Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 1 SC436372 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

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to six children who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The 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

A serious safeguarding incident took place between children because staff were not diligently supervising them. The impact of this incident was that a child was moved from the home. The move has affected this child’s emotional well-being. However, the incident was responded to quickly and effectively within a multi-agency forum. Children were kept safe, and the manager and staff worked in accordance with the agreed multi-agency plan. Learning has arisen from this incident, and a plan has been implemented by managers and staff to ensure that the risk of this type of incident occurring again is reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff retention remains poor. Most of the staff are new, inexperienced and unqualified. Several measures have been put in place to encourage staff to stay in their posts. Poor staff retention means a lack of continuity for children. A child said that he likes living in the home because the home is now more settled. However, this can depend on staff and other children. A social worker also reported their concerns about staff changes and the impact of these on a child she has responsibility for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The induction of staff is good. This provides staff with the knowledge they need to quickly start supporting children. New staff are enrolled onto the appropriate qualification within weeks of joining the home. Ongoing training provides staff with the extra skills they require to meet the needs of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children like the staff. A child said: ‘They are all unique.’ Another described them as: ‘really amazing’, ‘patient’ and ‘understanding.’ She also said: ‘They have a good sense of humour.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children can express their views through an app on their mobile device. This is viewed by the manager and responded to. These grumbles from children and the responses from the manager and the outcomes are not recorded. This is important so that, in time, children can look back at their records and understand what happened because of their grumbling. However, children confirmed that they feel able to talk to staff and feel listen to by the staff. Children know that the staff take them seriously.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have made significant progress, especially with their emotional well-being. Children are safer and more content. Children are not engaging in self-harmful behaviour or going missing from the home. Concerning incidents have reduced in frequency, and the need for physical intervention is rare. Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 3 Children are mostly polite and helpful. They are starting to form positive relationships with staff. Good placement matching and care planning mean that children quickly settle and start making progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted but has started this process. She is nearing completion of the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She continues to address shortfalls such as the retention of staff and inexperienced and unqualified staff. She understands the areas requiring improvement and has a plan to address them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of restraint are much improved. However, the manager has helda discussion with a child about his feelings about a restraint. The manager was involved in this restraint, and so this could hinder the child from expressing their true views about the intervention. Additionally, the manager carried out the staff debrief for the same incident. This does not demonstrate objectivity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recording of negative sanctions for a child’s behaviour is not yet meeting the required standard. For example, children’s comments about the imposed sanctions are not recorded. The manager has not commented on most of the records, and the effectiveness of the sanctions is also not recorded. Good record-keeping and oversight are important to ensure that negative sanctions are fairly given and that the child can express their views about the consequences. Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/07/2018 Full Good 10/04/2018 Full Inadequate 25/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the necessary skills to keep each child safe. 30 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; and

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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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the impact of poor staff retention on the continuity of care for children. 30 April 2022

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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—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 6 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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (3)(a)(vii) (b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that records of all sanctions and restraints are properly recorded, that a manager records their comments and that the child can make comment about the sanction imposed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 30 April 2022

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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: SC436372 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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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC436372 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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