Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 1 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 provides care for one child who may have emotional and social difficulties. It is part of a large national provider of children’s homes.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in December 2021. The manager is also the registered manager of another children’s home owned by the provider.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since it was registered on 24 December 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives individualised care that meets their needs. Staff have the capacity and competence to build genuine relationships with the child. They engage with the child positively and overcome the child’s mistrust of adults. The strength of these relationships is making a difference to the child and influencing their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since moving into the home the child is more able to identify and talk about how they are feeling. They are learning new ways to manage their emotions, for example going for a drive, listening to music or spending time with their pets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respond appropriately to the child’s wishes and feelings. They listen to the child and encourage them to be involved in decisions about their life. Staff respect the child’s wishes. They give the child space and wait until the child is ready to talk when they have something on their mind.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child’s learning and development. The manager and staff work with the school and social worker to provide the child with the right support to help them achieve their learning objectives. The child is making significant progress in education. The child is now back in school full time and joining in with school life, including helping to show new children around the school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has opportunities to take part in activities that they enjoy, including horse riding and baking. They learn new skills and find out about the world around them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and monitor the child’s health and emotional well-being. They make sure that the child receives safe and effective advice, support and treatment that meets their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend time with the important people in their lives. They make sure that the child has positive and safe experiences when they see their family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before the child came to live at the home, the manager made sure that staff could respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. The manager and staff helped the child to have a smooth move into the home. They met the child several times and the child visited the home before they moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Monthly meetings with the child do not consistently provide an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and to share their views about the quality of care and support that they receive. The child’s views are not always reflected in their plans. Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 4

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

The child is protected from harm. Staff provide the child with emotional warmth and clear boundaries and expectations. The child feels safe and confident that the adults caring for them can keep them safe from harm. They know that they can talk to staff and that staff will help them to be safe. Consequently, the child is developing a stronger sense of safety and emotional well-being.

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

Since the child came to live at the home, the concerns for their safety and the level of risk of harm have reduced significantly. The child is making choices to stay away from unsafe situations and harmful friendships. The child has become increasingly safer from the risk of self-injurious behaviour and going missing from home.

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

Staff understand their responsibilities for safeguarding children. They understand the child’s vulnerabilities and identified risks. They are vigilant and curious and check on the child’s welfare. Staff recognise the signs when the child may be at risk of harm. They always take appropriate action when they have concerns about the child’s welfare, in accordance with statutory guidance.

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

Staff actively and continually assess the dangers for the child and follow up-to-date plans effectively to reduce the risk of harm. They follow court-directed orders consistently to manage and reduce risks to the child. Strong management oversight of the child’s risk assessments and plans ensure that the strategies for protecting them are being used effectively.

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

Staff take reasonable precautions to allow the child to take risks as part of their social development and independence. This includes the child having a mobile phone and spending time with their friends outside the home. Staff and the social worker work with the child effectively to put in place the necessary protective measures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is capable and has sufficient time to be in day-to-day control of two children’s homes. The manager is well organised and provides thorough oversight and leadership. They have high expectations for the standard of care that the child receives. They aspire for the child to be safe and happy and to reach their full potential. This ethos and culture are evident in every aspect of the child’s care and the running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed knowledge of the child’s plan and the progress they are making. Records provide a detailed picture of the child’s experiences. Records evidence the child’s measurable progress and contribute to an understanding of the child’s life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff maintain positive working relationships with the child’s social worker and school and with child and adolescent mental health services. They make Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 5 sure that these partners play their part and provide the child with the high-quality support that they need at the right time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides the necessary structure and guidance to make sure that staff understand their responsibilities and have the right skills and knowledge to provide the child with a high standard of care and protection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a detailed understanding of the child as an individual and the impact of their experiences on their emotional and social development. The quality of staff’s relationships with the child is making a significant difference to the child’s life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are resilient and never give up trying to help the child. They enjoy working at the home and supporting the child. Staff receive positive support from the manager, their colleagues and the clinical team. Staff receive relevant and suitable training that provides them with the essential skills and knowledge for meeting the child’s needs, including in attachment theory, trauma and supporting children who self- harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision records do not show that staff reflect critically on their practice and the needs and progress of the child in their care. This does not help staff to understand the effectiveness of their work with the child and to develop their practice and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s review of the quality of care identifies areas for improvement. However, these are not specific enough to show how they will be addressed, who is responsible for each action and the expected timescale for completing them. This limits the manager’s ability to review and measure progress in achieving the desired outcomes. Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s monthly meetings give children the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and to share their views about the quality of care and support they receive. Their views should be reflected in their plans and used to support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered provider should ensure that supervision allows staff to reflect critically on their practice and the needs and progress of children in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered provider should ensure that the actions for improvement included in review of the quality of care reports are specific and show how those actions will be addressed, who is responsible for each action and the expected timescale

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Recommendations

for completing them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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: 2662847 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 EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Christopher Parkinson

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Inspector

Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2662847 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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