Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 1 SC472465

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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

The home provides care for up to five children with complex needs and who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted and is working towards a level 5 qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 15 and 28 February 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2022

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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: SC472465 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

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home. One child’s move was in line with their care plan having reached 18 years old. Another child moved in an unplanned way. Staff were able to support both children as they moved into their new homes. This helped them to experience positive endings. One social worker said that staff had gone ‘above and beyond’ to help one child settle into their new home.

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The care of children

There has been some improvement to the home environment. The home is being redecorated. Children have been able to personalise their bedrooms and have new furniture. However, there are locks on the internal doors throughout the home. The locks are not used but give the home an institutional feel.

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The care of children

Children develop positive relationships with the nurturing staff. Children trust staff and confide in them. Staff listen to children and take steps to respond to their concerns. As a result, children feel valued and cared for.

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The care of children

The manager is an excellent advocate for children. They escalate concerns with other professionals when there are delays in care planning or in receiving important information about children’s needs. The manager has also advocated for one child to receive education in a different setting. This is to ensure their needs are better met. One child said, ‘I’m so glad [name of manager] came as I don’t know where I would be if she hadn’t.’

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The care of children

Children have positive experiences. Their friends visit the home for tea after school. Children have hobbies such as swimming and Girl Guides. One child recently volunteered to work in a charity shop. The manager is arranging for another child to volunteer to work for a health charity. This is because the child wants to work in healthcare when they finish their education. Children aspire to reach their goals, which improves their self-esteem.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are generally thorough. They identify risk and the strategies for staff to use to keep children safe. When children go missing, staff follow a clear protocol. They follow children and persuade them to return home. If they lose sight of them, they continue to look for them by searching areas where they think they may go. Staff also maintain contact with family members and professionals. This coordinated approach means that staff locate children quickly. When children return home, staff welcome them back. This good practice promotes children’s safety. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 3 Before children move into the home, managers carry out an assessment of their needs. On one occasion, the manager received new information just before a child moved in. This was in relation to the child being subject to a deprivation of liberty order. The manager did not revisit their risk assessment to consider this. When the

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The safety of children

child moved in, their presenting needs were more complex and staff did not have the skills to meet them. The manager escalated their concerns about this with the placing authority. This led to the child’s placement ending abruptly.

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The safety of children

The home’s location risk assessment fails to identify all known risks. It does not consider the wider area and risks associated with criminal activity. This includes sexual exploitation. As a result, children who are at high risk of sexual exploitation could be at an increased risk of harm. One child who was at a high risk had to move to another home to ensure her safety.

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The safety of children

Activities which take place outside of the home are not always thoroughly risk assessed, particularly when children are new to the home. During one joint activity in the community, a child’s behaviours escalated. This resulted in an altercation between the child and a member of the public. The child went missing and another child suffered a panic attack.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager knows the children well. All children identify the manager as someone they trust and can talk to. Staff also say that they feel well supported by the manager, particularly staff who are new to the home. Staff receive regular reflective supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has monitoring systems in place. They are very aware of the developmental areas in the home. However, they do not always recognise shortfalls in children’s records. This has the potential to compromise their oversight of the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager and staff have excellent relationships with professionals. All professionals spoke highly of the manager and staff. A professional said of one child, ‘They understand her well and she trusts staff. She feels safe living there.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive training that is pertinent to children’s needs. However, this is mostly online training. Children sometimes move into the home before staff have received their training, such as children who are subject to a deprivation of liberty order and children with poor mental health who self-harm. As a result, not all staff have the skills to meet children’s needs. However, senior managers have a plan to facilitate more in-depth training for the staff team. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good 11/12/2019 Full Good 18/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 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 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s impact risk assessments are revisited when further information is received from the placing authority. In addition, ensure that activities which take place in the community are thoroughly risk assessed in relation each child’s presenting risks, particularly when children are new to the home. 1 May 2023

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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— 1 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 6 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that all managers and staff have the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the children the home intends to care for and keep them safe. This relates to children who are subject to deprivation of liberty orders and children who self-harm.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must review their monitoring systems to ensure that they are effective. Swift action must be taken to address any shortfalls in the managers’ or staff’s practice, particularly in relation to the quality of recording safeguarding incidents.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should carry out an evaluative review of children’s placements when they end. This will encourage them to reflect and identify any lessons learned, the outcome of which can contribute to improving the quality of care children receive.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). 1 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 7 When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must reflect thoroughly on the potential risks posed to children due to the locality of the home. This particularly relates to children who are at high risk of child sexual exploitation. To do so, the registered person must consult with professionals who are familiar with the wider locality of the home.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that improvements are made to provide children with a more homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 8

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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

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 9 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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Inspector

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