Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home: SC454266 1 SC454266 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 home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have emotional, social or mental health difficulties. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The qualified, experienced manager registered with Ofsted in February 2019.

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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: 24 February 2022

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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: SC454266 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2022 Full Good 16/07/2019 Full Good 10/01/2019 Full Good 27/09/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC454266 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress at this home. They are cared for by caring adult role models who are proud of them. The staff take time to build nurturing relationships with all the children. They create a welcoming family atmosphere that promotes dignity, respect and positive parenting. Consequently, the children have developed some trusting and positive relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the educational needs of the children. One child has successfully completed their GCSE exams and is now attending college. Staff are interested in the children’s learning and celebrate their achievements. Where there are barriers to learning, staff work closely with education professionals to address this. This ensures that the educational needs of the children are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met. Staff support children to attend routine and specialist health appointments where necessary. Focused work is completed to support children’s emotional well-being. Children’s balanced diet, coupled with opportunities to participate in physical activities, promote a healthier lifestyle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to prepare for their future. For example, staff encourage children to cook, shop and manage a budget. This helps to equip them with the knowledge and skills that they need for living independently. Staff have continued to maintain links with children who have moved on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of fun activities within the home and the community. Pictures of children on day trips and taking part in raising funds for charity capture these memories. The staff team promotes positive family time. They invite families to the home and facilitate visits away from the home. This supports the children’s family ties and identity needs.

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

Detailed risk management plans identify the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff apply strategies to minimise risk, and keep them under review. Individualised behaviour management strategies used by the staff help to reduce children’s potentially risky behaviours. This ensures that children are better protected from harm.

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

The manager makes sure that all children who move in to the home have a detailed risk assessment in place. She undertakes assessments on the impact of one child on another. This allows children to settle in, and reduces the risk of bullying incidents.

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

Staff use positive incentives and restorative practice to promote socially acceptable behaviour in children. Informal visits by the local police and fire bridge provide sound opportunities for children to learn to keep themselves safe. In addition, staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC454266 4 complete focused work on issues such radicalisation and healthy relationships. This helps children to make positive choices.

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

Staff only use physical restraint as a last resort to keep children and others safe. There is effective management oversight and reflection for both children and staff. This ensures that the use of the physical restraint is safe and proportionate.

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

Staff recruitment is effective and helps to prevent the employment of unsuitable staff. Leaders and managers complete all necessary employment checks and verification processes for new staff. This helps to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is strong, effective management at this home. The registered manager is visible and approachable to the children and staff. She is aspirational for the children and is keen for them to be provided with the best opportunities. Her relationships with the children are strikingly good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good-quality reflective supervision that focuses on children’s needs. A strong focus on professional development, training and communication keeps the team up to date. The use of the employee of the month award boosts staff morale. This positivity ensures that children live in an environment that helps them to make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses external and internal monitoring to review the quality of the care provided and progress of the children. There are minor recording issues on children’s case files that distract from the good recording. On the whole, the monitoring of the independent visitor provides challenge to the manager and holds them accountable. However, parents’ views have not been sought consistently. This gap limits the necessary rigor to encourage practice improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive feedback about the home from professionals and parents supports a well-run home. The quality of communication is complemented through strong collaborative working relationships between the home, children’s families and professionals. The means that children’s needs are kept at the forefront and reviewed regularly by those involved with the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454266 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should support the independent visitor to seek feedback from the families of children living in the home. 26 May 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC454266 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 Drakes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC454266 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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