Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Barnsley

Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 1 SC482419 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

A private company owns and runs this home. The home provides short-, medium- or long-term care for up to three children. The staff help the children to recover from earlier disruptive life experiences. The staff prepare the children for their move back home or on to independence.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is experienced and appropriately qualified. She has been managing the home since September 2014.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 27 January 2021 to carry out monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2019 Full Good 25/06/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 06/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences since the last full inspection and following the monitoring visit in January 2021 have been mixed. Children who have moved on have been supported sensitively and professionally by the staff. This has helped these children to have positive memories of their time at the home. Children’s emotional well-being and their welfare are always at the centre of good practice. However, a few children have moved in from home towns which are a significant distance away from the home. This has impacted heavily on their ability to settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they like the home and feel safe living there. They are treated with respect and warmth. This enables them to build trusting relationships with the staff, who take time to get to know and understand them. This helps to provide an environment that the children can make progress in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with staff who listen to them. They enjoy playing games together and exploring mutual interests. This lays the foundations for trusting and supportive conversations to take place. The staff and the children plan their individual discussions on a range of personal topics. These are often based on supporting and encouraging positive behavioural change. Children are encouraged to reflect and learn more acceptable ways of expressing themselves and reacting to life’s challenges. Staff also ensure that the children’s views and opinions have a direct effect on how the home is decorated, including the children’s bedrooms, and what activities and meals are provided. This supports the development of children’s confidence and independent decision-making.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with education providers and encourage the children to attain and attend. The children are doing both, including developing their skills to travel independently, where able. Children have career aspirations and staff support their next steps towards further education. When children are placed without clear and appropriate plans for their education, the manager and the staff are vigorous in their challenge. In the interim, the staff endeavour to ensure that the children are encouraged to engage with tutors and follow a structured day. This ensures that the children benefit from opportunities to learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to lead a healthy lifestyle. Healthy food is promoted, and the children are encouraged to join a local gym. Staff ensure that they work closely with medical professionals to ensure that the children have access to specialist health services when required. When the children miss their appointments, the staff ensure that these are rearranged. The staff provide the children with appropriate guidance and support and they encourage them to attend. Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 4 Staff work closely with children’s families and social workers to ensure that the agreed local authority care plans are followed and supported. The staff and the manager advocate positively to support the children’s family time. This encourages and promotes effective communication. When possible, the children’s family time is increased, and overnight stays are promoted safely. This encourages positive

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

working relationships and potential reunification for children with their families.

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

There is a consistent approach to the assessment and risk management of children. This takes place before the child is offered a place in the home. The comprehensive impact risk assessment, undertaken by the manager, supports the decision-making process. In-depth analysis and evaluation, which considers the views and opinions of the children living in the home, ensures that the children’s risks are known, understood and managed well at the point of their arrival.

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

The manager and staff engage fully with relevant professionals when children go missing from the home. The local knowledge that the staff have, and the strong working relationships with the local police, supports the sharing of intelligence promptly. This reduces the time that the children are away from the home and at potential risk of harm. The manager requests a multi-agency meeting when potential child exploitation is identified. This assists with the planning and implementation of risk management strategies to ensure that the children’s welfare is promoted.

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

The staff ensure that key conversations with children cover risk management and risk awareness. These targeted sessions enable the children to express themselves in private, with a trusted adult. The inspector was able to see well-coordinated responses to isolated incidents of bullying and self-harm in the home. These sessions, completed in a timely manner, ensure that the children are supported well and their safe care is prioritised.

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

Staff benefit from the direct knowledge and guidance provided by the home’s own clinical psychologist. This knowledge is shared in consultations that support the complex emotional needs of the children. As a result, the children receive therapeutic, nurturing care from a skilled workforce.

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

When the children are in crisis and they need to be held by the staff, these incidents are recorded thoroughly, and all of the relevant persons are informed. Children and staff receive debriefs and learning takes place. However, some ground holds have been used on the children, which the staff are not trained to carry out. While the manager has set a date for this training, this oversight has left the children exposed to the potential risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the children. She has provided a level of stability to the home for several years. She is proactive in the Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 5 development of internal promotion and progression in the home and company. As a result, the staff are confident and share a positive working environment that the children make progress in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has clear and effective monitoring and audit systems in place. Children’s files are maintained to a high standard, and their records are well written. The staff keep the children’s records up to date and ensure that any updates and reviews are completed in a timely manner. Evidence of the manager’s oversight is reflected in everything that goes on in the home. This means that effective action is taken when necessary to ensure that the children’s needs are met consistently. The manager and the staff always promote positive communication with the children, their carers and families, and the professionals. This promotes effective care planning for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are consistently purposeful. The evaluation and critical review of serious incidents are shared and discussed for further learning. Monthly supervision sessions take place. For new staff going through their probation, these take place more frequently. The manager and team leader ensure that safeguarding themes and good practice, such as the whistle-blowing policy, are discussed. This ensures that the children receive consistently good standards of care, as the staff are in no doubt that the children are at the centre of their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from the staff is positive and they feel confident in being able to address any areas of potential concerns with an appropriate senior member of staff or colleague. A member of staff said, ‘I love my job and I feel 100% supported.’ A parent also commented on the positive care that her child receives from the staff. She said, ‘They all bring something different to the table.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is maintained to a high standard. Decoration is of a good quality and the environment is homely. This supports children’s self-esteem and aspirations for their futures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been an isolated incident of a child making an allegation. This was managed sensitively and involved the local authority designated officer. This incident did not leave any children at risk of harm. However, the registered manager failed to notify Ofsted. This leaves Ofsted unable to independently review the incident to ensure that all the necessary steps have been taken to promote the children’s welfare. Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 28 April 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff are trained in the principles of restraint. This must include ground holds that may be unavoidable to keep children safe from harm. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.57)

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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: SC482419 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: Susan Fitzsimmons

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Amber Walker-O’Brien

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Inspector

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482419 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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