Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Torbay

Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 1 SC457318 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 and operated by a large national organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and behavioural needs and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2015.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: 17 December 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2019 Full Good 10/12/2018 Full Outstanding 17/10/2017 Full Good 24/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have created a lovely environment for the children. The home is welcoming with good-quality furnishing and decoration. Children choose the decor and display their photos and mementos. They have warm and trusting relationships with carers. Children enjoy themselves at the home and participate in a range of activities. They told inspectors that they would not like to live anywhere else.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, the home has provided care for three children. One child successfully moved on to live independently. Moves from the home are well planned and carried out in a child-centred way. The needs of the children are carefully considered. Staff consult children living in the home about these changes and support them meeting the new child. This creates successful moves and enduring, positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good educational progress. Carers believe that all children can, and should, achieve their full potential regardless of any disability. They support children with their learning and help them to succeed. Children enjoy going to school and are proud of their achievements. Both children have recently taken exams, which they have passed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A key strength of the home is that carers help children to become independent by learning new skills. Staff encourage and support children to cook, budget and go out unsupervised. One child has volunteered at a charity shop and the home pays him a wage. Another child wants to learn how to drive and has applied for his provisional licence. These are significant achievements for the children.

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

Since the last inspection, children have not gone missing from the home. There are well-documented procedures in place should a child go missing. Staff understand what to do when incidents occur.

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

There has been one physical intervention since the last inspection. This involved a temporary member of staff. The incident was investigated thoroughly. New procedures are in place, so all temporary staff understand the children’s needs. Carers always use de-escalation techniques and only use restraint when it is necessary to keep a child or members of staff safe.

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

Leaders and managers have appropriately considered safety plans for children’s internet and mobile phone use. The registered manager consulted with the children’s social worker after an internet safeguarding incident. Staff check children’s mobile phones and talk to them about the risks of accessing adult material. However, there has been insufficient oversight of the plan. Staff continue to check Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 4 children’s phones every day despite this not meeting the needs of the child. The registered manager did review the plan with the social worker during the inspection.

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

Children told the inspector that they feel safe and that they know who to talk to if they are worried or upset.

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good

Everyone the inspector spoke to was very positive about the registered manager. This included children, parents and professionals. One parent said, ‘They are brilliant. I really appreciate all the work they do, and I am thankful for them.’ The manager encourages staff to believe that every child can reach their potential.

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good

Staff feel supported and receive regular supervision. Staff have the skills to meet the children’s individual needs. They have opportunities to learn new practices when the children’s needs change. The registered manager has developed creative ways to ensure that all staff engage with training. This helps staff to feel confident caring for the children.

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good

Relationships and communication with other professionals are a strength of the home. Leaders and managers advocate for children. They challenge professionals and parents so that children’s plans reflect their individual needs. One professional said, ‘They really advocate for the children and encourage them to have their say.’

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good

Leaders and managers report safeguarding incidents to the appropriate agencies and undertake investigations. However, records are not always clear or accurate. It is difficult to understand what has happened and whether the outcome has led to safe practice. Insufficient management oversight means that staff development is not always robust. One member of staff does not understand the reason for an investigation. They also said they have not learned from their personal improvement plan. A lack of evaluation of staff improvement plans means that poor practice may be repeated.

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good

Leaders and managers do not always adequately monitor and review children’s plans. One child has a long-standing health need. The registered manager sought advice from health professionals about this. However, despite the child’s plan not meeting their needs, staff continue to follow it. The child’s unmet health needs prevent them from making further progress.

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good

Staff’s written records do not support the children’s self-esteem. In response to one child’s health difficulties, staff have used phrases that are stigmatising, which could prevent the child from making progress. Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 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

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.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)) 22 October 2021

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact of the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— 22 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 6 provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (2)(d))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should 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 about 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. This specifically relates to one child’s health concern. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC457318 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Elworthy

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Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457318 8 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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