Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 1 SC066127 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 home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties, sensory impairment, learning disabilities and mental disorders.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

The full inspection of the home was conducted by Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector, on 12 and 13 December 2022. This inspection was deemed to be incomplete. This further inspection visit was completed on 22 March 2023 to gather additional evidence.

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Information about this children’s home

During this inspection, the inspector spoke to all four of the children who live at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2021 Full Outstanding 16/01/2020 Full Outstanding 29/08/2018 Full Outstanding 19/02/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 3

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outstanding

This is an exceptionally happy, family-oriented home, with the children’s presence felt, seen and heard throughout. Children love living here. They have fun and make phenomenal progress from their starting points. The quality of children’s lives significantly improves because of their experience of living in the home.

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outstanding

The children benefit from the high quality of care provided by staff. The care provided in the home is highly individualised, with excellent attention given to the specific needs of the children. The care and support that the children receive provide them with the best possible opportunities for progression and development.

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outstanding

The children are provided with a warm, nurturing and positive environment. Adaptations have been made to the home to meet the needs of those children with complex health and mobility needs. The environment promotes the children’s independence, where they feel valued and respected.

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outstanding

The children share meaningful and trusting relationships with all the staff, and they enjoy spending time with them. The children enjoy the care and affection shown to them. The children instinctively seek out intensive interactions with the staff. This promotes their confidence, self-esteem and identity.

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outstanding

The children benefit from an array of enjoyable activities and opportunities. Staff are skilled in using the resources of the home and those in the wider community to provide the children with positive experiences. Every effort is made by the staff to ensure that children try new experiences and explore the world that they live in.

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outstanding

Staff help the children to spend time with those who are important to them, sometimes for the first time in several years. Staff are creative in how they facilitate and support these arrangements. This promotes the children’s identity and helps them to maintain important relationships.

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outstanding

The home’s environment is impressive; it is completely child-friendly. Great care has been taken to meet the specific sensory needs of the children. Children’s artwork is on display throughout the home, creating a colourful environment. There is an abundance of photos on the walls that reflect the many memories made. As a result, children identify their home as a safe place to play, have fun, be imaginative and explore.

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outstanding

The staff have high aspirations for each child. The staff encourage the children to keep active, to learn and understand how to manage their self-care, and to eat healthily. The staff work collaboratively with health professionals to improve the children’s overall health. One child’s life has been enriched, and they have made Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 4 significant progress with their mobility. Children now participate in events that professionals previously thought may not have been achievable.

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outstanding

The staff have a wealth of knowledge. They use this to provide high-quality care to the children to ensure their complex needs are met well. The children’s risk assessments and positive behaviour plans enable the staff to understand each child’s strengths, risks and vulnerabilities. Children, therefore, feel safe and protected.

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outstanding

The staff know each child exceptionally well. The staff have undertaken safeguarding training relating to children with additional needs. The staff’s knowledge mirrors the information recorded in the children’s care plans and the risk assessments. Because of this, the children receive cohesive and consistent care.

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outstanding

The staff communicate effectively with the children and are attuned to their individual communication needs. The staff use learning from research and embed it into their daily practice. The staff are mindful of the language that they use, and they personalise this to each child in their care. Consequently, incidents of the children becoming anxious and frustrated have been reduced significantly.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from the home, and physical intervention is only used as a last resort. The manager monitors this practice closely to ensure that it is practised safely. Staff are skilled in de-escalation techniques, and they use language that is therapeutic and nurturing. Children respond well to this approach and feel calmer.

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outstanding

There are no concerns about bullying at the home. The staff support the children individually to understand appropriate interactions with each other. The children enjoy each other’s company and choose to do activities together.

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outstanding

The registered manager and her staff are creative and innovative in the work that they complete with the children. The practice is worthy of wider dissemination. The work is focused on what matters most to the children to continually improve their quality of life. As a result, the children acquire the skills they need to safely explore the world around them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed by an inspirational and dedicated manager who holds high aspirations for the children. The manager is supported by a diverse, stable staff team. The staff share the manager’s enthusiasm and ambitions for changing the lives of children. This ethos enables the children to flourish at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and the team leaders provide regular supervision to the staff. This is child-focused and reflective. The supervision process provides the staff with the guidance that they need to provide high-quality and consistent care to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 5 Team meetings are regular and well attended. Bespoke training and workshops are delivered in team meetings. Staff actively participate in these meetings, and they share their knowledge and learning. This ensures that the staff have the relevant skills to meet the children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff provide the children with a stable and secure home where they can reach their full potential. Family members describe the home as the children’s ‘extended family’. In addition, feedback from professionals is consistently excellent and highlights the positive difference that living in this home makes for children. A professional said: ‘The manager and her staff are committed; they go above and beyond to improve the outcomes for children. The home is a special and wonderful place to live.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates sound insight into the home’s strengths as well as areas that could be further improved. Her motivation and enthusiasm are highly effective at sustaining and driving improvements forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is protective of the children and promotes their rights and best interests. She advocates on their behalf, acting when necessary to safeguard them. She challenges professionals and services when children’s needs are not being met or when decisions are not in the children’s best interests.

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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: SC066127 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: 5 th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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