Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544803 1

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Cambian Childcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who are unable to live in a family setting.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 13 November 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to establish how staff are managing issues of cyber bullying, self-harming behaviour and children’s reluctance to engage in education. Ofsted had not visited or inspected this home for 14 months. During this time, there has been a new registered manager, who is due to leave in two months. The visit took place remotely. It included telephone conversations with the registered manager, staff and a social worker, email exchanges with independent reviewing officers and reviewing documents.

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This monitoring visit

Four children live at the home. One child moved into the home in December 2020 and the other three children have lived at the home for up to three years.

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This monitoring visit

The children benefit from consistency, stability and support from the staff. This helps them to understand and manage their feelings and to make progress. One child, who has been at the home for a year, has begun to work through issues of anxiety associated with his early life experiences. For another child, this has been the children’s home where they have lived for the longest and staff have shown a commitment to making it work for her.

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This monitoring visit

However, some children are going through emotionally difficult periods which are having an impact on their current stability. The staff continue to support them and advocate for them. The staff respond to incidents of self-harm in a warm, supportive way, and encourage children to engage with other health services. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544803 2 There have been some concerns about some of the children’s use of social media, including issues of cyber bullying. Staff help the children to understand about safe internet use and, when appropriate, have involved the police to help protect the children.

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This monitoring visit

There are, at times, some tensions between two children at the home. Staff support both children and try to help them to develop a positive relationship.

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This monitoring visit

The extent to which individual children take part in education is varied. However, in all cases the staff provide encouragement and work with education providers and in some cases have provided a tutor for the children. Some of the children are making progress in their education. One child who had been doing well is engaging with education less often at present due to other things that are happening in her life. This is despite the best efforts of staff who are supporting her and advocating for her to help her work through these issues.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendation from the last inspection in respect of monitoring equipment was not reviewed during this monitoring visit and has therefore been restated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544803 3

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they have a written policy describing how the use of monitoring equipment will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working at the home in accordance with regulation 24. Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. In particular, obtain consent in writing from the child’s placing authority for the use of door alarms and ensure that the suitability of these measures is kept under review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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Information about this inspection

This visit took place to establish how staff are managing issues of cyber bullying, self-harming behaviour and children’s reluctance to engage in education.

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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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Inspector

Clive Lucas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544803 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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