Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454266 1 SC454266

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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

This children’s home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to four children, who may have emotional, social or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The qualified, experienced manager registered with Ofsted in February 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out because of potential concerns about practice in the home. Ofsted received notifications that raised questions about the ability of staff to manage some aspects of children’s behaviour. In addition, there were concerns about the quality of oversight provided through external monitoring.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted last inspected this children’s home in July 2019. This monitoring visit comprised of on- and off-site inspection activities. These included the review of case records and documents and discussion with children, managers, staff and other professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Children live in this home for a long time and view it as their home. They develop strong relationships with staff and come to trust them. One child who is moving on soon said, ‘I will really miss the staff, even though I am happy with my plan.’ Children feel cared for because of the quality of their relationships with staff. They feel fortunate to live in this home and enjoy the experience.

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This monitoring visit

Over time, children reduce the frequency of how often they are missing from home. One child has made significant progress since the last inspection and is proud of this achievement. When children face risks in the community, they feel able to tell staff about these. They work with staff to identify strategies that keep them safe. Children Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454266 2 trust staff to help and support them. As a result, they become safer in the home and in the community.

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This monitoring visit

Children make progress with their education. They attend school regularly and their attainment is good. Where children are not yet attending school full time, appropriate plans are in place to ensure this happens. Older children have aspirations for the next stage of their education and know they are doing well. This is good for their self-worth and confidence and means they are proud of their success.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have good safeguarding knowledge. They understand their duty to act to keep children safe. On the rare occasions that children are missing, staff go out into the community to search for them. Information sharing is excellent, as confirmed by members of the professional network. This approach to safeguarding means that children become safer as a result of living in this home.

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This monitoring visit

The number of incidents in the home is reducing. Training in positive behaviour strategies has continued during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic restrictions. This training helps staff to communicate their expectations with children effectively. Children are confident in the ability of staff and generally respond well to them. Staff do not use the police to help manage behaviour. This is an improvement on the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Substance misuse and smoking continues to be an issue for some children in this home. Children attend specialist support services and the impact of drug misuse is reducing. However, staff do not have training from those with relevant expertise. This means that some staff give children inaccurate information about reducing these risks. This does not help children to improve their health and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

External monitoring carried out by the independent visitor does not meet regulation. There has been no on-site visit for more than six months. This has affected the ability of children to provide their views about the care they receive. This does not give children the impression that their opinions are valued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/07/2019 Full Good 10/01/2019 Full Good 27/09/2018 Full Inadequate 19/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454266 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the flexibilities to the regulations as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic ended in September 2020. Visits should have been in person since that time to allow for the views of children to be obtained and an inspection of the premises to be undertaken. 30 April 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to help children understand, and work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being including smoking and the misuse of drugs. In particular, staff should be provided with training from those who have relevant expertise in the issues of concern. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454266 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caretech Estates Ltd, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Jane Titley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454266 5 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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