Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 1 SC460063 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is registered to accommodate up to five children with social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post. The previous registered manager left in February 2020. A new manager was appointed but left within eight months, prior to making an application to Ofsted for registration. There is currently a new manager in post who is yet to register.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2019

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/08/2019 Full Good 22/10/2018 Interim Not judged 10/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Experiences of children within the home differ. For some children, the care provided helps them to make progress and they form positive relationships with staff. As the relationship grows, staff offer individualised and personalised care which helps children to feel happy and settled. For other children, they are not happy in the home and are drawn to negative influences in the community, which places them at risk.

p.3

improvement to be good

Those children who are settled get better at understanding their feelings and telling people when they are angry or upset. There has been a reduction in the number of physical restraints of children, which shows the progress some children are making.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have access to a clinical psychologist who advises them on how to support the children’s emotional well-being. Some children also have had access to therapeutic support via education or mental health services. However, on occasions, this has ended with no seamless plan to replace it. This has resulted in a disruption to the support offered to children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some children do engage in education and this is promoted by staff. Opportunities for informal learning are also offered to the children. However, not all children have an education placement at the point of moving into the home. On at least one occasion, this was due to the placing authority believing that on-site education was available in the home. This highlights a lack of pre-placement planning and ineffective communication.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some children have a negative experience of living in the home due to poor admission processes. As a result of ineffective matching, some children have become involved in risk-taking behaviour, leading to an unplanned move from the home. This does not promote good outcomes for children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff worked well with social workers in respect of moving children out of the home during these times of crisis. However, this was in the context of a number of concerning incidents and missing events when children were exposed to harm. When risky behaviours were initially increasing, actions to reduce risk were not quick or effective enough. Specialist intervention was not offered at the earliest opportunity. This does not promote effective protection to the children.

p.3

improvement to be good

The condition of the premises is poor in some areas. There are areas visibly in need of decoration, and two activity rooms are not yet functional. In addition, the general appearance of some parts of the home is tired with whitewashed graffiti on the rear door still visible, broken paddling pools and items of old furniture placed at the side of the house. Remedial action to improve some of these issues commenced during the course of the inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Risks to the children are generally identified and understood and the risk assessments are of a good standard. However, some key pieces of information included in plans for when children go missing were not recorded in other risk assessments or management plans. This does not ensure that staff have consistent understanding of the nature and level of risk.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff talk to children to help them understand situations that are risky and identify ways to reduce that risk. These conversations are of varying quality and effectiveness, and sometimes, although planned to happen, are then not consistently undertaken.

p.4

improvement to be good

When children become upset and their behaviour escalates, staff are trained to hold them to keep them safe, and prevent them hurting themselves. When this happens, staff follow plans which help to provide consistency and reassurance for the children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Managers have oversight of incidents but do not always provide the time for staff to talk over and debrief with them. This is a missed opportunity to identify new and better ways of helping children to manage their emotions.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do take action to search for children when they are missing from home and follow plans and processes in this regard. However, while living in the home, some children have been missing for extended periods of time. Staff have known that children who leave the home are at significant risk, but they have not effectively prevented them from doing so. This exposed some children to risk of harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager since February 2020. Managers in post over the last 18 months have failed to register and the absence of established leadership has had an impact on the quality of care and the staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Over this period, there have been a number of shortfalls identified in practice. These include failure to share information, gaps in care planning, supervision which is not reflective, or practice related, and failure to retain all relevant documentation during the recruitment of staff. In addition, the language used in some records is not suitably objective and non-stigmatising. This does not help children to develop high self-esteem.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When risks to children have started to increase, managers have taken steps to address them, including moving children to other placements. However, the slow pace of instigating this has resulted in children being exposed to potential harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have kept the regulator informed when significant events have happened in the home. However, on those occasions where a judgement is needed around Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 5 whether a matter is serious enough to warrant notification, managers have not consistently done so. This prevents the regulator having appropriate oversight of what staff are doing to keep children safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During 2021, a temporary management arrangement has been in place which has seen some improvements in the running of the home. Feedback from professionals about leadership arrangements during this time is more positive. A new permanent manager is now in post. She has a clear vision for the future of the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Improvements can already be seen in some areas, such as sourcing extra training for staff. This includes more advanced training for staff in autism spectrum disorder, and also in communication methods. This will help to upskill the staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have now decided not to move children into the home who are at risk of exploitation. This is after a period of reflection on the negative experiences of the children who have recently left, and also the risks still present in the wider community. The location risk assessment has been updated accordingly. Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This refers to securing services from appropriate specialists, such as substance misuse, exploitation, therapeutic interventions, and challenging other professionals when their response falls short. 31 August 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 31 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 7 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(vi)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This refers to completing key-work sessions related to managing risks, ensuring that risk assessments are updated as new information emerges and ensuring that the premises are free from hazards.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This refers to completing robust impact and matching assessments that take account of the needs and vulnerabilities of the children already living in the home. It also refers to ensuring that placement reviews take place and are recorded, and that when children move out it is a planned and supported transition where possible. 31 August 2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). 31 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 8 The requirements are that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring evidence of qualifications at appointment is obtained.

p.8

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.8

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that the manager conducts, on each occasion, an appropriate debrief with involved staff and records this appropriately. 31 August 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.8

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 31 August 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 31 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 9 (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff understand the circumstances when a child can be prevented from leaving a home – for example, a child who is putting themselves at risk of injury by leaving the home to carry out gang-related activities, use drugs or to meet someone who is sexually exploiting them or intends to do so. Any such measure of restraint must be proportionate and in place for no longer than is necessary to manage the immediate risk. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.52)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non- stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.9

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: SC460063 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

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

p.10

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Susan Fitzsimmons

p.10

Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC460063 11 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.10

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11