Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 1 SC454647 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 is a privately owned home which provides care for up to five children. The home specialises in providing a 12-month therapeutic programme for children who are at risk of or subject to child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/10/2021 Full Outstanding 10/09/2019 Full Outstanding 16/05/2018 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children are currently living in the home. Since the last inspection, five children have moved on from the home. All five children successfully moved into semi- independent or independent living. For one child, the staff actively found, secured and prepared a flat as part of the child’s move. The inspector received positive feedback from the child who reflected on their time at the home: ‘It was the best time of my life. I always wish I could go back’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress. The staff speak confidently about the progress children make and ensure that praise is given no matter how big or small the progress is. Praise is captured in daily dairies written to the children to outline their achievements, and positive rewards are also received.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school. All four children attend full-time education in two of the organisation’s schools. This is significant progress for all the children who had low or no school attendance before moving into the home. When the children struggle with their education, they are supported by staff who attend the school and offer support throughout the day. When needed, the children are supported in the home to complete their education with staff. The staff work closely with the school staff to ensure that there is a consistent approach to supporting the children with their learning both at home and in school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All four children are supported to have contact with their families. Any risks associated with this are carefully considered and monitored. When needed, family time is reviewed, and changes are made to keep children safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote hobbies and clubs. Every child is encouraged to find and develop a personal interest and supported to attend clubs. All four children are engaging in various activities, such as horse riding, Jujitsu, singing and acting, snowboarding, chess and boxing. One child enjoys walking dogs at the local dog shelter and loves to bake cakes to share with others in and out the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to. The children engage in monthly house meetings and are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings, raise issues and make requests for the menu and weekly activities. The children receive written feedback that is shared with them and displayed in the home. All complaints are responded to appropriately, and children are well informed of progress and outcomes.

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

The staff know children well. The children receive individualised care based on their needs from nurturing staff who build positive and trusted relationships with the children. The children say they feel safe in the home, and one child stated: ‘They do a really good job of caring for me and the other girls’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 4 Children are safe. The staff ensure that each child has a clear behaviour and risk management plan in place that highlights any associated risk. The children living in the home are identified as being at high risk of exploitation. As a result, careful attention is given to risk assessments and planning for each child to monitor and reduce risk.

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

Staff help children to take appropriate risks. As part of the children’s care plans, they are supported to work towards specific goals, such as access to social media, online gaming and use of mobile phones. To ensure that the children are safe, they complete specific pieces of work to demonstrate their understanding of risk.

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

The children receive additional help and support from the organisation’s allocated assistant phycologist. She has a regular presence and availability in the home. She attends regular meetings and provides support and guidance to the staff. When required, children receive support from external agencies to ensure that their specific needs are met. Evidence has been seen of the staff advocating on behalf of the children in need of specialist support.

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

Staff help children to regulate their emotions. The children are supported with their changing behaviours and encouraged to find coping strategies. For the children who self-harm, they are provided with ‘self-soothing’ boxes. These contain items that help the children calm and distract them from causing harm to themselves. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in self-harm episodes in the home.

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good

The registered manager is skilled and experienced. She is knowledgeable, child- focused and shows passion for the care children receive and the progress they make. She has positive working relationships with the staff, professionals and partner agencies. She ensures that she builds on and sustains positive communication with children’s families and remains in contact with the children who have moved on from the home. Despite this, the inspector identified shortfalls in the leadership and management that require improvement to be good.

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good

Not all staff have completed mandatory fire safety training. Despite having access to an online training hub, one member of staff has not updated their fire safety since November 2022, and the registered manager has failed to notice this shortfall.

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good

The registered manager has not kept paperwork up to date and, as a result, some documents are missing required information. Staff do not routinely sign to confirm that they have reviewed updated documents and, in some cases, there was a lack of management oversight.

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good

In some instances, the quality of recording means that it is not clear what work has taken place following incidents in the home. This hinders the manager’s oversight of staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 5 Some staff have not had regular supervision with the registered manager. In addition to this, the staff did not receive appraisals in 2022, and some staff are not aware of their development plans. Despite this, staff say they feel supported by the registered manager and receive ad-hoc supervision as and when required.

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good

Some areas of the home look tired and need redecoration. Staff are not always maintaining good enough cleanliness throughout the home. Despite this, the children have clean, tidy and personalised bedrooms. The registered manager has challenged the organisation about the delay in requested home improvements.

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good

The registered manager failed to notify Ofsted of one serious event. On one occasion, the registered manager did not notify Ofsted of an allegation made against a member of staff by a child’s parent. She did however record and report this accordingly to the local safeguarding board who took no further action, and she completed positive work with the child and member of staff as part of the resolution.

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good

The registered manager has failed to submit her six-monthly review of quality of care. This was a recommendation following the last inspection period and has now been raised as a requirement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered persona enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team and where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experiences, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(b)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager conducts regular and informative team meetings to ensure consistency within the staff team and care provided. It also relates to ensuring staff are completing mandatory training and that they read and sign updated documents. 12 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children’s files are up to date, reports are completed thoroughly and that they are signed and dated. 12 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

12 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 7 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 12 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. (Regulation 45 (1)) 14 April 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment meets the needs of their children, is homely, domestic and well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC454647 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC454647 9 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. 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

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Inspector

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 .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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