Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children's home: SC480429 1 SC480429 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to care for one child who is unable to live at home due to emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2019.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC480429 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2019 Full Good 02/01/2019 Full Good 28/11/2017 Full Good 06/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC480429 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since coming to live at the home, the child has made significant progress in her education. As a result, she now attends education on a full-time basis and is doing well. Staff understand that education comes in many forms, ensuring that there is learning from each planned activity that the child undertakes. The child has enjoyed a range of activities in recent months.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

As a result, the child’s emotional health has improved and, therefore, the need for the use of physical interventions has reduced significantly. Staff use praise and positive reinforcement to help the child to develop and to promote her well-being. However, part of the child’s health plan had not been followed by staff. For example, staff were buying high calorific snacks as part of her reward scheme and this was not in line with the child’s health plan.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work well with external professionals and with family members. The child’s parent said that she could not thank the staff enough for supporting her child through some difficult times.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have moved on from the home have done so by means of a planned and collaborative approach with their placing authority.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s independence is being promoted in line with her age and her ability. For example, the amount of unsupervised time in the community has been extended. This is reviewed with the child on a regular basis, thus allowing the child to learn from her experiences and grow in confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child can share her views on the care and the daily routines of the home. Positive relationships with staff enable the child to raise any concerns at any time. The child knows how to make a complaint and who to talk to if she has a concern.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and know how to keep her safe. The staff are informed by well-written risk assessments, including a detailed missing-from-home protocol. There are minimal times that the child is missing from the home which reflect the positive relationships between staff and the child. If this does happen, staff are proactive in their responses.

p.3

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

Staff support the child to take age-appropriate risks, including extending her time away from home and the use of her mobile phone. Direct work is undertaken with the child that is specific to her risks and her needs. Meaningful conversations with the child allow her to learn from her experiences. Inspection report children's home: SC480429 4 The staff and the manager have undertaken a range of training in safeguarding matters. This ensures that they have some basic knowledge of safeguarding practice. However, staff had not received training in relation to some specific risks to the child prior to her coming to live in the home. This fails to adequately equip the staff to meet the needs of the child and potentially increases the risk of harm to the child.

p.3

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

Shortfalls in recruitment practice were identified. For example, verification of information of an enhanced check were not fully provided for a member of staff who had worked in the home for some time. This means that the young person’s safety and well-being could be compromised, as she is not fully protected from unsuitable adults.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well established in her role. She is committed in improving outcomes for children. She is warm and is empathic, and she has a clear understanding of the child’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel supported in their roles. As a result, staff turnover is low.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Ineffective decision-making made by the manager led to a child coming to live in the home with staff who were not adequately trained to care for her.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The internal monitoring of the home requires improvement. At the time of the inspection, the statement of purpose was not up to date and included information relating to a child who had left the home some time ago. Shortfalls in the child’s records were also highlighted to the manager and were rectified at the time of the inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings take place. The manager plans practical activities in meetings which help the staff to learn and to develop. Staff receive regular supervision that is reflective in nature. If issues arise with staff, these are dealt with swiftly and effectively. As a result, this improves standards for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are either qualified to the appropriate level or are currently undertaking the relevant training. This means that the child receives support from suitably qualified staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively with a number of agencies, including social workers, mental health teams, education providers and police. The manager ensures that external professionals receive regular updates on the child’s progress. Inspection report children's home: SC480429 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h)) 12 August 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(i)) 12 August 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. 12 August 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC480429 6 The registered person must—

p.5

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home,

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(d)) 12 August 2021

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help young people recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other young people, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for young people to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Inspection report children's home: SC480429 7

p.6

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: SC480429 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.8

Children's home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Rachel Springford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC480429 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9