Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 1 SC483846 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 privately operated children’s home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they support children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, and can offer a wraparound care experience to children from a range of culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/06/2019 Full Good 23/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been an almost entirely new staff team. This team is naturally taking some time to form relationships with the children and establish positive working relationships with each other. One child commented, ‘I don’t really know the staff team.’ This is likely to have a destabilising effect on the children and may lead them to feel that they are not known or understood.

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improvement to be good

Children report that some staff have made insensitive comments to them or within their hearing which have left them feeling unhappy.

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improvement to be good

Locks remain on some doors, so that children do not have full access to all areas of the home as they would in a family home.

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improvement to be good

All the children access education, however, attendance is not consistent for all and some children are frequently late arriving at their education setting. This means that they miss out on their learning and spending time with peers. A parent spoke about how they feel their child has improved in their attitude to education since they have been in the home. They said, ‘Her life is very improved since she’s been at the home. I couldn’t get her to school at home, but she wants to go to school now.’ Another child is excelling in his further education course.

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improvement to be good

There is some positive independence work being carried out with children to help them prepare for the next stage of their lives. This means they will be able to make a smooth change from being cared for to caring for themselves.

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improvement to be good

Children who live far away from their home towns are supported by staff to have regular contact with their family. This is very important for the children as they can maintain family relationships and keep a sense of belonging to their community.

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improvement to be good

A child who has moved into the home has been supported and prepared sensitively for their move, with careful planning. The needs and feelings of the other children living in the home have been considered to ensure that their needs are matched with the new child.

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

Staff understand the safeguarding procedures, including the whistle-blowing policy. They are clear which partner agencies they need to liaise with to ensure that children are kept safe.

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

Staff are working hard to understand the children’s individual needs. Children’s risks are understood and each child has individual up-to-date risk assessments that set Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 4 out what action is to be taken to address their risks. There are plans in place to reduce the risk of harm for each child.

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

Children who go missing from home experience a coordinated response that reduces the risk of harm. There are clear individual missing-from-home plans. Staff ensure that parents and relevant partner agencies are made aware when children are missing. Staff search for children when they are missing and work hard to keep in touch and ensure they are safe.

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place, staff are carefully monitored and appropriate checks are carried out to ensure that unsuitable people are not recruited. This ensures that children are cared for by adults who can care for them safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is properly staffed to meet the needs of the children. Staff are offered induction training before they start working with the children. As soon as they start work, staff are enrolled on an appropriate training course to enable them to offer sensitive and informed care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are offered regular reflective supervision that is focused on children’s experiences and needs. Supervision is recorded effectively. The acting manager challenges staff when he feels that they could respond more effectively to children. Staff say that the acting manager and the deputy manager are approachable and supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager has developed a thorough monitoring system of the home and knows its strengths and weaknesses. He is working hard to improve the areas that he has identified as needing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager works effectively with other agencies and professionals. A social worker said, ‘C ommunication and working together is good. They have acted swiftly when issues arise and have a good understanding of the young person I work with.’ Working well with partner agencies will help to ensure that children’s needs are met effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views are sought regularly. Children have opportunities to meet with staff informally in regular day-to-day discussions and more formally in key-work sessions that address any issues that are important to them. They can influence their weekly menu and activities that they take part in. This leads to children feeling that they have control about what they do and that they are listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has an equality and diversity policy, however, this is not yet actively promoted in the home and concrete plans to develop this area are yet to be put into place. This means that children’s cultural and identity needs are not always promoted, which could lead to children experiencing low self-esteem and lack of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 5 Some children’s bedrooms are messy, unclean and appear uncared for. One child’s room had damp damage to the windowsill and dirty walls. The home itself is not personalised and looks institutional. This will lead to children feeling that their environment is not valued. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. 30 May 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to maintain and develop their cultural background and beliefs, including in relation to food, dress, personal grooming and activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.22)  The registered person should ensure that the home is welcoming and nurturing and that it conveys a homely and domestic impression rather than an institutional one. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children have access to all areas of the home unless there is a good reason or risk associated with that area of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.10) Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 7

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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: SC483846 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 EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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