Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report children's home: SC476231 1 SC476231 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 registered to provide care for up to four children. The home specialises in providing care for children who have experienced or been at risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE).

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2022.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 16 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC476231 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/12/2021 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Outstanding 11/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC476231 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children are living in the home. There have been no changes since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care. This is seen in tailored placement plans that are reviewed and updated on a regular basis alongside the children who are encouraged to participate. This means that the children are well informed about their care plans and future goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress is measured against the organisations model of therapeutic care over 52 weeks in three phases. For one child, the initial phase of ‘stabilisation’ has been extended to support their needs. This is the same for all the children to ensure that they receive care reflective of their needs and progress. As a result, the children stay longer and develop a good sense of belonging in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to support from the clinical team. The appointed mental health practitioner is available for 1:1 sessions with the children and one child is positively engaged. The mental health practitioner offers support to the staff and attends monthly team around the child meetings to ensure that there is good joined up working in respect of the children’s care and where needed, referrals are made to other mental health services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move on from the home. This is seen with two children who are planning to return to the care of their families. Well thought out plans are in place to support these transitions. The children participate in planning and create their own plans in respect of things they would like to do and achieve before they move. The staff create beautifully designed memory books for the children to take with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide the children with a safe, warm and welcoming home. The communal spaces and garden allow the children to find areas for relaxation. There are personal touches and soft furnishings throughout the home, such as pictures of the children enjoying activities. The children have personalised bedrooms to their individual tastes. Through regular house meetings, the children are encouraged to get involved in decision-making about changes in the home and have recently re- decorated one of the lounges.

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

Staff know the children and their associated risk well. Individualised behaviour and risk management plans are updated and reviewed on a regular basis. The staff follow plans and respond well when the children take risks. As a result, there is no reported missing episodes or use of physical intervention. Inspection report children's home: SC476231 4 The staff have developed a ‘mapping system’ that looks at possible geographical risk for each child. This system considers potential links via road and train for each child based on their known risks and patterns of behaviour prior to moving to the home.

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

Children are supported to take age and developmentally appropriate risk, such as access to the internet, using a mobile phone and having free time. This is monitored closely through progress plans and when needed, restricted, and gradually increased again. Positive feedback was obtained from family and professionals in respect of the children’s increased knowledge and understanding of the associated risk of CSE.

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

Children are helped and supported to make complaints. These are responded to and actioned appropriately, the children are well informed of progress and outcomes. This means that the children feel heard and valued and develop trusted relationships with staff.

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

Staff help children who struggle with their emotions. The staff use direct sessions with the children to explore how they are feeling and find ways to manage their emotions. One child who has had a small number of self-harm incidents has been supported with a ‘self-soothe’ box.

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

The staff speak positively about the children and the care they provide. The inspector observed encouraging engagement between the children and the staff throughout the inspection. Positive feedback was obtained by other professionals in respect of the care and support the children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered managed is skilled and experienced and has shown determination to make improvements which was captured during the assurance visit in March 2023 and during this inspection. Her passion to develop the home, staff team and care for children is clearly evident and her vision shared with the new appointed manager who is receiving a thorough handover in readiness for August 2023.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has positive relationships with the children. This is because she has an ‘open door’ and ‘hands on’ approach to her management style, making herself available to the children. Furthermore, she advocates on behalf of the children, such as challenging delay with the Local Authority when children are awaiting transitions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked hard to develop good monitoring systems and although these are still in progress, improvement has been seen, to include consistent management oversight, review and evaluation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a core staff team, despite some changes, these staff remain loyal and committed to the home and the care they provide to the children. The registered manager has been vigilant with recruitment and identified a shortfall Inspection report children's home: SC476231 5 in one application. This subsequently meant the process was stopped and the job offer retracted. The registered manager is giving careful consideration to the appointment of overseas staff to work in the home, including ensuring that safe recruitment processes are followed. This means there are some vacancies, and the home cannot operate at full capacity until more staff are recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good working relationships with families and partner agencies. Positive feedback was obtained during the inspection in respect of her child-focussed practice and the improvements she has made to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has not ensured that the staff adhere to the smoking policy in the home. The inspector found and overflowing cigarette bin and cigarette butts on the floor in the staff smoking area. This sends the wrong message to the children who are not allowed to smoke on site and lets down the appearance of the home and garden that is well-maintained in all other areas. Inspection report children's home: SC476231 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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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home's policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home's care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. Each home must have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave.

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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 children's home: SC476231 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC476231 8 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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