Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Torbay

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 1 SC456863 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home, having moved there in October 2022. Another child lived at the home from September 2021 to July 2022. A third child lived in the home from May 2021 to August 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager at this home has been in post since September 2022 and has submitted their registration to Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2021 Full Good 10/07/2019 Full Good 10/09/2018 Full Outstanding 09/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In this inspection period, three children have lived in the home. Two of these children have made good progress. However, the third child made little progress during their time in the home and the placement ended prematurely. This was because the staff caring for the child at that time, did not have the right skills or experience to meet their complex needs. This led to assaults on staff and restraint being used.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have responded effectively by thoroughly reviewing this period, implementing lessons learned and tackling poor practice and potential issues around the culture of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, a new staff team and manager are in place and only children whose needs are compatible with the team’s skillset have since been admitted.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This new staff team provides warm and nurturing care. Staff know children well and have high aspirations for them. Children enjoy living in the home. They feel that staff trust them and support them to take risks where appropriate.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff respond to children in a therapeutic and creative manner. Support plans for children are developed by staff with consultation from the in-house psychologist.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are not in education, staff are supportive and creative in trying to get them to engage with educational activities. Staff and management are strong advocates for children and use professional challenge appropriately. However, routines in place for children when they are not in education are not consistently robust.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. There have been three complaints made by children during this period. When complaints are made, children are responded to by managers and appropriate action taken to address their concerns. Children’s voices are captured throughout the process.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. Children personalise their bedrooms and make use of the spare bedroom in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is limited private outside space attached to this home. Leaders and managers have not always fully considered the limitations of this space when making decisions about whether this is the right home for some children.

p.3

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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 4 Children told inspectors that they feel safe living in this home and have positive relationships with staff. These relationships help children make safer choices for themselves. For example, two children had deprivation of liberty safeguards in place prior to moving to the home. Progress made by both children means that these orders were not renewed once they lapsed.

p.4

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

When children go missing, staff take appropriate action. They look for children, report them missing and support them to return home safely.

p.4

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

Ten incidents of restraint were recorded during this period for one child. Restraint is used in appropriate circumstances; however, in this case, it was also indicative of staff at that time not having the skills and knowledge to effectively de-escalate incidents.

p.4

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

Multiple assaults against staff were recorded during this period. There were concerns about staff not responding to the child therapeutically, and the child’s placement ended prematurely.

p.4

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

Leaders and managers have since completed learning reviews. Action plans developed from these reviews have been completed.

p.4

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

Positively, the manager remained in contact with the child after the end of their placement, including sending a Christmas present.

p.4

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

When concerns are raised about staff, appropriate safeguarding procedures are followed. Investigations are completed robustly and promptly. However, managers do not ensure that Ofsted is consistently notified when serious incidents take place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and children are positive about the support and leadership provided by the manager and responsible individual.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care plans are regularly updated, and management oversight is good. There is evidence of reflection following incidents, and regular review of plans with input from the in-house psychologist.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals spoken to reported that communication with the home is good and children are given a good standard of care. The manager advocates strongly for children and has a good understanding of their needs and risks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers challenge local authorities when appropriate support is not provided to children in a timely way. However, managers do not routinely escalate with placing authorities when decisions regarding children’s care need review, including when statutory reviews are overdue. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 5 When there are concerns about staff performance, these are identified quickly and action plans put in place to address concerns.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive appropriate and up-to-date training. Additional specialist training is provided to staff to ensure that they can meet the specific needs of the children living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.6

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.6

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 March 2023

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that appropriate routines are in place for children who are not in full-time education and that these continue to be reviewed regularly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that they challenge placing authorities where decision-making and reviews of children’s care do not take place promptly and within statutory timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that they consider the potential impact of a lack of outdoor space when making decisions about whether this is the right Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 7 home for some children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.23)

p.6

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: SC456863 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Childcare Ltd, Metropolitan House, 3 Drakes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

p.8

Inspector

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456863 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9