Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 1 SC483846

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 its statement of purpose that it supports 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

A permanent manager is in place but is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The home is comfortable; internal door locks have now been removed, and other changes have been made that make it feel more homely. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and well equipped. The home is adjacent to a school that is owned by the same provider. A high fence has been erected with locked gates, which means that children cannot access the large garden that they could before.

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The care of children

Staff support children to have contact with family members. This includes driving children to see family and, when it is needed, supervising the contact. This means that children can maintain important relationships with family.

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The care of children

Not all children are in education. Staff are working hard to support those who are not in education to find appropriate provision, but this has not yet been successful. Those children that are in education are supported to attend.

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The care of children

Children who are older and getting ready to leave the children’s home are being supported to learn independence skills.

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The safety of children

The leadership team has not notified Ofsted when there have been allegations about members of the staff team. It is important that all relevant agencies are informed when a safeguarding issue is raised about members of staff.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are in place, which consider all known risks, and they are updated regularly.

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The safety of children

When children go missing from care, staff search for them and follow missing-from- home protocols. The manager analyses the incidents, which helps staff understand children’s patterns of behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Supervision is offered to staff and managers, but this is not always regular. Supervision is important because it gives staff the opportunity to reflect on their work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say that the manager is supportive of them. The manager has a good relationship with the children and can challenge them when necessary. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 3 Managers’ monitoring systems have improved and address any issues in the home that need to change. The manager analyses any incidents and supports staff and the children to help develop strategies to prevent incidents. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/06/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 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 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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)) 30 January 2023

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

a protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 30 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 6 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. (Regulation 40 (3)(c)(d)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is welcoming and nurturing and that it conveys a homely and domestic rather than institutional impression, in particular the high locked gates that prevent the children from using part of the garden. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home’s Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that both managers and staff receive timely and supportive supervision that allows them to reflect on and learn from their practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home’s Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61 paragraph 13.2) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 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: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC483846 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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