Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warwickshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 1 SC457488 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 provides care for up to five children aged between eight and 18 who have experienced childhood trauma. The home is privately owned by a large organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not currently have a registered manager.

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 14 September 2021

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 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

Five requirements were made at the last inspection. All of these requirements have now been met. Two additional requirements and a recommendation were made as a result of this visit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At present, no children live in the home. Managers have held reflective meetings to review children’s placements. As a result, they are considering how best to meet children’s needs in the future, including lessons learned about local educational facilities and the location of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. While this was not in line with their original plans, staff have advocated for children’s wishes. Both children wanted to move back to their home areas. This has been achieved and, as a result, children felt listen to and valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children had different experiences of leaving the home due to their personal circumstances. One child was driven some distance to their new home by their favourite staff member. Managers revised the rota to ensure that this was possible. One child was missing during the planned move to their new home. Staff visited him at his new home, taking his belongings and a gift for his upcoming birthday.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children had photograph albums of their memories of being cared for at the home. Consequently, this helps them understand their journey and provides memories they can look back on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children engaged in education. One child had started a college course and one child was being tutored at home. However, managers did not appropriately challenge relevant professionals when there were delays in securing a school placement for the child. As a result, such delays impact negatively on the child’s social, emotional and educational experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers work with relevant professionals when children are known to go missing. This includes meetings with professionals to try and safeguard the child. However, when one child has been missing, staff have not always reported them missing within the specified timeframe in the child’s individual protocol. As a result, there have been delays in the police being informed and consequently a delayed response in the police looking for the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children are known to use substances, managers have failed to ensure risk and behaviour management plans offer robust step-by-step information for staff to Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 3 follow. This has the potential to lead to inconsistent practice in how children are supported and protected from harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home looks tired and it requires some repairs, re-decoration and cleaning of carpets. Senior managers recognise it needs renovation and have plans in place to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have benefited from regular practice-based supervision and relevant training that has included allergy awareness. This promotes staff development and skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has left the company. She withdrew her application to become the registered manager. However, she remained committed to the children and staff and left her post following children moving out of the home to ensure that there remained consistency. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers escalating delays with children’s education plans in a timely manner and to a senior level. 31 May 2022

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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— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to assessments directing staff on signs to look for when children have taken substances. This includes what staff should do if they become concerned for the child’s health and well-being while under the influence. 31 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 6 This specifically relates to staff reporting children missing in the timeframe stipulated in the child’s risk assessment.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: SC457488 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

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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