Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 1 SC476270 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to five children. Children are likely to have emotional and behavioural difficulties and may have experienced trauma.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

On the date of the inspection, the manager was not yet registered. They had, however, applied and attended their fit person interview. On 5 May 2023, the manager was deemed suitable and registered. Before this, there had been no registered manager since December 2019.

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 requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 26 July 2022, Ofsted carried out an assurance visit. Serious and widespread failures were identified in the protection of children and leadership and management and, as a result, a compliance notice under regulation 13 was issued.

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out monitoring visits on 14 September 2022 and 17 November 2022 to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the notice. Both visits found continued Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 2 shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home which had impacted on the safety of children, and compliance notices were issued again each time.

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

As a result of the continued shortfalls, Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice on 22 November 2022, to prevent any further children moving into the home.

p.2

Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 12 January 2023, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit. This monitoring visit found improvements had been made, resulting in the compliance notice being met. Despite this, the leadership and management of the home remained unstable. This is because a manager had not been appointed and management oversight of the home was weak. As a result, the notice to restrict accommodation remained in place.

p.2

Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 13 February 2023, Ofsted conducted a further monitoring visit to review the previous requirements and the restriction of accommodation notice. Staffing numbers were low and the home remained without a manager. As a result, Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice for a second time.

p.2

Enforcement action since last inspection:

A further monitoring visit was carried out by Ofsted on 27 March 2023 to monitor the provider’s adherence to the restriction notice and progress in relation to the previous requirements issued. Improvements had been made to the leadership in the home. A new manager was in post and had applied to register with Ofsted. Improvements had been made to the care of children, although changes were in their infancy and staffing in the home remained unstable. As a result, some requirements were met but the restriction of accommodation notice remained in place. Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/07/2021 Full Inadequate 19/12/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child lives in the home and has done so for a significant period of time. Two children have left the home since the last full inspection. Staff supported the transition for the child who left most recently to make sure they were prepared for the move. Staff communicated well with the child’s new carers and the child was given reassurance throughout.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A restriction notice has been in place at the home since November 2022. The provider has adhered to the restriction notice, which means that no children have moved into the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Warm and nurturing relationships were observed between staff and the child during the inspection. This is despite a large number of staffing changes, which have impacted on the consistency of relationships for the child. The child said that they enjoy living here. The child’s social worker said the child very much sees this as their home and that staff are approachable and communication is good.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide good educational support to the child and they attend school every day. The child’s school said their attendance has improved over the past year and staff help with homework. Staff work with school to help the child overcome any educational barriers.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have made improvements to how they seek the child’s views and listen to them. Staff spend time talking to the child about what is relevant to them and their progress. The is helping the child to learn about keeping safe and relationships.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has opportunities to go out and enjoy different activities. For example, they go for a speed walk with staff or shopping or to the cinema and have started to spend more independent time away from home. However, staff are not helping the child to develop further interests in the community to support their wider social and emotional development.

p.4

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

Managers review incidents and provide staff with guidance to help them keep children safe. However, new information which has recently emerged about risks posed to the child is not captured in the written plans provided to staff. This has not resulted in any shortfalls in practice but it prevents staff from having the most up- to-date information in records.

p.4

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

The child has remained settled since the last inspection and, as a result, there has not been any use of restraint, or episodes of going missing or allegations for some time. Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 5 Staff supervision and engagement with the child to keep them safe online has improved. More recently, staff have started to use the home’s therapeutic approach to develop trusting relationships with the child, to help them think about their online world and how to use social media safely. When concerns have been identified, these have been explored promptly by staff, and the child’s social worker has been informed. This ensures the child’s safety is prioritised.

p.4

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

Staff minimise effectively the risks of exploitation for the child. The manager is embedding the nurturing approach she expects staff to use with the child to help them become more aware of the risks. The manager has also sought input from other professionals such as police, who have also helped educate the child on the risks. This recent change has helped ensure there is a coordinated response between professionals to keep the child safe.

p.5

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

The manager is changing the approach to supporting positive behaviour. Consequences given to the child are proportionate and staff praise the child when they do something well. The child’s voice is captured in records. This is reinforcing positive behaviour.

p.5

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

When staff have been recruited, managers ensure this is done in line with safer recruitment procedures, so that only skilled and safe staff are working with the child, as far as possible.

p.5

good

Leadership and management of the home are starting to stabilise. There has been no registered manager for several years and managers in that time have not registered. The current manager is starting to bring about positive change.

p.5

good

Despite improvements in the home’s decor since the last full inspection, the environment still lacks warmth and personalisation. There are plans for redecoration of the home in the coming weeks to make it feel like a family space. The manager has a clear vision of how she wants to achieve this.

p.5

good

Since the last full inspection, staffing has been unstable and inconsistent. Managers are working hard to address this and to recruit a permanent team. Currently, the team consists of mainly new staff who are building their skills and experience. Staff feel well supported by the new manager.

p.5

good

Managers have provided staff with support, training and supervision to aid their induction. This has resulted in improvements to the way staff are caring for children. However, the home’s therapeutic approach to care is not yet embedded and these changes to staff skills are new. Leaders recognise that staff need more guidance and learning opportunities to further improve the care.

p.5

good

Aspects of the child’s care planning have drifted since the last full inspection. For example, the child has been waiting several years for specialist input from another Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 6 service. Managers have not ensured that requests for this support are followed up to get the child the help they need in a timely way. During the inspection, the manager recognised this shortfall. She has plans to improve the monitoring of care moving forward.

p.5

good

The new manager is starting to provide staff with a supportive environment. Staff receive regular reflective supervision and team meetings are now being used to give staff guidance on good practice. This is resulting in positive changes to the safeguarding practice in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 7

p.6

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.7

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5 (b)) This specifically refers to the registered person ensuring that they escalate concerns effectively when there is drift in children receiving a service or assessment. 15 June 2023

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the registered person ensuring that they continue to make improvements in how they develop the skills of staff to deliver the therapeutic approach. 15 June 2023

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. When there are safeguarding concerns for a child, managers should update their own internal written guidance to ensure staff have the most up-to-date information about Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 8 managing risk on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.7

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: SC476270 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Inspectors

Fiona Roche, Social Care Inspector Nicola Lownds, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home: SC476270 10 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.

p.9

Inspectors

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.10

Inspectors

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

p.10

Inspectors

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

p.10