Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for two children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2020.

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

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. Following that inspection, Ofsted served a compliance notice in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard. In addition, seven requirements were made.

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 13 January 2023. The provider had met the compliance notice. In addition, the provider had met 3 of the requirements relating to regulation 8, the education standard, regulation 10, the health and well-being standard, and regulation 35, behaviour management policies and records. Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Inadequate 30/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home. The child told the inspector that she felt safe and that she can talk to staff if she has any worries.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s engagement with education. Managers and staff have good communication with education professionals and worked together to identify the most suitable education provision to meet the child’s current needs. Informal learning sessions are also carried out to develop the child’s independence skills. The child is encouraged to carry out a range of tasks, such as applying for a passport, cooking meals and budgeting. As a result, the child has become more prepared for the next stage of her life.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported with her health needs, such as attending health appointments. There are plans in place to increase the support the child receives in relation to her emotional well-being and to explore and understand her early childhood experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lots of opportunities to have fun and take part in a variety of activities. This has included trips to the beach, shopping trips and a city break with staff to visit a range of museums. In addition, staff continue to support the child in her part- time job.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see those who matter most to them. The manager provides the child’s parents with regular updates, which include weekly written reports. Feedback from a parent was positive about the support provided by the staff to her child and described the staff as ‘committed and kind’.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager advocates for children and ensures that children feel listened to and valued. The manager supported the child to write a letter to the children’s commissioner about her experiences of being a care-experienced child and the challenges she has experienced with the local authority responsible for her care.

p.3

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

The child’s risk assessments have improved since the last inspection. The written plans are informative and give staff an outline of the child’s presenting needs and how risks and behaviours should be managed. In addition, the manager has incorporated a tracker system to help her identify any trends and patterns in the child’s behaviour.

p.3

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no physical interventions. Relationships are based on encouraging and rewarding positive behaviour. Staff recognise the child’s achievements and implement incentive charts, which promote opportunities for the child to receive additional pocket money. Staff rarely use consequences. Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 4 Incidents of the child going missing have been responded to appropriately. The staff record the steps that they have taken and work collaboratively with the police to help her safely return home. The manager has also ensured that the child is provided with an independent return home interview, and information from the interview is used to help reduce incidents. This ensures that the child is provided with the appropriate support and helps to keep her safe.

p.3

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

Staff provide nurturing support to children when they are having emotional difficulties. Staff recognise when the child is experiencing low moods and respond quickly and effectively to help manage any worries. The child’s understanding of her own feelings has improved by using this approach. For example, the child has spent time with staff creating a self-care box and will now ask staff to take her for a walk if she is feeling anxious.

p.4

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

Direct work is undertaken by staff with the child to provide learning and skills in areas such as safe friendships and resilience. Staff work with external agencies to support the work they do with children. This helps children to understand risks and how to keep themselves safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have acknowledged shortfalls found at the previous full inspection and taken action to make positive changes. To improve management oversight, the responsible individual has increased his support to the registered manager. In addition, bespoke training has been sourced to enable the manager to develop her leadership skills.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has improved her oversight of staff practice. However, on one occasion, a member of staff did not follow a child’s plans and the manager identified that a performance plan was necessary to help improve their practice. However, the support identified is not yet in place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, staff have received further training relevant to the child’s experiences and needs. In addition, the manager works closely with the clinical team to explore how the child’s needs should be met. This ensures that staff have the correct knowledge and skills to meet the child’s needs and inform good practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff told the inspector that they enjoy working in the home. All staff receive regular and reflective supervision. They explore and discuss each child’s experiences and progress. Furthermore, the manager has discussed shortfalls found at the last inspection to help identify areas for further learning and development.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has improved partnership working with external agencies. This has included agencies such as mental health services and the police. During the inspection, professionals complimented the manager on her effective communication and the quality of care provided at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 5

p.4

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.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

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; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.5

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)(f))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that where shortfalls are identified in the practice of staff members, there is a clear plan in place to improve practice, with clear timescales. 18 April 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 6

p.5

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: 2599399 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2599399 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8