Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2607587 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 home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who may have a sensory impairment, physical disabilities, learning disabilities or emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the home registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the action taken and the progress made since the home was registered. Due to the restrictions in place relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this visit was carried out off site. The visit included review of documents, a virtual tour of the building and discussions with the children, staff, families and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The home, which opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, has not been inspected by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Staff get to know children well and understand their individual communication styles and needs. Staff help and encourage children to express their views and wishes. Families and professionals provided consistent feedback to corroborate this, and one professional commented, ‘Staff have really quickly recognised [name’s] needs and, as such, they are able to communicate and understand what [name] wants and needs.’ This means that children feel supported by responsive staff who are in tune with their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The manager completes a comprehensive risk assessment when considering a new admission into the home. This helps him to assess the suitability of the child joining the group and any potential risks. Staff carefully consider children’s communication Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2607587 2 needs when introducing them to one another, sensitively supporting children to adjust to the change.

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This monitoring visit

The manager provides staff with training so that they have the skills to support children with specific medical diagnoses. Not all staff have completed training for each child’s presenting needs, only those in the child’s core team. This has not negatively affected the children, but this could do so if staffing levels were to change.

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This monitoring visit

Care planning documents and risk assessments are individualised for each child and are subject to regular review. Children’s health needs are not always clearly recorded in case records. This means that staff are not always provided with information to help them to understand the presenting needs of children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff use keywork sessions to help to capture special moments that children experience, such as the tooth fairy visiting for the first time. Key work records include photographs, so that children can look back on their time with their caring adults. Staff celebrate milestones in the children’s lives and help them to make positive memories.

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This monitoring visit

Children are helped to stay in contact with those who are significant in their lives, promoting family connections and supporting emotional well-being. Staff put measures in place to reduce the risk of children contracting the COVID-19 virus, to help to keep children safe during family time.

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This monitoring visit

There is a shortfall in relation to recruitment processes. The manager was unable to provide evidence of the qualifications considered to be relevant for each member of staff. This means that there is not full and satisfactory information held regarding the qualification of staff.

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This monitoring visit

There is a safeguarding concern that has not been notified to Ofsted, and another of which there was a delay to notify. In each case, the manager took the appropriate steps to safeguard the children, but if the regulator is not notified it cannot scrutinise the practice of safeguarding in the home.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2607587 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, the 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 health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)) This specifically relates to children’s health needs being explicitly recorded in each of their planning documents. 10 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d)) This specifically relates to documentary evidence of any relevant qualifications being available. 10 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 10 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2607587 4 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that the home has enough suitably trained staff (including someone in a management role) on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home, and that those staff are able to respond to emergency placements, where accepted. The registered person must demonstrate every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted, including ensuring that the employment of any temporary staff will not prevent children from receiving the continuity of care that they need (regulation 31(1)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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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 the home was registered.

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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: 2607587 5

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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

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Paula Shepherd, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2607587 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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