Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Blackpool

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 1 SC415710

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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

This home is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have experienced social or emotional difficulties. Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 29 September 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. The transitions for the children were well planned and were adapted to meet the individual needs of each child during the process. However, the manager had not ensured that the transition plan was recorded or shared with the children to help them understand their pathway and the levels of support in place. Both children maintain contact with the staff team and continue to share their progress and good news stories.

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The care of children

One child has recently moved into the home. The new manager developed a detailed introduction plan to support the child and ensure that introductions were gradual. This supported the child moving into the home and ensured that the child already living in the home did not become unsettled.

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The care of children

Children have established trusting relationships with staff. Children said, ‘I like it here, and I can talk to staff if I’m upset,’ and ‘It’s been ok since I came to live here. The staff made me feel welcome.’

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, managers and staff have given education a high priority. All children in the home now attend school. Staff support the children’s educational progress by using incentives to encourage the children to attend school. This is supporting children to achieve their educational outcomes.

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The care of children

Staff promote children’s health and well-being. Staff ensure that children attend medical appointments and work effectively with other agencies, such as the child and adolescent mental health service, to ensure that children access support for their emotional well-being.

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The care of children

Staff know children well. They spend time with children, getting to know each person’s unique interests. As a result, children take part in a wide range of activities. This gives children the opportunity to develop new skills and increase their confidence and self-esteem.

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The care of children

Children’s views are central to the running of the home. Staff obtain children’s views through key-work sessions and by spending time talking to children about their views, wishes and feelings. This ensures that children feel listened to and are empowered to make decisions about their home and their care.

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The care of children

Family time is actively promoted and well supported. This is encouraging children to re-establish appropriate and safe contact with important people in their lives. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 3

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The safety of children

Staff are proactive when children go missing. They look for children and follow missing-from-home protocols. Staff spend time with children in key-work sessions to educate children on how to keep themselves safe and the dangers of going missing. Managers ensure that independent return interviews take place and use the information provided by such interviews to minimise any risk factors. This ensures that appropriate arrangements are in place to protect each child.

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The safety of children

Managers have dealt with allegations robustly, involving social workers and the local authority designated officer. The recording of the allegations and actions taken is detailed and demonstrates that appropriate action has been taken. Children have been supported through the process and helped to understand any outcomes.

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The safety of children

There is a low level of restraint used in the home. When restraint is carried out, it is as a last resort and in line with the legislative framework. However, due to the number of documents completed following an intervention, it remains unclear if children and staff are debriefed afterwards. It is also unclear who has signed off the documents as appropriate. The new manager accepted that the documents were unclear and discussed a new process that was due to be implemented.

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The safety of children

Consequences are used to help children understand the results of their actions. However, these are not consistently reviewed by managers and, on occasion, are not proportionate or fair. This does not ensure that all children are treated equally.

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The safety of children

Not all children benefit from clear and consistent behaviour management strategies. When children use language that is inappropriate and demanding, staff do not consistently take appropriate action to challenge this to help children understand socially acceptable behaviours.

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The safety of children

Safer recruitment procedures have not consistently been adhered to. The manager was unable to locate a recruitment file for a new staff member. Although the manager contacted Human Resources to request information, this was not provided. The manager confirmed that she had not had sight of the file to be satisfied that all relevant checks had been conducted.

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The safety of children

Rotas do not consistently show the staff working in the home. On occasions rotas were let blank. This does not demonstrate who is responsible for the care and welfare of the children.

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The safety of children

In response to a previous requirement, managers have improved the quality of information in risk assessments. They are clear, detailed and regularly updated. However, documents are not signed and dated, and it is unclear if all staff have read the changes contained in the documentation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 4 Since the last inspection, the manager has withdrawn her application to register. The provider identified interim management arrangements to support the ongoing development of the home. A new manager has recently been moved from another home operated by the provider. She has submitted an application to register.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The new manager is passionate about the home and has high expectations for the children and her staff team. She has already developed several documents to ensure that each child’s journey through care is captured.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The new manager has spent time with the children, gathered their wishes and feelings about living in the home and talked to staff about their roles and responsibilities. She has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and makes plans to address areas identified for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The provider has implemented new internal monitoring systems in response to a previous requirement. This has supported the improvements in the home in meeting the previous requirements. External monitoring of the home continues to lack an evaluation on the quality of care provided and is conducted with limited consultation with children, staff and other professionals. The provider had already acted and identified a new independent visitor for the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/01/2022 Full Good 08/01/2020 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iii) 30 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1)) 30 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)) 30 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 kept up to date; and 30 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 7 are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the records include a copy of the staff duty roster of people working at the home, a record of the actual rotas worked and a record of any person who works at any time at the home. 30 May 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that supervision is focused on children’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback, and that supervision is recorded effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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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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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector Nichola Croft, Regulatory inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC415710 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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