Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 1 SC457327 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a national provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of three children and/or young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post for over 13 years.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 January 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2020 Full Outstanding 27/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/11/2018 Full Good 01/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live at this home experience good parenting. All children are attending education in line with their needs. Creative approaches have been taken to enable children to continue with their education throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively encouraged and supported to achieve. All three children have made significant progress since moving into the home. This includes with their education, social skills and healthy behaviours. Two children will be moving on from the home soon. These children are fully supported to take the next steps in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop healthy relationships and to enjoy being children. They are supported to attend activities, including sea cadets and karate. In the evening, staff and children come together to eat dinner. Children take turns choosing shared meals and can pick alternative options if they do not want the meal that is planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke with all three children. There is nothing that they would like to change about their home. The children have pets which they clearly love. The home is well furnished. The downstairs rooms are light and airy, and the decor provides a warm environment. Staff provide a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some areas of the home are not in line with a homely environment. For example, the downstairs toilet is seen by one child as the staff toilet. The child commented that they can use this toilet and will ask if they need to. In addition, children’s snacks are kept in the office. While this is a choice made by some children, there is no plan to reintroduce them into the home’s kitchen, which is what you would expect to see in a family home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager’s safeguarding practice is of a good standard. Action taken to address concerns is robust and recording is thorough. The registered manager ensures that learning from incidents is taken and disseminated within her team effectively. Records to support practice are detailed and reflective.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

On one occasion, safety planning was poor. A senior staff member did not follow an agreed risk assessment and clear direction from the registered manager. The registered manager ensured that the appropriate follow-up actions were taken when she returned from leave.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Care planning is thorough and fully considers the impact of trauma on children. This translates into staff providing considered and nurturing care which supports children Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 4 to learn how to keep themselves safe. Children’s views are explicit within care planning.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff consistently promote boundaries for children. Children understand expectations regarding their behaviour. This has had a positive impact on all three children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is no system to ensure that fire drills are regular and meaningful. This does not ensure that the children and staff are clear about what to do in the event of a fire. This has been previously raised by the independent visitor on two occasions. The registered manager has failed to act despite these prompts.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides strong leadership for the home. Her oversight of the home is excellent. She uses research and theoretical knowledge to support care planning well. The registered manager has an in-depth knowledge of each child’s individual needs. She promotes the best interests of children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager challenges other professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met. For example, when one child was struggling with their education, the registered manager challenged several other professionals to ensure that the right provision was found for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision is detailed and thorough. Reflective practice is consistently promoted. Any practice issues are explored and addressed effectively, which has a positive impact on the standard of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager strives to improve practice and develop her team. Her evaluative reports on the home provide good analysis and exploration of ongoing development areas. This further helps to drive improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recruitment checks are thorough. There was a shortfall in the sharing of important information by another agency. The registered manager challenged this agency rigorously. Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 5

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 20 May 2021

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 6

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

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Inspector

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457327 7 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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