Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Plymouth

Inspection report for children’s home: SC471038 1 SC471038 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 children’s home is registered for one young person and is operated by a national provider of children’s homes.

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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 (SCIFF) 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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC471038 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2020 Full Outstanding 10/10/2018 Full Outstanding 16/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC471038 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person has lived in the home for almost two years. The inspector observed warm interactions between the young person and staff. The young person expressed their view to the inspector that it was staff that made living in the home a positive experience for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has not wished to meet with an independent advocate. However, the provider has recently implemented an electronic system that increases the young person’s opportunity to share their views, including concerns about their care. The young person told the inspector that, if they did have any concerns, they were confident that the manager would respond effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has made excellent progress in their learning. This includes success in gaining a provisional place at university. Currently, the young person enjoys attending college. Following a period of support by staff, the young person is now accessing classes independently. The manager and staff fully support the young person’s learning and aspirations. During this inspection, the manager was preparing to attend a parents’ evening at the college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Future care planning is not yet certain. However, planning is comprehensive. This includes involvement of the young person’s family. The young person is being supported to acquire skills needed for independence in adulthood. While this is an area for development, notable progress is being made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person enjoys time with their family and friends. In addition, staff facilitate a range of activities in the community for the young person. The young person has kept a scrapbook of photographs that capture many of these experiences. Staff have created a memory book that captures memories in writing. The young person’s interests and talents are encouraged in the home. While home improvements are planned, there is a ‘homely’ feel in this home.

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

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have taken action in response to a previous child-protection concern. This includes wider learning and recommendations made across the provider’s network of homes to increase safe care. While actions have been implemented in the home, some are yet to become embedded.

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

Staff are skilled in responding to the young person’s complex needs. This includes swift and effective responses to reduce the risk of immediate harm. Restraint is not used. When child-protection concerns have occurred, managers have shared information with relevant agencies appropriately. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471038 4 Staff were confident and knowledgeable in discussion with the inspector about the care they provide. This included providing clear examples of therapeutic and preventative approaches. The young person told the inspector that staff helped them to feel safe. The young person does not go missing from the home.

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

The inspector found that records do not consistently reflect the knowledge and skills demonstrated by staff during discussions. In addition, records often lack sufficient management oversight. This includes limited analysis to ensure that all interventions and care provided are safe and effective. The home has effective links with relevant agencies that support the young person’s safe care. However, plans that provide information about risk and guidance to staff are not clearly defined.

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

Recruitment processes are robust. No agency staff are used. One member of the bank staff team works in the home when required. This ensures that the risk of unsuitable people being recruited is reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has moved on from the home. The new manager has progressed from the role of deputy manager. Feedback gained during this inspection highlighted that staff feel supported by leaders and managers. Team morale is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is suitably staffed to meet the needs of the young person. In the main, there is a stable staff team in place. This means that staff know the young person well. The manager and staff spoke with overwhelming pride about the young person’s progress and achievements. A positive and aspirational culture has developed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ensuring that staff receive supervision. Induction records and appraisals are well recorded. Professional development is supported. However, records, such as team meeting minutes and supervision records, do not evidence opportunities for reflection and learning that seek to improve care in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirement made at the previous inspection is met. However, the shortfalls identified during this inspection mean that two requirements are made. Leaders and managers are taking action to address these shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose was updated during the inspection to reflect current care arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471038 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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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) (2)(a)(f)(h)) 15 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers ensuring that plans detail strategies that are used in the home to respond to the young person. 15 June 2022

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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: SC471038 6

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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 Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC471038 7 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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