Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 1 SC059180 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There are four children currently living in the home. The inspector spoke to three children during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2017.

p.1

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.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2020

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2020 Full Outstanding 15/05/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Good 21/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children in this home are making good progress from their starting points. This is because of the quality of care that the staff provide, and the trusting and secure relationships that have been formed. One child scored living in the home as ‘10 out of 10’, and one parent said: ‘The staff continue to go over and above what is necessary. [Name] has made lots of progress since moving to the home.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming and is furnished and decorated to a good standard. Recent refurbishment of the kitchen and bathroom enhance the home further. There are pictures throughout the home of the children enjoying time with the staff, as well as vibrant noticeboards. These showcase the children’s activities and achievements. The care that the staff put into the home helps the children to feel valued and to develop a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and the staff managed the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions very well. They ensured that this was a positive experience for the children, even though they did not fully understand what was happening. As a result, the children continued to make good progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported very well to move on to their new homes. Detailed transition plans are developed, and the manager ensures that the members of the new staff team fully understand the children’s needs and routines before the child moves on. Children are provided with a life story book which captures in words and pictures the child’s journey from first moving into the home. Staff remain in contact with the children and their families after they have moved on. One parent said: ‘I wish [name] never had to leave and he could have stayed there for the whole of his life.’ This approach ensures that the transition to adult services is smooth and prepares the children well for their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the children’s health needs are met. Children receive support from a range of professionals, including specialist services. For children with complex health needs, the staff are suitably trained and support them with all aspects of their care. This supports the children to lead a healthy lifestyle.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children are in education. While one child is currently experiencing barriers to attendance and learning, the staff ensure that education is provided daily in the home with the use of a tutor. The manager advocates for the children, ensures that there is a multi-agency response to education issues and, where necessary, challenges appropriately. This approach supports the children’s return to their education setting quickly in order to continue with their progression.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a wide range of forums, including children’s meetings, to seek the views of the children. While it is clear that the staff are seeking the children’s views regularly, it is not clear what the staff have done to respond to the children’s requests. This Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 4 means that children do not develop an understanding that their views are important and will be listened to.

p.3

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

Children are kept safe by staff who understand and respond to each child’s individual needs. Staff support the children to manage their behaviour. The staff provide the children with clear boundaries about safe and acceptable behaviour, and they seek to understand the triggers for the children’s behaviour. This approach has led to a reduction in incidents of concern and helps the children become increasingly safe.

p.4

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

There have been no missing-from-home episodes, no complaints and the staff have not used any sanctions since the last inspection. While the children do have close supervision due to the children’s complex needs, the staff use their relationships with the children to promote positive behaviour. This approach helps the children to further develop their relationships with the staff.

p.4

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

Before children move into the home, the manager completes an impact risk assessment. However, while the document clearly identifies the presenting needs of each child, there is no analysis of the potential impact on either the child moving into the home or on the children already living in the home. While there has been no impact on the children from this shortfall, this lack of analysis means that the children have been matched without consideration of how the behaviours of others may impact on them.

p.4

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

The quality of risk assessments is variable. Some are clear and easy to read and have a detailed plan of how risks will be managed by the staff. However, one was confusing to read and did not contain the current risks for the child. This means that staff do not always have the up-to-date information about the children in their care.

p.4

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

Records of physical intervention are not completed as required. Staff debriefs and children’s debriefs are not consistently undertaken and there is a lack of robust analysis in the management oversight of the documents. This means that it cannot be established whether the holds are safe, necessary and proportionate.

p.4

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

There is a lack of key documents in the children’s files, which means that the staff do not have all of the necessary information to provide consistent care for the children. In addition, there is a lack of attention to detail and accuracy in some records. The lack of consistency means it is confusing for staff to understand what is expected of them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run effectively by a permanent, suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. He is supported by a stable and committed staff team whose members are suitably vetted. This means that the children benefit from consistent staffing arrangements, which helps to provide them with stability and security. Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 5 The manager and the staff have developed positive working relationships with the children’s social workers, professionals and families to ensure that the children’s needs are met. The quality of communication and the commitment of the manager and the staff to the children were consistent themes from the professionals’ feedback. One parent described the home and the staff team as being, ‘like an extended family’, while another said, ‘The home is everything that you could want for your child.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the new staff receive an induction and structured training programme that are relevant to the individual needs of the children. However, training records are not kept up to date, and not all of the staff have completed their safeguarding refresher training. In addition, one member of staff was unable to demonstrate a robust knowledge of safeguarding procedures. Consequently, the manager cannot be assured that all of the staff will respond appropriately should a safeguarding matter arise.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, but this is variable in quality. While all supervision focuses in detail on the individual needs of the children in the home, there is no opportunity for reflection on practice. This means that the staff do not have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences of caring for the children or make changes to their practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose is out of date and does not reflect the current staffing structure or qualifications. This failure means that parents, commissioners and Ofsted are not able to scrutinise the information to ensure that the current staff have the appropriate skills, experience and knowledge to care for the children appropriately and safely. Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vii)) 2 March 2022

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 2 March 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

p.6

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and 2 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 7 the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline, or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(iv)(b)(i)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to physical intervention.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) 2 March 2022

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that the children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which details the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation, and any core training (such as safeguarding). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 8 to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of

p.7

Recommendations

staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered manager should ensure that systems are in place so that all of the staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision so that they can reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered manager should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.8

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: SC059180 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Inspector

Paula Shepherd, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC059180 10 regulates and inspects 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10