Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1280629 1 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 privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager, who has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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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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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 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: 16 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: 1280629 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/12/2019 Full Good 15/10/2019 Full Inadequate 29/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1280629 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The two children living in this home have developed very strong bonds with the staff caring for them. One child said, ‘We are like a family.’ Staff know the children very well and enjoy spending time with them. This helps the children to feel secure and happy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Bedrooms are personalised in accordance with children’s tastes and interests. The manager encourages children to be creative, use their imaginations and to play. For example, children have built dens in the garden. When repairs are required, the manager acts quickly. As a result, the home continues to be comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager maintains regular contact with family members and keeps them informed about their children’s progress. The manager and staff also support family members to visit the children in accordance with agreed plans. This helps children to maintain these important relationships. One parent commented, ‘I am very happy about the care my son receives, he always seems happy.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can raise any issues or concerns they might have and know they will be listened to. Managers ensure that children have regular, structured meetings with staff. These meetings are called ‘family meetings’ and provide opportunities for children to share their views about the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have supported the children well during the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff have carried out direct work with each child to ensure that they have all the information that they need to feel safe in the home and the community. A social worker said, ‘The care cannot be faulted, just fantastic care and support.’

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

Children are safe. Staff support them well and understand their vulnerabilities. Staff are patient, understanding and resilient.

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

The safeguarding practice of the staff is informed by good-quality behaviour support plans. These plans are regularly amended by the manager in line with the changing needs of children. This helps to keep children safe because risks are known, understood and managed.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. This is because there are enough staff on each shift to provide good and safe care.

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

Children can, at times, display potentially harmful behaviours. Staff respond well in these situations, demonstrating care and empathy. On occasion, staff have had to physically intervene to prevent harm. These interventions are used as a last resort. Inspection report children’s home: 1280629 4 They are carried out proportionately and appropriately. The manager reviews all incidents in detail so that lessons can be learned.

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

The manager has supported children well when they have raised potential safeguarding concerns. The manager makes certain that children receive the support they need to feel listened to and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The newly appointed manager has implemented a development plan to improve the home. The quality of records and the general organisation of the home are better as a result. Because the home is well managed, staff can focus on the things that matter the most to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for children. The manager will challenge other agencies if she believes they are not meeting their obligations to the children. The headteacher of a school said, ‘The manager communicates well, demonstrates professional curiosity and will challenge appropriately.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Working in partnership with other agencies is a real strength of the home. Collaborative relationships with social workers and education staff mean that children receive the services and support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular professional supervision, training and development opportunities. The manager commissions bespoke training to provide staff with the skills and knowledge they need to care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and have a focus on staff’s learning and development. They are used well to update practice guidance and inform staff of latest research in the sector.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is relatively new. Half of the team has been working at the home for less than six months. This high staff turnover has not had a significant impact on the quality of care. However, if regular staffing changes continue, there is a likelihood that the quality of care will be reduced. Inspection report children’s home: 1280629 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staffing structures provide continuity of care from the child’s perspective. If children complain or give a view on how the staffing structure could be improved to promote the best care for them, appropriate action should be taken. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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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: 1280629 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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Inspector

Phillip Morris, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1280629 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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