Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 1 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 one child who may have social and emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 21 December 2021

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has been living at the home since 2021. The child is settled at the home and is currently excelling in education. It is expected that the child will remain at the home until they have completed A levels and secured a university place. The staff share and promote the child’s aspirations for education and the importance of this for their future life opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff share responsibility for attendance at school parents’ evenings with the child’s family at the child’s request. The child also arranges contact with their family and enjoys regular trips to see them and overnight stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment for children to live in and develop. The child said that staff have discussed improving their bedroom, as the child is spending increasing amounts of time in their room while studying for A levels. The child also enjoys visiting local courts and going to youth parliament with friends to support their learning at college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the child does not always enjoy joining staff for regular activities, the child does enjoy joining them for celebratory meals. The child prefers to save their allowances for events such as concerts, which they enjoy going to with friends. Staff took time to go shopping with the child and their parent in preparation for the school prom. Joint celebrations with staff from the home and the child’s family helped to make this a memorable occasion for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with all health professionals for routine health needs and attends specialist appointments as required.

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

The child is settled at the home. There have been no incidents of physical restraint or consequences since the last inspection. This is a reflection of the positive relationships that have developed between the child and the staff and their ability to talk and reflect on situations.

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

Risk assessments are in place, detailing the risks to the child, but these assessments are not always updated following safeguarding concerns. This does not ensure that staff are fully aware of all risks to children in their care.

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

Allegations against staff are reported to the relevant professionals and the manager takes appropriate action to safeguard the child and those involved. Staff are also aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. However, there has been a delay in completing an internal investigation into staff conduct, which means that the child has not had a final response to the concerns that they raised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 4 Following an incident of inappropriate access to records at the home, the manager has taken action to resolve the damage caused and has reminded staff of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and confidentiality. However, Ofsted was not notified of this incident and a requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

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

The manager seeks assistance from the organisation’s clinician following incidents of concern, such as self-harm. The clinician also attends staff team meetings to provide guidance and support as necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

The previous manager left the position in October 2022. An interim manager has been appointed but has yet to submit an application to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Direct-work sessions reflect staff views that are, at times, inappropriate. Because management oversight is insufficient, these views have not been addressed by the interim manager, so remain unchallenged. This does not allow staff an opportunity to adequately reflect on their actions or to learn from the incident and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

The child said that communication has been an issue in the past but that this has improved recently and that staff now seek their views about matters affecting the home before making changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Staff said that they feel well supported in their roles. They receive regular supervision and training that help them in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

There have been some changes to staffing at the home. Recently, staffing levels have become one-to-one with the child, and this has enabled a smaller, more consistent staff team, which the child said is much better for them. Risk assessments to reflect this change are in place, along with strategies for staff to follow to ensure everyone’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement

Team meetings take place regularly and are used as an opportunity to reflect on the child, their progress and any concerns that staff may have about their welfare. Staff are given responsibility to research issues such as knife crime, bullying, sleep hygiene, alcohol abuse and self-harm. This research is then cascaded to the whole team at team meetings to increase staff’s knowledge, and training packs are created for staff to refer to as needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments reflect all known risks to children and how staff manage these risks prior to children’s admission to the home, and that risk assessments are updated to reflect relevant risks to children. 1 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 1 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 38 (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that internal management investigations are concluded without delay. 1 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 6 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager provides clear oversight of all records to ensure that good-quality care is being provided at the home.

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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: 2621119 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

Julia Toller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 8 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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