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Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 1 SC457501 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. It is operated by a national provider of children’s homes.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted, but their application has been submitted.

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Inspection date: 28 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection on 28 August 2021, six requirements and one recommendation were made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, the home has been redecorated. It now provides comfortable and homely spaces for children. Carers support children to keep their rooms clean and tidy. There is a plan to upgrade the outside spaces this year.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management oversight of the care that children receive has improved since the previous inspection. Changes have been made to children’s plans that make it easier for carers to understand their individual needs. Leaders and managers are now making robust challenges to local authorities to try to improve outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s care plans are underpinned by advice and guidance from the home’s clinical psychologist. The clinician also offers fortnightly training to the team to support their understanding of children’s needs. One child has made progress in their emotional well-being. The child now approaches carers to discuss worries. Previously they expressed their frustrations by damaging property.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s educational needs are still not being consistently met. One child is now attending college three days a week. Others are not engaging in any form of training or education. Carers attempt to motivate children to access learning but opportunities to be creative with this are not always recognised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has implemented measures to try to improve children’s diets. Breakfast is laid out in the dining room each morning and staff encourage children to eat with them. Although the children have not joined them to date, carers persist in their attempts. Children have budgets to purchase their own weekly shopping with the support of carers. They are encouraged to make healthy food choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Carers have been unable to establish positive routines for children. During the inspection, two children spent most of the day in their rooms. Staff knocked on their doors regularly, but poor sleep hygiene continues to undermine their daily routines. Carers reported that children are engaging with them more since the previous inspection. However, one child told the inspector that they are regularly disturbed at night by another child playing on their games console. Although night-time gaming has been identified as an issue, a plan has not been put in place to manage this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 3 When significant incidents occur, carers respond well. They are patient and calm with children. Recordings of events are good. However, debriefs with carers are not always recorded in a timely manner and there is limited reflection. An understanding of whether carer responses worked well for children is not explored with the team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Learning opportunities that could help improve practice are missed. The impact of incidents on all children in the home is not fully considered. Children are not always given opportunities to share their concerns and worries about this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been significant staff changes. Children report that they have found this challenging. Some carers know the children well; others, covering shifts due to COVID-19 absences, do not. One carer told the inspector, ‘I barely know the children. I don’t have much experience dealing with children like this. They don’t talk to me. They don’t have much interest in dealing with us.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The process for recording administration of medicine has improved and records are detailed and accurate. Competency checks in relation to this are currently in the process of being completed with carers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made improvements to the quality of care in the home and this is reflected in three previous requirements and a recommendation being met. However, there continue to be areas in the care that children receive that require improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2018 Full Good 17/10/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 5

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)) 28 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (Regulation 8 (1)) 28 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (2)(c)(f)(h)) 28 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they provide high-quality care for all children in the home. They should ensure that carers understand and can meet each child’s individual needs. This relates to the behaviour of one child adversely impacting on the well-being of another child in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraphs 10.4 and 10.5)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC457501 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, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

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Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457501 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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