Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 1 SC476252

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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 provides care and accommodation for up to five children who have experienced early life trauma. The home specialises in providing therapeutic services for children who have experienced sexual abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

An acting manager is in post due to the registered manager being absent from the home.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 14 April 2021 to carry out a full inspection. The report is published on our website.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. The concerns were about the basic care of children and the condition of the environment. There had also been a significant increase in safeguarding notifications. These were in relation to children going missing and making allegations.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, three children were living in the home, and another two had recently moved out. These children had moved to another children’s home within the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment requires improvement. Children’s bedrooms require personalising. There are holes in the walls where maintenance work is incomplete. This reduces the otherwise homely feel to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 2 Children said that they are happy living in the home. When reflecting on how happy they feel, one child scored the home ‘10 out of 10’. Children have positive relationships with some staff who they know well. However, due to an insufficient number of core staff, children have recently received care from staff who they are not familiar with. This causes children confusion and uncertainty, which heightens their behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff do not have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience to meet the children’s needs. Neither have they received the appropriate support by managers to enable them to do so. As a result, children display behaviours which present as a challenge for staff. This has led to an increase in children assaulting staff and going missing from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not respond adequately to ensure that children’s health needs are being met. For example, there is no clear plan in place to support one child’s complex personal care needs. As a result, this child has regressed in respect of the progress they were making.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not always follow the steps outlined in children’s risk assessments. For example, one child has one member of staff with them at all times due to the risk of the child going missing. Staff do not supervise this child effectively. As a result, there has been an increase in missing incidents for this child.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not respond to allegations appropriately to keep children safe. Leaders and managers do not thoroughly investigate allegations. Neither are they always reported to the appropriate professionals. This means there is a lack of external scrutiny of safeguarding measures in the home. This has led to staff caring for children who are potentially placing them at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

The management and oversight of the home are poor. The responsible individual has not investigated shortfalls in staff practice. These shortfalls have led to children going missing. For example, staff took two children to the park during the evening contrary to their routine. The risk of these children going missing is high. No risk assessment was undertaken by staff. As a result, one child went missing and was later found by members of the public who called the police.

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This monitoring visit

There is poor communication between leaders and managers. Important information to ensure that children are safe has not been accurately shared. For example, if a fire audit had taken place sooner, then a serious incident may not have occurred. This incident involved children barricading themselves in the kitchen and lighting a fire. Children were at significant risk of harm as a consequence.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the significant concerns identified during this visit, Ofsted has issued a notice restricting the accommodation of this home and two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 3 There is now an acting manager in the home. They demonstrate a good understanding of the shortfalls in the home, and an action plan is in place to address them. The manager has begun to take steps to improve the quality and safety of the care children receive. However, the full effectiveness of these changes is not yet known.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/09/2019 Full Good 31/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that improvements are made to the home environment, including maintenance and repairs. 5 September 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. 8 August 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that there is a clear plan in place for staff to meet children’s health needs. This includes monitoring that staff are following these plans to ensure that children’s health needs are met.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 8 August 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 6 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager and staff’s understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. This includes understanding each child’s individual risk assessment and having the ability to undertake the necessary steps to keep children safe.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 8 August 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 7 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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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

Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers should ensure that children are cared for by staff who have the skills, knowledge, experience and ability to meet their needs;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers should ensure that the staff team is stabilised so that children are cared for by staff who are familiar to them;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers should ensure that any shortfalls, identified when monitoring and reviewing the care children receive, are responded to promptly. This includes any complaints and allegations.

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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

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire;

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention; 8 August 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 8 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.

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(30) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

In this regulation, ‘the fire and rescue authority’ means the fire and rescue authority under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004(31) for the area in which the home is located.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d) (2)(a)(b) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that any recommendations made as a result of the fire audit are promptly met, in addition to ensuring that any improvements are maintained.

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that the responsible individual has the skills to effectively oversee and supervise the management and operation of the home. 5 September 2021

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 8 August 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 9 This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that any allegations made against staff are promptly reported to HMCI.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: Cambian Childcare Limited, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476252 10 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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