Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 1 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 privately owned by a national provider. It provides care for up to five children who are likely to experience social and emotional difficulties due to past trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Good 16/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home, and two children have moved on from the home. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is building trusting relationships with staff. Inspectors observed the child enjoying being with staff in the garden and cooking together. The child talked openly with staff. Staff work hard to build positive relationships with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide individualised, child-centred care. The child’s needs and progress are regularly monitored through multi-agency meetings led by in-house mental health practitioners. The child benefits from a good support network and is making good progress because their complex needs are understood by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before the child moved into the home, their participation in education was minimal. Since moving to the home, the child has had excellent attendance at an educational placement that is run by the organisation. The child benefits from additional support to help them with subjects that they find more difficult. The child is making good progress in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has external support from child and adolescent mental health services. They also have regular creative therapy sessions with the in-house mental health practitioner. The child is being helped to understand and process past trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to understand their past, explore their identity and learn how to manage safe relationships through powerful and interactive key-work sessions. Staff are skilled and empathetic and help the child feel at ease to be able to have difficult but important discussions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who is living at the home and the children who have now moved on have taken part in a range of activities. Children have been on day trips to the seaside and go-karting. The child currently living in the home has a gym membership and enjoys swimming. One child who has moved on from the home went abroad for the first time while living in the home. Children have fun and enriching experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are managed well. One child moved back with foster carers, and another child moved back with their parent. A foster carer said: ‘The move back home was well planned. The manager and staff really understood the child’s needs. They stay in touch and have a visit planned. The staff are just excellent.’ On one occasion, circumstances that were out of the manager’s control meant that one child moved out of the home in an unplanned way. However, this was managed well and with sensitivity. Children have positive experiences moving into and on from the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 4 The home is spacious, well decorated and homely. There are various communal rooms to relax in. The child’s artwork is displayed around the home, and their bedroom is personalised. The child is proud of the herbs and vegetables that they are growing in the garden. The child benefits from living in a well-kept environment.

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

Staff understand how to manage the high-level risks that children face at the home and in the community. Staff use well-considered and effective strategies to help keep the child currently living at the home safe.

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

Staff manage safeguarding concerns well, and they feel confident to act. When children go missing from the home, staff look for them and report them as missing to the police without delay. Staff have good links with the local police. Staff are committed to making regular welfare calls to check in with children, including when one child who was missing did not return to the home. Staff maintained good relationships with this child as they moved on.

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

The child currently living at the home is safer because staff understand the risks that the child faces and the triggers and meaning of their behaviour. The child is going missing from care less frequently. Staff apply consistent boundaries and restrictions to support the reduction of these missing-from-care episodes; these are proportionate to the risks to the child. Staff can recognise signs that the child may be trying to go missing through changes in their behaviour, and they react quickly. This has prevented the child from going missing. Staff know the child well, and this helps to keep the child safe.

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

There have been a number of concerns about some staff members’ conduct since the last inspection. The manager takes prompt action to report practice concerns to children’s social workers, the local authority designated officer and Ofsted. When concerns are raised about staff, there are detailed independent manager investigations. Overall, concerns and allegations about staff are managed well, and children are protected from harm. The manager acts effectively to safeguard children at the home. However, despite these practice concerns, staff have not had recent training in conduct and professional boundaries.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced manager has a relevant level 5 qualification. She has managed the home for over two years. She is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Both are excellent role models for staff. Staff benefit from the managers’ experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has had recruitment difficulties. Two staff members are due to start work at the home. The managers have used core staff who the children know from sister homes and a small pool of agency staff. The managers have no intention of moving any children in until the recruitment has improved. This has helped to provide good, consistent care for the child living at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 5 Staff said that the managers are very good and approachable and that supervision is regular. One staff member said that they have had excellent support from the manager following a difficult incident. Staff have access to an anonymous employee assistance programme and can access counselling. Staff feel well supported and are motivated to deliver good care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s reports are of good quality and include feedback from children, parents and professionals. The independent person makes appropriate recommendations that help the manager to improve the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a thorough induction and good training. They hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards the qualification within timescales. The manager and staff benefit from training with a mental health practitioner to discuss the children’s support needs and implement strategies to help children. However, staff do not fully understand the therapeutic model used at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has submitted their internal monitoring report to Ofsted as required. The report is generally of good quality and includes feedback from professionals, parents and children. However, the manager has not considered how the feedback can contribute to practice improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some of the children’s records do not contain all the relevant information. One child’s missing-from-home report was not concluded, and one child’s complaint outcome was not held in the child’s records. A key-work session on exploring negative feedback that a child had given about the home was not recorded. Some records are not clear or accurate. Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 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, The 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records of children’s complaints and missing-from-home incidents include all relevant information, that staff record children’s feedback and that the records are available to those who need access to them. 5 September 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff access appropriate training, including refresher training in professional boundaries and the home’s model of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home. The report should include how feedback from others will contribute to improvements in the quality of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2) Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 7

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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: 2631595 8

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennise Springett

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Inspectors

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Hannell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2631595 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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