Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Devon

Inspection report children's home: SC467704 1 SC467704 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

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 21 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 November 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children's home: SC467704 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2019 Full Outstanding 28/01/2019 Full Outstanding 30/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC467704 3

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outstanding

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living in the home. One child has lived at the home for many years. The care they are receiving directly affects their progress which, from their starting points, is exceptional.

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outstanding

Both children are attending school and progress is excellent. They are on track to achieve qualifications at school and have been accepted onto their chosen college courses. Children are well supported by staff to achieve in education. This includes staff attending parents’ evenings and open days at college.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that children have access to a range of activities and opportunities that support their development. For one child, the dedication of the staff team has meant that he has regularly attended the gym with the registered manager. This has had a direct impact on the child’s self-esteem and confidence. As a result, the child is motivated and enthusiastic about a healthy lifestyle and now feels able to attend a local gym independently.

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outstanding

Children are supported to develop skills needed for increasing independence. For example, one child has successfully gained part-time employment. The children’s developmental stages are supported from an early starting point. Their experiences are well recorded. However, collating this information in a way that is more meaningful for children would be beneficial for their life story work.

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outstanding

The home is welcoming and is well maintained. The registered manager has requested some new furnishings and decoration to provide a more homely feel. Spaces in the home have been created for the children to use if they feel overwhelmed, including an area for arts and crafts. At the time of this inspection, Christmas decorations had been put up in the home and staffing arrangements over the Christmas period were well planned.

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outstanding

Children living in the home are safe. They are cared for by a highly skilled and resilient team of staff, who receive good-quality training and excellent support. As a result, staff understand and manage the children’s complex needs effectively.

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outstanding

Staff are calm and measured when responding to incidents. There is no restraint used. The care provided to children is informed by research, and a therapeutic approach is embedded across practice. This approach has supported children to move on from adverse experiences and develop strategies that have significantly reduced incidents over a sustained period. Inspection report children's home: SC467704 4 There is good collaborative working between the home and partner agencies. The registered manager confidently leads discussions and challenges services when this is required. This contributes to comprehensive safety planning. Any incidents have been responded to promptly and effectively.

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outstanding

The registered manager has a thorough understanding of the children’s needs. This directly informs effective care planning. Staff are provided with clear direction and strategies to respond to children when they are distressed. The registered manager is informed about triggers for future harm and as a result, preventative strategies that reduce the risk of harm are planned in advance

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Strong leadership is the foundation of exceptional care delivered to the children in this home. The registered manager has been at the home for many years and is confident in his leadership abilities. He is highly regarded by staff and senior management and delivers training to staff across the network of homes. Children interact with the registered manager with emotional warmth and laughter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is well established and experienced. Changes in the staff team are extremely rare. Employment checks of any new staff are thorough to ensure that they can meet the needs of children safely. There is no use of agency staff. Staff enjoy working at the home, and their professional development is supported. When the registered manager is absent, an established deputy manager provides continuity for staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training is comprehensive. Staff benefit from good-quality supervision and regular consultations with internal professionals. The measures in place to support staff well-being and increase knowledge about the children’s complex needs are exceptional. Professionals spoke highly of the care provided to children and the positive impact on their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is exceptionally well managed. The registered manager has high expectations for children and their care. As a result, an environment and culture in which children make excellent progress has been developed. Inspection report children's home: SC467704 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s life story records are collated in a way that is meaningful for children and kept up to date. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)

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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: SC467704 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Elworthy

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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC467704 7 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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