Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 1 SC476231 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children. The home specialises in providing care for children who have experienced or been at risk of child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a qualified manager. She has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be 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: 8 December 2021

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/12/2021 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Outstanding 11/07/2018 Full Good 20/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 3

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improvement to be good

The home is made up of a main house and a separate self-contained annex. Three children currently live in the home and all live in the main house.

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improvement to be good

A number of shortfalls have been identified during the inspection and this has impacted on children’s experiences. For example, one child moved into the annex. This was despite managers understanding that the child could not safely be placed with the children in the main house. This impacted poorly on the child’s short stay in the home.

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improvement to be good

More positively, a child has recently moved into the home. This move was well planned. The child was able to visit the home and have an overnight stay before moving in. Staff also went to visit her. This helped the child to understand what to expect when she moved into the home.

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improvement to be good

Children have started to redecorate the home to their taste. Overall, it is well furnished. However, the laundry room is in need of redecoration. Two children have personalised their bedrooms and are proud of these. Another child is in the process of decorating her bedroom. However, children’s bedroom doors are fitted with a buzzer that sounds each time their door is opened. Staff have been unable to deactivate these. This does not help to create a homely environment.

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improvement to be good

Although staff are knowledgeable about childrens needs, written documents are confusing and hold incorrect information. For example, one child’s written records contained incorrect information about her health. This can lead to inconsistent practice and medical interventions.

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improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls found, the current children are making progress. For example, children who have previously been out of education for lengthy periods of time are now achieving their educational goals. Children are being supported by staff to visit colleges. As a result, children have high aspirations for their futures.

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improvement to be good

Children benefit from helping to care for their two pet cats. Another child has hamsters and a pet rat. Children’s love for animals is embraced. Children have visited farms, zoos and safari parks and have really enjoyed these trips.

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improvement to be good

On the whole, children enjoy positive relationships with staff and they feel supported. One child told the inspector, ‘There is always someone here to talk to that will listen.’ Children also told the inspector that they feel supported to keep in touch with loved ones. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 4

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improvement to be good

On occasions, a member of staff’s practice has not been in line with the organisation’s expectations. Although quick action has been taken when managers became aware, children’s safety and experiences have been compromised. An investigation into this is ongoing.

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improvement to be good

Health and safety checks are undertaken, and any damage or wear and tear is quickly addressed. However, the fire risk assessment is overdue to be reviewed. Furthermore, the laundry room was found to be cluttered and managers were unable to give reassurance about the safety of a tumble drier being used. Quick action was taken during the inspection to minimise any risk to children.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not ensured rigor when they recruit staff to meet schedule 2 as required. For example, two staff recruitment files were found not to contain all of the necessary checks to ensure they are safe to work with children.

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improvement to be good

More positively, children’s risks have significantly reduced as a result of the care and support they receive from staff. Children rarely go missing and, on the whole, they understand and embrace the staff support to enable them to make safer decisions. Over time, children make progress and become more able to manage their emotions.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health improves. For example, children have been supported by staff to reduce and stop their nicotine intake.

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improvement to be good

Staff training is up to date. Staff understand the actions they need to take to keep children safe. Staff have obtained their level 3 qualification or are working towards it within required timeframes.

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good

The registered manager left the service and a new manager joined. There was a good handover. However, this manager left, and a number of shortfalls have been raised about her oversight of the home. The new manager, with the support of the responsible individual and regional manager, have been able to identify most of the shortfalls found at this inspection. They have a plan in place to make the necessary improvements, but this is taking time to implement and embed.

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good

Shortfalls under the previous management have included a lack of oversight of incidents and consequences given to children. The recording of these incidents lacks detail to understand if staff practice was child focused.

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good

There have been some safeguarding concerns that have been shared with the local authority designated officer. However, again these lack detail and one allegation was not shared with Ofsted as required. Children shared concerns with the inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 5 about the previous manager’s ability to put in safe and fair routines and boundaries. However, children now feel safe and feel listened to by the current manager. Children told the inspector that the current manager advocates for them and explains what is happening and why. This has helped them to quickly build up good relationships.

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good

Although the previous manager had regular supervision with the responsible individual, the notes taken do not reflect some of the discussions held. Current staff have regular supervision. The staff feel remotivated and feel very well supported by the new manager.

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good

Professionals speak positively about the level of communication from the staff and manager at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the fire risk assessment is up to date and the home is free from fire hazards. 2 December 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

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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

This specifically relates to ensuring that required monitoring systems are in place and are regularly reviewed and evaluated. 23 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 7 This requirement was made at the previous inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children–

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the matching process for children in the home. 23 December

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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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that references are obtained, and that reasons for leaving previous employment when working with children and vulnerable adults are verified. 23 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that plans offer up-to- date details to allow for consistent care practice. 23 December

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 2 December 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 8 In particular, the registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted of concerns about any staff working in the home.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that any sanction used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that a note of the content and/or outcomes

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Recommendations

of supervision sessions is to be kept, and to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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: SC476231 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC476231 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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