Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Wigan

Inspection report children's home: 2621119 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

The home provides care for one child. The home’s statement of purpose indicates that the child may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (emotional and social difficulties). The home is operated by a private provider. The manager was registered in September 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2621119 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected. Inspection report children's home: 2621119 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, two children have moved in. One child has now left, having spent only a short period of time living there. The planned placement was time-limited.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home has been there for three months. The manager undertook a comprehensive assessment to understand the individual needs of the child before his move to the home. The child visited and received information about the home before moving in. He confirmed that he feels comfortable, safe and happy and has developed good relationships with the staff. He said: ‘I don’t see this as being a children’s home. It is a home, and I feel very much at home here. The staff are great. They listen to me and help me when I need help. My family come to see me and spend time here with me. The staff always make them feel welcome, and it is just a really good place to live.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high aspirations for all children. They recognise and promote educational attendance and attainment. The child living here is in full-time education and is continuing to do well. He is due to take national qualifications this academic year and hopes to go to college to study A levels. Staff from the home have accompanied him to visit a college to give him insight into the courses available. He is further supported on a weekly basis, by a tutor that he knows well and who visits the home. well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Healthy living is promoted well through encouragement to eat a healthy and varied diet and take part in regular physical activities. For example, the child attends a local gym on a regular basis, which he enjoys. He also contributes to meal planning and preparation, to support and develop independence skills. Healthcare appointments are attended as required. Medication arrangements are robust, with all staff having undertaken medication and first-aid training. Medication administered, both prescribed and non-prescribed, is recorded clearly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children have a say about their care and the home they live in. Regular meetings are held with the child to capture his wishes and views. He confirmed he has been fully consulted about his care. He has also contributed his views about the overall decor of the home, including the decoration of his bedroom and plans for refurbishment of the lounge.

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

Staff understand the importance of effective safeguarding for children. Detailed risk assessments form part of the overall care-planning documentation. They outline known risks and any emerging risks, providing clear strategies to assist staff to manage risk effectively. Care plans and risk assessments are reviewed monthly, or sooner if required. This means that appropriate action is taken when responding to Inspection report children's home: 2621119 4 behaviours that may place a child at risk, including being missing from home. There has been one incident of a child missing from the home, in relation to the child previously living here. Staff ensured that they followed the missing-from-home protocols and liaised with other professionals tasked with safeguarding children and young people.

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

Staff know what action to take in relation to an allegation being made. There has been one allegation made, which was fully investigated and appropriate action taken.

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

All staff have received training in relation to managing behaviour. They provide a supportive and nurturing environment for children and act as positive role models. There are clear and consistent boundaries in place, which are known and agreed with the child. Staff acknowledge, praise and reward positive behaviours and use appropriate de-escalation techniques to manage any challenging behaviours. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the mutual respect the child and staff have for each other. There have been no incidents when physical intervention has been required.

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

Children are protected from a range of health and safety risks through effective risk assessments and regular checks taking place in the home. This helps to make sure it remains a safe environment for children and staff. Children are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire. They take part in regular fire drills to reinforce the importance of safe evacuation of the home.

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

The home follows safer recruitment and selection procedures to make sure that people employed are suitable to work with children. Visitors to the home are also checked, and these measures further safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered in September 2020. She is an experienced manager and holds relevant qualifications to fulfil her role. She manages this home and another solo-bedded home in the local area. However, she manages her time well and provides appropriate managerial oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides strong leadership. She recognises the staff team is still in a stage of development. The majority of the staff were new to their roles when the home was in the process of being registered. Staff undertook work at other homes in the company to provide them with experience of working with children in a residential home. This provided staff with additional knowledge and experience while the home was awaiting registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have completed induction and mandatory training and are currently undertaking level 4 Diploma training in working with children and young people in residential care. Senior managers for the organisation are aware that the staff team is developing. Therefore, the deputy regional manager, having previously been the registered manager of the home, provides support to make sure the staff team has Inspection report children's home: 2621119 5 access to any additional training required. The home’s manager further supports informal training and development through staff meetings. This has included engaging staff to present their understanding of sections of the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. In addition, regular supervision, which enables staff to reflect on their practice, further supports their development and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for further development of the home. She carries out regular monitoring and internal quality assurance to support this. She uses monthly reports from an independent visitor and actions any recommendations made. Staff say they are supported well, and this contributes to their overall development and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose was updated in October 2021 and provides a good overview of the aims and objectives of the home. However, further amendments are required to reflect the most recent information gathered in the locality risk assessment. A requirement has been made in relation to this. Inspection report children's home: 2621119 6

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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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 31 January 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the registered manager placed in charge of a children’s home, or staff member in a deputy or supervisory role such as shift leader, should have substantial relevant experience of working in a children’s home and have successfully completed their induction for the home in which they are employed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.21)

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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: 2621119 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: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2621119 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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