Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 1 SC456798

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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

A private provider operates the home. The home offers a solo placement for a child or young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since February 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Routine inspection activity is currently suspended because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The visit was carried out following a complaint being received by Ofsted in relation to leadership and management within the organisation, and the impact that these could have on the child living at the home. The visit was carried out by two inspectors. One inspector undertook an on-site visit and one inspector undertook off-site activity.

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This monitoring visit

One child lives at the home. The child said that he feels happy and safe. The child has a positive relationship with the staff, who know him well and understand his needs. The provider uses staff from its other homes, as required, to help ensure consistent care.

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This monitoring visit

The staff use key-work sessions effectively to support the child to understand how to keep himself safe. The staff are sensitive to the child’s wishes and views. The staff recently supported the child through the anniversary of a bereavement by arranging a special meal and lighting lanterns. They also have creative plans to celebrate the child’s birthday during the current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

Individual risk assessments detail how to keep the child safe. Staff understand the risks to the child and follow the agreed strategies. However, some risk assessments are not updated following incidents. There have been several incidents of the child using lighters and starting fires. These incidents have not been included in the risk- management plans. This reduces the effectiveness of the plans as they do not Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 2 identify all the known risks. Furthermore, some risk assessments contain generic strategies rather than detailed, individualised strategies that are specific to the child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some recent incidents of the child going missing from the home. The staff understand and follow the policies and plans when the child is missing from the home. The number of physical interventions is low. The staff use de- escalation strategies successfully to reduce the frequency of incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since February 2020. There has been a consistent acting manager in post since June 2020. However, the acting manager has not submitted a completed application that meets the proof of identity requirements to register with Ofsted. Therefore, Ofsted has been unable to determine the manager’s suitability for registration.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager has a good relationship with the child and understands his individual needs. The acting manager ensures that the team provides safe and effective care to the child.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team is positive and motivated. The staff feel supported by the acting manager. Staff receive a good standard of training. However, not all staff are trained in managing self-harm, despite the child presenting with this risk. The staff have responded effectively to self-harm incidents, but lack of training could increase the risks to the child.

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This monitoring visit

There are shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. Not all serious incidents relating to the child have been notified to Ofsted in line with the regulatory requirements. This obstructs Ofsted’s monitoring of safeguarding practice at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has oversight of incident records. However, the records lack full analysis and evaluation. The absence of robust scrutiny of significant incidents prevents the opportunity to improve staff practice and the quality of care provided to the child.

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This monitoring visit

Rotas do not clearly identify the acting manager’s working hours or the staff members working on each shift and the actual hours worked. Consequently, there is no clear record of who has worked at the home with the child. This shortfall could have an impact on the ability to investigate safeguarding concerns, if they are raised. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/07/2019 Full Good 06/03/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/12/2018 Full Good 15/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 4

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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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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

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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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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 risks in relation to the child are fully assessed following incidents and specific, individualised strategies are clearly stated in the plans. 6 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 6 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 5 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place to provide robust scrutiny and evaluation of staff practice in order to develop practice and improve the quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should provide suitable proof of identity as part of the registration application process. 6 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)) 6 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 6 In particular, the rotas must include the full name of each person working at the home and the actual hours worked.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 6 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 7

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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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Inspectors

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456798 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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