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Inspection report for children's home: SC457501 1 SC457501 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 to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who require support with their emotional and/or behavioural care needs. It is operated by a national provider of children’s homes.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in post and did apply to register with Ofsted, however she has made the recent decision to withdraw her application.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child lives in the home. Since the previous inspection in February 2022, two children have moved out to live independently.

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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 February 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC457501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC457501 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s progress is mixed at this home. One child has done well. They have achieved qualifications and moved to supported accommodation. Another child has successfully moved to supported accommodation having been helped to reduce criminal behaviours. However, their educational outcomes are poor. The child that currently lives in the home has made limited progress in most areas. Although their emotional resilience has improved, this has not had a positive impact on other aspects of their life such as healthy eating, educational engagement and social interaction. On balance, the overall outcomes for two of the children are not good enough.

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improvement to be good

The home has made positive changes to encourage children to live healthy lifestyles. Staff provide healthy meals. They discouraged reliance on take-out or convenience food. They help children to shop for healthier options on a budget. This practice is still being embedded and is currently not making a positive difference to the child living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff offer children opportunities to engage in enjoyable activities such as paddleboarding, trips to the beach, campfires and playing board games. However, staff struggle to consistently engage the child living in the home and, at times, they spend long periods of time in their room.

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

When children go missing from home, staff follow clear and robust procedures that help return children home swiftly and safely. Staff make every effort to try to locate children. They contact external professionals when it is appropriate through established multi-agency links. Recordings of incidents are detailed and there is good management oversight. This assists the improvement of practice and helps to reduce or shorten further incidents.

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

Children feel safe living at the home. They report that they have adults in the home that they can talk to and share worries. Staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures and follow them to help keep children safe. Incidents are thoroughly reviewed to ensure that recordings are accurate. The team uses these recordings to recognise patterns of behaviour and create strategies to help respond more effectively to children.

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

Staff have useful and candid conversations with children in the home. This helps children explore vulnerabilities and challenges around healthy relationships, substance misuse, keeping safe in the community and leading healthy lifestyles. Children are supported to build resilience and develop self-esteem. Inspection report for children's home: SC457501 4 Since the last inspection, there have been measured improvements in how staff respond to children and promote positive behaviour. All staff consistently implemented appropriate boundaries. Children understand that staff work as a cohesive team and are persistent in their approach. For example, during the inspection, staff knocked on a child’s bedroom door every 30 minutes throughout the day to encourage the child to get out of bed. The approach is having limited positive impact on improving this child’s progress as they are used to the previous routine. However, it creates a positive environment for children who will move into

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made many positive changes to the culture and procedures within the home. This has improved staff morale and they now present as a cohesive team. However, these improvements need to be embedded in order to see measurable, positive outcomes for children at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the needs of children. They use feedback from experiences to improve practice and implement change. They ensure that the staff access good-quality training that is tailored to the changing needs of the children. This is having a significant impact on improving staff skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers robustly challenge other professionals when plans are not working for children. Meetings are convened swiftly to discuss the needs of children who are not making progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of recordings in the home. There is clear evidence of effective reviewing and feeding back to the team that has led to measurable improvements in practice. Supervision is of a high quality and recordings are detailed. However, these sessions are not held regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the home is maintained to a high standard and provides welcoming and homely spaces for children. Staff check children’s rooms and help children to keep them clean and tidy. Staff support children in individualising their spaces, so they develop ownership and pride in their home. Inspection report for children's home: SC457501 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that all children engage in education, lead healthy lifestyles and have access to specialist therapeutic support if required. 1 September 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should have access to regular supervision. 1 September 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: SC457501 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 EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

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Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC457501 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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