Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 1 SC424141

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Cambian Childcare LTD

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private company. The children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children 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 August 2018. However, they were absent during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the steps taken by the provider to meet two compliance notices and a notice restricting the accommodation at this home. The compliance notices were issued following an assurance visit on 6 and 7 October 2020, and the restriction following a monitoring visit on 13 November 2020.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken suitable action to meet the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed risk management and care planning training. They now have a better understanding of their role and responsibilities to promote the children’s safety and welfare and meet the children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

A key-work document has been implemented that has the oversight from the mental health practitioner. It provides the staff with a clear structure which guides them to focus on specific risk and care planning matters with the children. Further work has been identified by managers to support the staff to improve the quality of the key- work records. This has not yet been achieved.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments have been updated to include strategies for staff to protect the children from bullying and other concerning behaviours. Children said that they do not experience bullying. They have engaged in a bullying workshop, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 2 which has raised their awareness about the different forms of bullying and who to report it to.

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This monitoring visit

The staff’s positive engagement in team meetings includes them having open and honest conversations. This is helping to bring the staff team closer. Safeguarding and whistle-blowing training alongside supervision and individual debriefs are starting to strengthen the staff’s understanding of their safeguarding role and responsibilities. This new learning will take time to embed and cannot be evaluated at this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have read the safeguarding policy and other related documents linked to the importance of whistle-blowing. This has improved their understanding about their responsibility to report any concerns. However, the documents do not make the consequences of disciplinary action clear for staff who do not report abusive practice. The staff now feel more confident to raise any safeguarding concerns, which offers children greater protection from harm. One staff member said, ‘If it’s wrong, it’s wrong. If I see something, I will whistle-blow and the process needs to be followed.’ Another staff member said, ‘This should never happen again. We have got to learn from this and grow stronger, without a doubt.’

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This monitoring visit

The children and staff have been self-isolating in the home as a result of COVID-19 (coronavirus). They say this has been a positive experience, unlike when they had to self-isolate previously. Specifically, the children were not deprived of their possessions and belongings. Relationships with the staff have improved, and the children present as relaxed with the staff who are supporting them to meet their individual goals and plans. The children have personalised their bedrooms and confirm that they now have access to the home, which promotes their independence.

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This monitoring visit

The interim managers lead by example, which enables the staff to model good practice and improve how they relate to the children.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining three requirements that were made at the assurance visit have been monitored as part of this visit. They were found to be met. The notice restricting accommodation will remain in place. This will be until Ofsted is assured that the improvements made so far are fully embedded.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/02/2020 Full Good 04/09/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Full Good 22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 3

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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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Recommendations

 As part of the policies for protection of children, the registered person should include information about whistle blowing, with clear procedures for how a staff member should report to an appropriate authority any concern they have about a child within the home being either at risk of, or already experiencing, significant harm. The policy should reflect the principles set out in the Francis review ‘Freedom to speak up’. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.15) In particular, the provider needs to make it explicitly clear to the staff team that the failure on the part of any staff member to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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 EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Susan Fitzsimmons

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Inspector

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 4 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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