Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 1 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 provides care for up to four children who may have a sensory impairment, physical disabilities, learning disabilities or emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke with all four children living in the home during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the home registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 3

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outstanding

This is an exceptionally happy home that resembles a family home, with the children’s presence felt, seen and heard throughout. Children receive exceptional support and high-quality care from the staff. They are nurturing and responsive to the children’s individual complex needs. Children make excellent progress, which improves their overall quality of life.

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outstanding

Children’s lives are enriched as they enjoy time spent with the staff and their peers. The care and attention that the children receive is exceptional. The staff focus on the children’s happiness, abilities and independence.

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outstanding

The staff are creative and adapt their practice to meet each child’s individual needs. Practice in the home is based on a total-communication approach, which is worthy of wider dissemination. Children have personalised communication passports and communication aids to support them. This approach helps the children to develop their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Children have made considerable progress with their communication, and they now use their words. This has been life-changing for them.

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outstanding

Children share meaningful and trusting relationships with all staff, and they enjoy spending time with them. Children enjoy the care and affection that is shown to them by the staff. The children instinctively seek out intensive interaction and comfort. The strong and positive relationships that the children have with the staff allow them to feel accepted, build on their self-esteem and enjoy their time at the home.

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outstanding

Children take part in varied activities and experience opportunities that they would not previously have been able to take part in. Children are helped to build positive memories and expand their creative, social and physical interests. Individual talents and interests are nurtured and encouraged. This has helped the children to develop their skills and enjoy new experiences.

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outstanding

Exceptional individualised care ensures that each child has clear targets and goals. Children are consulted and listened to when deciding with staff which skills they would like to learn. Children who are unable to express their views verbally are supported with pictures and symbols. A professional said:

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outstanding

‘The development of [name of child’s] independence skills since being placed is out of this world. [Name of child] walked for the first time. The staff have been phenomenal.’

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outstanding

Staff are ambitious for the children. The children are supported to maintain excellent attendance at school. Staff also provide opportunities for the children to learn at Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 4 home. The children are supported to learn gardening skills and grow their own fruit and vegetables. One child who has finished school has been supported to attend college. Furthermore, the child has gained employment at the local foodbank. Subsequently, children are proud of their achievements, and they are instilled with confidence in reaching their full potential.

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outstanding

The staff are attuned to the children’s complex health needs. Staff are innovative in their approach to helping the children to overcome their anxieties in attending medical appointments. As a result, one child now attends routine dental appointments. For another, they now routinely wear their prescribed glasses. The staff help the children to complete specialist exercises to improve their mobility. Children are encouraged to follow a healthy diet. The support that the children receive helps them to become healthier.

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outstanding

Children live in a vibrant, well-maintained and welcoming home. The home is personalised, comfortable and reflects the children’s differing needs. The resources in the home are continually developing. The investment in a sensory room and mud kitchen brings further enjoyment and opportunities for the children.

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outstanding

The staff team has an excellent insight into the different risks and vulnerabilities that the children face. These are highlighted in the highly individualised and extremely detailed risk management plans. The staff meticulously plan the day-to-day arrangements in the home. Sufficient staffing arrangements means that the children are supervised and safely observed, without being deprived of their liberty.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from the home. They do not experience bullying, and physical intervention is only used as a last resort. Its use is closely monitored to ensure that it is practised safely. Staff are skilled in de-escalation techniques, and they use language that is therapeutic and nurturing. Children respond well to this approach and feel calmer.

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outstanding

The manager has introduced iceberg mapping to educate the staff team about children’s past trauma and how this presents as behaviour. Systems are in place to monitor the trends and patterns of the children’s behaviour. The staff discuss their findings and observations, which then inform the children’s individual positive behaviour support plans. Consequently, incidents of children becoming anxious, frustrated and displaying behaviours significantly reduce.

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outstanding

Recruitment practice is strong and effective. This ensures that all staff are appropriately checked and vetted before looking after the children. This helps to ensure that the children are not exposed to adults that may harm them.

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outstanding

Staff use pictures and symbols to help those children with communication difficulties to understand the potential dangers, for example around fire procedures and health and safety. These are on display and are shared with children. In addition to this, guidance Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 5 on how to complain is available in different communication formats. This supports safe care and children’s rights .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed by an inspirational and dedicated manager who holds high aspirations for all the children. The manager is supported by a very capable, diverse and stable staff team. The staff share the manager’s enthusiasm and ambitions for changing the lives of children. This ethos enables the children to flourish at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s enthusiasm is replicated in the whole staff team, which holds his leadership in extremely high regard. Staff are completely invested in the home’s ethos. Staff take immense pride in children’s progress and achievements, and they treat the children with positive unconditional regard. One staff member said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

‘It is wonderful to work here. We are a family, the children come first, seeing them achieve and growing in confidence is extremely rewarding.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff talk of feeling empowered and motivated, which brings new and creative ideas to the care provided to the children. Staff take on responsibilities linked with their own interests, acting as champions. This leads to developments and improvements, such as the staff creating a sensory garden and organising charity events within the local community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a sound knowledge and understanding of each child. He is actively involved in the children’s daily care, and he has high aspirations for their futures. Children enjoy spending time with the manager, and strong relationships are built. The manager has been creative in ensuring that the children are actively involved in the home’s development. This helps the children to contribute to the care that they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention is excellent , which is testament to the support, training and guidance that staff receive. This provides familiarity for the children and continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff complete psychometric testing during their induction, and a personal profile is created to determine their personality type, learning style and their team role. This practice supports supervision sessions, appraisals and their personal development. As a result, motivated staff members embrace professional development opportunities and strive to achieve their full working potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and comprehensive supervision sessions that drive improvement forward. Topics covered are explored further, when appropriate, in team meetings. This allows for good practice to be acknowledged and shared while presenting opportunities to discuss areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The well-being of children, including their mental health, is seen as important. This extends to the staff team whose members are invited to join activities, such as well- Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 6 being walks that take place monthly. This, together with ongoing investment in training, makes the staff feel valued and supported. The staff feedback gave a clear picture that the children receive care from a cohesive team of staff who feel valued and are extremely proud of their work.

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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: 2607587 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: Metropolitan House, 3 Drakes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 8 inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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