Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 1 SC456602

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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

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 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 inspector 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: SC456602 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

The children form trusting relationships with a stable staff team. This means that children feel comfortable talking about any worries that they might have. A child said that living at the home is, ‘Good.’

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The care of children

Children’s health needs are met. When children are anxious about accessing services, staff support them to overcome their fears. The manager and staff ensure that children have the life skills that they need. Older children are encouraged to make their own health appointments, as well as to learn how to budget and cook. This preparation means that children are confident about moving on.

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The care of children

If children are reluctant to engage with health practitioners, staff will seek advice from the in-house clinician and specialist services to ensure that they are providing care that reflects each child’s individual needs.

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The care of children

Children’s views are regularly sought, both as a group and individually. The choice of menu, activities and outings reflects suggestions that the children make.

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The care of children

Children are provided with information when they move in to the home about the routines and rules. This helps them to understand what living in the home will be like. Children know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy, and these complaints are addressed with them by the registered manager. This means that children feel listened to.

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The care of children

Children are supported to personalise their rooms, choosing paint colours and decorations that reflect their likes and interests.

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The safety of children

Staff have a clear understanding of the risks which may affect the children. Plans to help children are updated as children’s risks reduce, or if new ones are identified. The manager ensures that staff are aware of any changes. This means that staff know how to help children to keep safe.

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The safety of children

Children no longer go missing, but staff are aware of what steps to take if they were unaware of a child’s whereabouts.

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The safety of children

If children are held to keep themselves and other people safe, the registered manager ensures that children and staff are spoken to and that the incident is properly recorded and evaluated. This learning has been applied to practice and, as a result, there has been a reduction in the use of physical interventions. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 3 Discussions with children are used to help them to understand how to keep themselves safer. Staff follow children’s plans to ensure that potential risks from social media are managed. When door alarms are used to monitor safety, the proper consents are sought.

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The safety of children

If there are concerns that children may have harmful items in their rooms, staff complete searches. Although searches are not undertaken without reason, records do not show that discussions with children have taken place about the room search. The registered manager also does not evaluate room searches to assess if the search was necessary and proportionate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has taken steps to address the requirements and recommendations that were made at the previous inspection. There is a consistent staff team. Staff say that they enjoy their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager encourages learning across the staff team and uses monitoring systems to support ongoing improvement to the quality of care. Staff are proud of the progress that children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The benefits of changes to staff practice are reflected in the reduction of incidents. When things have not gone well, children are spoken to and supported to develop positive behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has ensured that staff are appropriately qualified and trained. Staff receive regular reflective supervision, which includes discussions about each of the children. Development targets are identified. However, records do not consistently detail the support that is provided to staff to improve their practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of room searches consistently include a record of discussions with children, and that manager oversight of the staff’s actions is evidenced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that supervision records include steps that staff are to take to improve their practice and how this progress will be evaluated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 6

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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

Laura Grundy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 7 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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