Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 1 SC457573 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 owned and managed by an independent provider. The home provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 27 January 2021. She registered with Ofsted on 29 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two children currently living in the home. The inspectors spoke to one child during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 20 December 2021

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Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 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.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made significant improvements in managing the home and in providing an acceptable level of care to the children. There is a renewed positivity in the presentation of the manager, who is completing fewer shifts and, therefore, is better able to focus on the management of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children say that they feel safe and have a greater input into the running of the home. However, children have said that they do not always feel supported with their mental health. In response to this, the manager has sought advice from the organisation’s psychological clinician to support the children with their mental health. In addition, she liaises with mental health professionals from external agencies who are involved in the children’s lives. This provides a consistent approach from professionals in supporting the children to improve their mental health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of the children’s risk management plans has improved. These personalised plans identify and review the strategies that are used by the staff to reduce the impact of risk for the children. These documents clearly inform the staff on how they can safely manage the individual vulnerabilities of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When the children require support with their behaviour, staff use approaches which are restorative in nature and help the children to reflect on their actions. Despite identified inconsistencies in the staff’s knowledge of the children’s plans, there have been fewer incidents since this restorative approach has been taken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider investigates allegations that the children make against the staff. However, these investigations are not consistently thorough. The staff have failed to follow the provider’s whistle-blowing policy and failed to record one incident in detail. In addition, the manager did not escalate an incident promptly. This has caused a delay in initiating safeguarding procedures. Children do not always have closure as they are not always informed of the outcome of investigations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children experience unplanned endings, the staff keep in contact with the child. Staff ensure that the children receive all of their personal items, updated memory books and gifts to say goodbye.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Home conditions have improved. The home is clean and organised. Some rooms have been redecorated, for example the children’s bedrooms. Various repairs have been carried out and further refurbishments are planned. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 3 The provider is proactive in the recruitment of staff, and a new staff team is in place, which includes a deputy manager. Unfortunately, there is still a staff shortage, which results in inconsistencies in the care arrangements for the children. Children are yet to build trusting relationships with some staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider’s central services carry out safer recruitment checks. However, the gaps in employment declared by one applicant do not correspond with the information contained in their application form. The provider and manager failed to identify this. Therefore, they cannot be assured that the applicant is safe to work with children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager does not provide all of the new staff with an induction into the home so that they are aware of the home’s policies and the children’s risk assessments. Therefore, there are inconsistencies in the staff’s ability to understand and respond to the needs of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive regular supervision. However, the frequency of these sessions is not in keeping with the organisation’s policy. Records do not consistently demonstrate if reflective safeguarding discussions have taken place. The manager cannot be assured that all staff understand all vulnerabilities associated with each child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/10/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/04/2019 Full Good 05/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the staff are aware of the children’s vulnerabilities and how to manage these, and ensure that the staff escalate safeguarding concerns in line with the organisation’s policy. 15 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 15 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 6 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that new staff receive an induction into the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. In particular, that the individual provides a full employment history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 15 April 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home during the supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14) Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 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: SC457573 8

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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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Inspectors

Julia Hagan, Social Care Inspector Cath Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457573 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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