Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 1 SC483856 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 privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2020.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2022 Full Good 24/07/2019 Full Good 04/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of inspection, four children were living in the home. Children are happy and settled and some of the children have lived in the home for a long time. Effective planning ensures that staff can meet children’s needs. One child who has lived in multiple homes prior to living in this home said, ‘This is the longest and best home I have ever lived in. The manager has never given up on me and staff really care about me.’ This shows a strong sense of belonging which provides children with stability and permanence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are positive about living in the home and the support they receive from the staff caring for them. Children were observed to have positive relationships with staff. Professionals told the inspector that children are held in high regard in this home. Staff have the skills to engage with children and listen to and understand children’s wishes and feelings. However, the manager needs to ensure that staff are consistent with praise and rewards for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and emotional needs are met. Staff are skilled in promoting multi- agency work to ensure that children are supported to access specialist services that meet their individual needs. This provides children with holistic care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Thorough transition plans support children to progress successfully into adulthood. Detailed independence plans support children to learn life skills, such as cooking and budgeting. Plans also timetable events that support children to move to independence, such as buying furniture, including plans to help children build this furniture. One child who has recently left the home said that staff have ‘supported me every step of the way and continue to support me’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children maintain contact with family members and family time is supported by staff. Staff travel far to ensure that children have positive time with their families. This demonstrates positive relationships between children, parents and staff. Children benefit from this family time.

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

Robust risk assessments identify children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities and include clear actions for staff to follow to manage and reduce risk. Staff work effectively and proactively with professionals to manage risks. For example, there has been a significant reduction in self-injurious behaviour and hospital admissions for one child because multi-agency safety plans have been put in place for the child receive effective all-round care.

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

Behaviour support plans are easy to read and understand. Therefore, staff can use strategies that are effective in de-escalating any incidents. This means that physical intervention is rarely used in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 4 A whistle-blowing incident was not reported in line with the company’s internal processes. This impacts on the manager and staff’s ability to manage risks and keep children safe. However, the manager has taken action to address this. Staff spoken demonstrate a clear understanding of the whistle-blowing procedure.

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

Children receive help and support to manage their behaviours safely. Staff talk to children about how to keep safe. Consistent boundaries in the home provide children with clear expectations of what is expected of them in relation to behaviour. This provides children with consistent care.

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

Effective health and safety practices at the home mean that the home is a safe place to live. Staff have completed all mandatory training, including training to meet children’s individual needs. This provides staff with the specific skills and knowledge to look after children well and care for them safely.

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

On two occasions, children did not receive medication in line with guidance. The manager has addressed this and arranged medication training for all staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated and passionate manager. She is committed to providing a high standard of care for children. She is suitably qualified and experienced, and she is highly respected by staff. Equally, the manager values her staff, and she supports staff in understanding their roles and provides staff with opportunities for professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager continually reviews and monitors systems to ensure their effectiveness. The manager ensures that debriefs are completed and evaluated following any incidents. She provides staff with the opportunity to discuss incidents and responses. As a result, the manager has a good insight into the shortfalls and strengths.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides the team with learning opportunities to address areas of practice. These learning opportunities are not just specific to further training, but include safeguarding quizzes, workshops and competency-based assessments with staff. The manager uses learning from practice to improve the safety and welfare of children and improve their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings and good-quality practice-based supervision sessions ensure that staff understand their roles, the needs of the children and how best to support them. This helps staff to put skills and learning into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Case records reflect children’s everyday lives and the work that is carried out with them. Children’s journeys are captured in their records. This is beneficial for children who choose to review their time living in the home when they are older. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 5 Staff in the home are very child centred and committed to providing a high level of care to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff understand the whistle-blowing policy and act in accordance with this policy to avoid any delay in reporting concerns to managers. 21 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff safely administer medication in accordance with administration guidance. 21 April 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are consistent in recognising and celebrating the achievements of their children and recordings these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7) Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 7

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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: SC483856 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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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

Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 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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