Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 1 SC476251 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 provides care for up to four children who are at risk of or subject to child exploitation. There is a Department for Education-registered school on the same site. The inspector only inspected the children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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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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: 28 January 2020

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2020 Full Outstanding 12/06/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 12/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 3

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outstanding

Two children are currently living at the home. They are making excellent progress. The home offers bespoke packages of care which focus on developing good daily routines that provide structure. Children who live at the home have experienced significant trauma. They gradually learn to trust and build positive relationships with the staff in a calm environment.

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outstanding

The home benefits from having an on-site school. The children have been able to continue their education uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who were reluctant to engage in education before moving into the home are now achieving 100% attendance. Both children have received top marks for their participation and achievements made. The manager monitors children’s progress through meetings held with school staff and the therapeutic staff. The reports from these meetings contain visual graphs which are shared with the children for them to clearly see the progress that they are making.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to enjoy an extensive range of activities, such as swimming, kickboxing and ice skating. Memorable moments are captured by the staff and recorded in memory books for the children to keep. The manager has introduced praise books for each child in which their achievements are celebrated. The children recognise that their efforts are valued, and they know that their well- being is of paramount importance to the staff.

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outstanding

The staff recognise the benefits of pet therapy. Staff bring in their pets and the children are supported to choose and care for their own pets. One of the children has adopted two pet rats and the other child is in the process of adopting a rabbit. Staff encourage the children to learn all about their chosen pet’s care needs prior to them being adopted. Children enjoy being given this responsibility.

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outstanding

Staff support children to learn valuable independence skills in line with their age and ability. Both children have taken an interest in healthy eating and enjoy learning new dishes to cook with staff. Children choose the foods that they would like to eat for the week at the weekly held house meetings. A family environment is created at mealtimes, with children and staff eating together and children sharing conversations about their day.

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outstanding

Children recognise that staff work extremely hard to keep them safe. A child said, ‘I wasn’t safe when I lived at home. The therapy has helped me a lot. The staff “therapy you” and you don’t even realise they are doing it.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 4 High-quality risk assessments provide staff with clear guidance on how to minimise dangers and protect children. Risk assessments are comprehensive, detailed and updated when needed. Children are encouraged to give their views, and staff discuss potential risks with them. This includes sharing the home’s location risk assessment with the children. This helps children to recognise areas which may pose a risk to them and to understand why they are supported to engage in activities in areas deemed to be safer.

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outstanding

Staff are skilful at de-escalating incidents. There have been no physical interventions and no requests made to the police for support since the last inspection. When incidents arise, staff use their detailed knowledge of the child to help defuse the situation effectively. Incidents are followed up with meaningful conversations to help the child reflect on and find better ways of managing their thoughts and feelings.

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outstanding

When a child goes missing from the home, the staff are proactive in locating them and follow procedures exceptionally well. The staff have ‘grab bags’ that contain the essential details about each child. This enables the staff to follow children without delay. One of the children has a significant history of going missing. These incidents have now ceased. A social worker said, ‘The staff have kept her safe. [Child’s name] is seeing the therapist, which has really helped as she would not engage prior to coming to this home. The home is excellent. I believe that the child will make much better choices when she returns home.’

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outstanding

Staff work with the children to help build their self-esteem and boost their confidence. Regular therapeutic guidance from the provider’s clinical team enhances the staff’s practice. All the staff spoken with during this inspection demonstrated a strong understanding of the therapeutic model that underpins the home’s practice. This planned and reflective approach helps the children to develop a positive self- view and increases their emotional resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is extremely dedicated to her work. Prior to becoming the registered manager in June 2021, she was the deputy manager of the home. She holds a relevant qualification and is currently undertaking a level 5 diploma. The manager is supported well by the new deputy manager. Staff described the managers as very approachable to them and the children . All staff said that they feel valued and highly supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular staff meetings and monthly clinical meetings are held. These meetings are used to discuss concerns about children and new strategies to support each child. This ensures that all staff are fully updated about each child and understand the work required to meet the children’s targets. Staff work consistently to help children progress and achieve their individual goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has established outstanding levels of communication with social workers and families. This high level of partnership working leads to positive outcomes. A social worker said, ‘Communication is excellent. I receive weekly Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 5 reports from the home and the staff encourage [child’s name] to be ambitious. I was initially having supervised visits with the family; these have progressed to unsupervised.’ A parent said, ‘The staff are getting her ready to return home. I believe, with the care that they have provided, she will be able to do that.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is exceptionally well organised and the paperwork is meticulous. This attention to detail provides staff with the necessary guidance to prioritise the day-to- day needs of the children. The staff continually seek the children’s views informally, in planned conversations and during house meetings. The children flourish in their surroundings, knowing that their wishes and feelings are respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager reviews the home’s statement of purpose and updates it promptly with any changes. The staff are very knowledgeable about the home’s objectives. They take pride in their work and are proud to help the children to achieve their goals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 6

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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 for children’s home: SC476251 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennise Springett

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 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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