Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cambian Whinfell School Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 1 SC066821 Registered provider: Cambian Whinfell School Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care, accommodation and education for a maximum of 14 males. The home’s statement of purpose states that care is provided for children who have a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome or autism spectrum disorder and possible accompanying conditions, which may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, pathological demand avoidance and mild to moderate learning difficulty.

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Information about this children’s home

Accommodation is split, with most children living on the main site and facilities for some children working towards independence living a short distance away.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2020. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.’

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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: 3 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/11/2021 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Outstanding 29/01/2019 Full Outstanding 15/05/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from well-planned introductions to the home, and they are suitably matched together, taking into consideration their individual needs. The manager has recently improved the matching documents in the home. Consequently, children say they get on well with each other and they are settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a large property and requires ongoing maintenance. During the inspection, some repairs were identified. These detract from the homely feel of the environment. Leaders and managers took prompt action to address these shortfalls to ensure children have a warm and comfortable space to live in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is prioritised by all. Education is on site, and this helps children overcome anxieties around transitions from home to school. Furthermore, the children have opportunities to take part in therapeutic activities and are participating in a wilderness project. As a result, children’s attendance in education has increased, and the project is helping children build resilience, equip them with problem-solving skills and improve their educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Their health needs are well considered, and staff work closely and proactively, attending all necessary appointments with opticians, dentists and doctors. Additionally, staff support children to access specialist services, for example child and adolescent mental health services. This helps maintain children’s physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff communicate effectively with professionals and have positive relationships with the children. Inspectors observed caring and helpful staff. One social worker said, ‘The home feels like a real family.’ Family time is promoted, and parents say that staff have made them feel completely involved in the care of their children and that they have been ‘blown away by what the home has to offer.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. They can identify trusted staff who they can talk to and discuss their concerns. They have regular group meetings, key-work sessions and daily conversations to discuss their views, wishes and feelings. However, the manager does not always ensure that children can see the results of their views. This would reassure them that they are being listened to and their views acted on in a timely way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good support to develop their independence skills, such as cooking, learning about budgeting and completing household chores.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are involved in a wide range of activities and have enjoyed holidays skiing in Bulgaria and a recent caravan stay. These opportunities and experiences are captured through photos and memory books displayed around the home. This is a key strength of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 4

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

Good-quality risk assessments and behaviour support plans are in place. They provide staff with clear strategies to help manage children’s risks. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. However, the manager does not ensure that all risk assessments are individualised to the needs of each child.

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

Staff know how to raise a concern. Allegations about staff conduct are shared transparently with the relevant agencies. Investigations and feedback from other professionals help to identify areas where practice can be improved.

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

Feedback from a professional was positive. They said, ‘Staff are always responsive and think ahead to ensure children are kept safe.’

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

Positive behaviour is well promoted, and staff show care and understanding through their responses when children are upset or distressed. The use of de-escalation techniques has meant that incidents have been reduced.

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

Recruitment processes for new staff ensure that all necessary background checks are carried out. This means that managers can make informed decisions to ensure that only suitable adults can work in the home.’ .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a qualified and suitably experienced manager in post. He is well supported by two deputies. Staff say that the management team is approachable and helpful. Staff feel they work well together as a team and they enjoy working in the home. Leaders and managers are aware that there are several staff vacancies and that staff are picking up additional hours to ensure that the impact on the children is minimised. They are working hard to recruit. During the inspection, they were holding an open day for potential new staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers did not inform the regulator of a change of responsible individual. As a result, this caused confusion for all. A new interim responsible person has been appointed. However, she has yet to submit her application.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been two serious incidents, and leaders and managers have not notified the regulator in a timely way. This does not help the regulator to have all the required information. A requirement has been made to address this. Furthermore, the responsible person is receiving guidance to help her fully understand her role and responsibilities in line with the regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff use training to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and meet the children’s needs. For example, staff have attended training to better understand risks associated with self-harm, and training in autism is Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 5 bespoke to each child. New staff coming into the home have said that the induction was good and well delivered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s internal reviewing and monitoring systems are suitable. The manager ensures that staff have read and understood children’s plans. The manager benefits from the external monitoring provided by the independent person and values all recommendations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have been able to grow and develop their practice because of the good- quality support and regular supervision that is provided. The manager ensures that the staff receive annual appraisals. Regular team meetings take place. These are well attended, and staff share information about each child. This supports consistency of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All previous requirements and recommendations have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 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

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a home with another individual or other individuals, otherwise than in a partnership, if that individual and each other individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

A partnership may only carry on a home if each partner satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

each director of the organisation, except for a director who is the responsible individual, who is involved in the carrying on of a home by that organisation satisfies the requirements in paragraph (6); and

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has notified HMCI of the name, address and position in the organisation of the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit to carry on the home; and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is financially fit to carry on the home.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of the matters in paragraphs 1 and 3 to 6 of Schedule 2. 16 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 7 A responsible individual must—

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (2) (3) (4)(i)(ii) (5)(a)(b)(c)(d) (6)(a)(b) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the Ofsted are notified about the change of responsible individual and that they apply to register with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. 16 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 8 (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that serious events are notified to HMCI without delay and that all notifications contain the actions taken and provide details of organisations who have been notified about the matter.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that following consultation with children, they are able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually assess risk and that assessments of these risks are individualised to each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC066821 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Whinfell School 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: Samantha Campbell

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066821 10 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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