5

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.6

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6