Children's Home run by Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2603668 1

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Cambridgeshire County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a local authority, provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified and experienced manager has managed this setting since registration.

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This monitoring visit

This home was re-registered in September 2020. Prior to this, the home was operated by an independent charity provider. The focus of this monitoring visit was to ensure that the safety checks on the building are in place and to ascertain that staffing arrangements are suitable. This was due to there being limited information on these matters at the time of re-registration. This monitoring visit was carried out remotely.

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This monitoring visit

One child has lived at the home since July 2019. There have been no other children placed at the home since the home was re-registered. The child, who has complex needs, is making good progress with a staff team that knows him well.

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This monitoring visit

The child’s social worker and family were complimentary about the good-quality relationships that they have developed with the committed staff team. The social worker and family described communication as being of a high level. Recently, there has been a noticeable reduction in challenging behaviours displayed by the child. This is due to the skilled intervention by staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand the importance of the child maintaining relationships with his family. Contact with parents is actively encouraged and has been well supported during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This has been achieved through a combination of external meetings with the child’s family support bubble and increased video calls. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2603668 2 The manager and staff team have continued to work at the home under employment transfer arrangements. They are all experienced and suitably trained. Previous peripatetic staff and one new member of staff have been employed. Safe recruitment procedures have been followed to ensure that only suitable people are recruited. The home has several vacant positions and is in the process of further recruitment. However, there are adequate staffing arrangements to support the child who lives at the home.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation. Ensure that the fire risk assessment is updated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 registration.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2603668 3

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambridgeshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Shire Hall, Cambridge CB3 0AP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Graham Puckering

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Andreia Alves Da Silva

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2603668 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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