Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 1 SC472465 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 care for up to five children with complex needs who have suffered early childhood trauma. It is owned by a large organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2022 and is undertaking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected, or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2022

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good 11/12/2019 Full Good 18/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 3

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inadequate

Since the previous inspection, three children have moved out of the home and three children have moved in. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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inadequate

None of the children are in formal education or employment. One child receives two hours of tutoring a week, and the other two children do not receive any support with their education. When there are challenges in children’s education, staff do not always provide sufficient care and support. For example, staff do not engage these children effectively each day in structured learning and educational activities. Mostly, children are left by themselves and spend prolonged periods in their bedrooms or on their electronic devices in non-educational activities. One child told the inspector, ‘I do some reading by myself.’ This does not promote high expectations and aspirations for children to achieve.

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inadequate

Children’s experiences of moving out of the home are variable. Two children moved out sooner than anticipated. Staff were unable to keep them safe because of the risk of self-harm and exploitation. Immediate notice was served on one child’s placement while they were receiving treatment in hospital. Staff did not provide either emotional or practical support to this child following notice being served. This has the potential for children to not feel valued. Another child moved to another home operated by the company and had a positive move, supported by the staff.

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inadequate

Children have differing relationships with staff, and not all children are treated the same. One child told the inspector, ‘[Name of staff member] said to me, “If you were mine, I would be ashamed of you”.’ Another child said, ‘[Name of staff member] told me, “Oh you’re so lazy and selfish.” This did not make me feel good.’ Conversely, some staff have healthy and positive relationships with the children, which enable children to confide in and trust some adults.

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inadequate

Some staff do not yet have a good understanding of the ethos and principles of the home’s statement of purpose in creating stability for children in the home. For example, staff do not always provide consistent boundaries. A child told the inspector, ‘I watch television all night and play on my [electronic device] until either 2am or 3am in the morning.’ Staff’s inconsistent practice prevents children from receiving the continuity of care that supports their needs, and children are not clear on what is expected of them.

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inadequate

Managers have not successfully communicated to staff the importance of regularly reviewing and updating children’s records to capture their history and experiences. For example, placement, health and education plans do not contain relevant information and track children’s progress. This means that staff are not able to consistently measure the children’s achievements and development or assess what Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 4 further support they may need. The manager has recognised that this shortfall in staff practice is an ongoing issue and has been discussing this in staff meetings.

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inadequate

The home is not well maintained throughout. Only the lounges and one child’s bedroom offer a comfortable and homely environment. Other areas of the home are unwelcoming. For example, two children’s bedrooms were not clean and tidy, the flooring was stained and there was a smell of urine. In another example, staff had not attempted to make a child’s bedroom welcoming for them when they returned from holiday. Their washing and clothing remained piled in their bedroom, and rubbish was left in the room.

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inadequate

Children enjoy various days out and activities, such as going to the pleasure beach, swimming and visiting the museum. Staff plan days out and special events for them. For example, staff recently took one child on holiday abroad, which was an enjoyable experience for the child. However, despite staff taking photos, these were not displayed. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that children have well- presented records of their memories to take with them when they leave the home.

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inadequate

Overall, children’s health needs are met to a good standard. Staff ensure that children’s health needs are monitored and individual health assessments are in place.

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inadequate

Staff support children well to maintain important relationships with family members, relatives and carers and understand the importance of children spending meaningful time with their families. They communicate with external professionals to review and update the family-time arrangements for children. As a result, children benefit from rekindling and developing family relationships and have a sense of feeling connected to their families.

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

Managers and staff have not identified patterns in children’s behaviour over time that suggest they may have been exploited. They have not shown professional curiosity about a child’s relationships with unknown males. Managers have not explored how significant events in a child’s life occurred, to seek to understand if the child is at risk or not. These concerns have been ongoing since September 2022, and the leaders and managers do not have a clear understanding of the risks to the child or whether the child has come to significant harm.

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

Managers and staff do not always ensure that children have sufficient support to help them to understand potential risks, personal safety and how to keep themselves safe. Despite the registered manager identifying the need for some targeted support for one child at risk of exploitation, staff did not facilitate these important discussions with the child to help them to progress. As a result, children do not receive good enough care to help them to stay safe and progress.

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

The registered manager has not ensured that staff fully understand the risks to children when online or how to protect them. Staff do not take proactive Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 5 preventative action. For example, they do not carry out effective online checks to promote the safety of children when they have identified a risk.

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

Managers and staff do not always ensure that children’s risk management plans reflect all emerging and known risks. Therefore, they fail to provide staff with guidance, advice or strategies to follow to keep children safe. For example, two children’s risk assessments did not include all the relevant and important information about online safety. This has the potential to increase the risk to vulnerable children.

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

Children do not always have free movement in the home. Managers and staff implement restrictions, such as locking the kitchen at night after children’s bedtime. This is common practice and managers have not kept this practice under review. In addition, managers have not considered the least restrictive approach or the impact of children being able to access all appropriate areas of the home.

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

Overall, staff manage incidents of restraint well. They demonstrate skill in supporting children with their behaviours and know how to de-escalate behaviour that may become challenging. The use of physical restraint is rare and proportionate to the potential risk to or serious concern for children or staff.

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

Some staff have a good understanding and knowledge of children’s risk of self- harm. They use this information to support one child effectively. For example, staff are responsive and take appropriate action when there are incidents of self-harm. Furthermore, they have important discussions with the child about their feelings. Consequently, this has helped to support children emotionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Oversight and monitoring of the home by leaders and the registered manager are ineffective. The registered manager’s monitoring systems have failed to identify shortfalls in the care that children receive. They have failed to identify concerns over a period of time and explore them to understand whether a child was safe or not.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monitoring systems fail to identify shortfalls in the care that children receive and staff’s responses to keeping children safe. In addition, managers fail to identify patterns and trends in staff’s poor practice. For example, some foods are kept in the staff office to control what children eat, which means children do not have access to certain foods. Staff have not demonstrated that they have the skills to help one child regulate their eating habits. All children in the home are subject to these restrictions, which for some children are unnecessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When children express their concerns, the managers respond quickly and take complaints seriously. Managers carry out investigations into children’s complaints. However, two children did not receive an explanation of the outcome of their complaint. This leaves children feeling that they are less important than adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some staff have not had the required training to keep their skills up to date and meet the needs of children. For example, some staff have not received specific Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 6 training in relation to behaviour management, violence and aggression awareness, safeguarding and child sexual exploitation. This means that children do not have the consistent support that they need for their overall development and needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of supervision that staff receive is variable. For example, new staff do not receive regular reflective supervision. This means that managers do not use supervision effectively to monitor staff’s progress and professional development to improve practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not updated the statement of purpose. This document does not give the correct information about staffing structures in the home. This means that Ofsted and local authorities do not have the most up-to-date information about the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Rewards and consequences are used to encourage children to behave positively. Consequences are generally restorative in nature. The manager’s monitoring of this practice is good. This helps children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

On one occasion, the registered manager challenged other professionals to ensure that children receive the support that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A notice of restriction of accommodation and two compliance notices, in relation to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard), have been issued as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 7

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring that they protect children from harm. They must understand their roles and responsibilities to protect children, take action to prevent children from harm of exploitation online and show professional curiosity.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to staff ensuring they continually and actively assess the risks to each child when reviewing and updating documents. 13 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in 13 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 8 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that staff are consistent in their approach to supporting children and that they provide clear boundaries and expectations.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff receive essential training to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that the registered manager uses internal monitoring to improve practice and the quality of care provided.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 13 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff supporting children to explore their emotions and build positive relationships.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff provide clear boundaries and expectations.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child's learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 13 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 10 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring that children are supported to overcome barriers to their learning.

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (1)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that children are able to access the kitchen in their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. 13 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The responsible individual must ensure that they have the skills necessary to oversee the management of the home effectively to identify shortfalls and ensure that action is taken to improve practice and the quality of care provided. 13 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. 13 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 11 (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all new staff receive regular reflective supervision.

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(ii)) 13 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered manager and staff ensuring that all children’s records are updated and capture the child’s journey. 13 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff keep, and encourage children to keep, appropriate memorabilia of their time spent living at the home and help them record significant life events. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 12  The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is kept under review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to move on from the home by working with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned, and to help each child to prepare for leaving, both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 13

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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

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 14 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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