Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 1 SC457923 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 is a privately operated children’s home. It provides care for up to four young people up to the age of 18 who have a variety of complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2020 and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/06/2019 Full Good 18/10/2018 Full Good 29/11/2017 Full Good 08/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved out of this home since the last inspection. Two children currently live in this home. When children leave, the home’s clinical lead helps to support the staff to reflect on their feelings and on the child’s stay. These reflections help staff to understand what went well and any areas that they can take learning from to help improve the experiences of the next child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are thriving in this home due to the supportive care that staff are providing. Staff use research-based practice to help children to feel less anxious. As a result, children now enjoy a good night’s sleep when they were not able to previously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a wide range of experiences. Activities provided by staff allow children to learn new skills and allow them to take managed risks. For example, one child was able to saw some wood from the home’s trees to help make a bonfire. This experience has become a cherished memory.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children told the inspector that they like living in the home. Children were seen to go to staff for support and cuddles. Children enjoy being in staff’s, and each other’s, company.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are not afraid to challenge other professionals to ensure that children have their needs met. For example, one child was offered a school placement that the registered manager did not feel was able to fully support his needs. As a result, a new school is now being considered that is more likely to help the child to reach his full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although children’s care is well planned and staff are knowledgeable about children’s cultural needs, this is not constantly captured in children’s written plans. Furthermore, some documents are not written in a way that captures the excellent levels of care that are being provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has benefited from a new kitchen, and there is a lovely playroom and separate games room for the children to enjoy. Children’s artwork and achievements are proudly displayed. Children have personalised their bedrooms. One child is moving into a larger room following his request to do so. This room is currently being decorated in the child’s chosen wallpaper. However, his current bedroom is not one he can be proud of, as there are scribbles on the wall and paint splatters on his wardrobe.

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

When complaints or allegations are raised, these are taken seriously and responded to. Any concerns about staff practice are shared with other professionals and appropriate actions are taken to safeguard children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 4 Children are clear about who they would talk to if they had a concern or worry. Children also have access to an app on their tablets. This allows them to raise any concerns they may have, quickly and to the right person. This also helps them to express their wishes and feelings and is available in an age-appropriate format.

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

Staff training is up to date and equips them with the right skills to care for children. Furthermore, staff undertake bespoke training with the clinical lead to help them to support each child’s individual needs.

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

Children have attended a coffee morning with the local police. During this time, they learned about different police hats and enjoyed some cake. This experience helps children to form positive relationships with the police. Furthermore, a police officer told the inspector, ‘Staff have always been good at keeping me informed and updated, and I have a good relationship with them.’

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

Children are clear about the rules and boundaries in the home. Positive behaviour is rewarded with praise and stickers. The registered manager reviews any sanctions given to children to help them change their behaviours. She is working with the staff team on how appropriate some of the sanctions are and to ensure all of these are recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is highly passionate about offering the best possible experiences for the children in her care. She is very clear about the home’s strengths and areas for development, and she strives for excellence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite some staff shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff morale is high. The staff work seamlessly together. Staff have covered shifts to ensure there is consistency in care and routines for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff benefit from good-quality and regular supervision. The registered manager is supported by the responsible individual, who shares her passion and vision for the service to be the best it can be. All staff speak highly about the levels of support from the management team, and all staff say that they love their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are complimentary about the level of communication from the staff. An education professional told the inspector, ‘Staff are always punctual and respond well to communications from us, and are easily contactable by phone. They are good at passing over the relevant information as required.’ A social worker also complimented the staff on their efforts to enable contact for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s voices are heard in a number of ways, from one-to-one time with staff to ‘children’s teatime chat’. During these times, children discuss various topics, from what they think it would be like to have dinner with the Queen to agreeing rules for the new trampoline. However, this positive work has not been clearly captured in the quality of care report. Nor has this been shared with Ofsted within the necessary Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 5 timeframe. This was raised during the last inspection and the requirement will be raised again at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 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 maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that care plans are up to date and reflect the child’s cultural needs.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to making sure all information is included in children’s plans. 11 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 2 May 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 7  The registered person must ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC457923 8

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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, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457923 9 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. 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

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Inspector

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 .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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