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 11 August 2021, to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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This monitoring visit

On 5 July 2021, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit. The visit found significant failures in the management and oversight of the home. Children were being cared for by an insufficient and inexperienced staff team. The inspector found that managers and staff were not keeping children safe effectively. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice of restriction of accommodation and two compliance notices, under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

On 11 August 2021, Ofsted undertook another monitoring visit. The purpose of the visit was to review the provider’s progress. The provider had taken enough action to meet the compliance notice under regulation 12. However, concerns remained in relation to the leadership and management of the home. The inspector found that the notice in relation to regulation 13 was not met. Therefore, this notice was reissued. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC476252 2 On 20 September 2021, Ofsted undertook a further monitoring visit. Inspectors found that sufficient progress had been made. As a result, the restriction of accommodation notice will lapse on 27 September 2021. They also found that the home had met the steps in the compliance notice in relation to regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

Children said that they feel happy and safe living in the home. One child said that the manager helps them to feel safe. Staff said that the manager has made improvements in the home. They said there is more structure to daily routines. Each child now has a weekly planner, which they devise themselves with support from staff. Children feel more secure and confident. This is because their daily activities are predictable and familiar to them.

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This monitoring visit

Children receive praise and rewards for their achievements. Staff identify goals with children which they can work towards. For example, one child has been trying hard to manage their feelings safely. In recognition of this, the manager bought them a ‘cabin bed’. Children are also given certificates to celebrate their achievements. Staff place Post-it notes on children’s bedroom walls. They write positive messages on them, such as: ‘We are so proud of you.’ This helps children to develop self-belief and positive self-worth.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff now consult with children in a variety of ways. The format of the weekly meeting ‘children’s chats’ is more child friendly. There is a focus on children’s participation. The manager writes to the children after each meeting. This is to tell them that they have listened to what they have said. The manager also tells them what action they are going to take. The manager now meets with each child to talk to them about their experiences of living in the home. As a result, children feel listened to and feel more comfortable about discussing any worries they may have.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation has purchased an app which is designed to help children to communicate their wishes and feelings to professionals. In particular, this assists children who find it difficult to verbally express their views. Staff are currently training to use the app. This will help them to feel confident when introducing it to children.

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This monitoring visit

One child has complex health needs. The manager and staff are following a detailed health plan. However, staff do not complete important one-to-one work to promote this child’s self-esteem. The manager recognises that this is a shortfall. However, they have not responded to ensure that this work takes place. The manager has not been proactive in seeking support from external agencies for this child. As a result, this child is not making enough progress in respect of their health needs. The manager has escalated their concern with the local authority.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is now more effective in monitoring and reviewing the care that children receive. Senior managers provide good oversight of the home. Quality assurance managers are continuing to complete thorough audits. This adds further scrutiny of the strengths and areas for development in the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC476252 3 Managers and senior workers are developing the skills of the staff team. They recognise the importance of this to support and challenge staff practice. However, the managers and senior workers do not always keep a record of the development work they do with the staff. This makes it difficult for the manager to monitor the capability of the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have undertaken investigations of poor staff practice. They have also investigated allegations made against staff. Some of these investigations remain ongoing. The manager has met with all children to help them understand what is happening next. The manager has also written to children who have left the home to keep them informed. Incidents of poor staff practice and allegations against staff have significantly reduced.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that the manager is responding to the actions issued as a result of a fire safety audit. This audit was undertaken by the fire authority. A further audit will be undertaken on 28 September 2021. This will be carried out to confirm that all matters in relation to fire safety are satisfactory.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not have enough staff to care for the number of children the home is registered to care for. The interim manager has not submitted their application to become registered with Ofsted. This is despite them commencing their employment with the organisation in June 2021. As a result, Ofsted has varied the conditions of the home’s registration and reduced the number of children the home can provide care for, to three instead of five.

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This monitoring visit

Three of the requirements issued at the last inspection, on 11 August 2021, have been reissued.

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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

Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (b)(d) )

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to the manager ensuring that they make reasonable efforts to identify and access the appropriate support to meet children’s health needs. 18 October 2021

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 18 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC476252 5 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that maintenance workers understand and follow safeguarding procedures in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that children are cared for by staff who have the skills, the 18 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC476252 6 knowledge, the experience and the ability to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should ensure that when they are monitoring and reviewing the care that children receive, any shortfalls identified are responded to promptly and are investigated in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is re- stated. 18 October 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that when managers explore practice issues with staff, this is recorded promptly. Practice issues should be further explored and recorded during staff supervision. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC476252 7 Unique reference number: SC476252

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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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Inspectors

Sarah Berry, Social care inspector Fiona Roche, Social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC476252 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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