Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 1 SC478468 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 by a private company. It provides care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2019. At the time of this inspection, the registered manager was on leave, and an interim manager was in place.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/08/2022 Full Good 28/07/2021 Full Good 06/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 3

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improvement to be good

During the inspection, three of the four children living in the home shared complaints with the inspector about the care that they receive from staff. The manager was not aware of the concerns before the inspection. In response to the complaints, the provider has initiated an investigation. The outcome of that was not available at the time of the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Children have previously made formal complaints which have been appropriately considered and responded to by the manager. However, children say that they have raised other concerns that have not been acknowledged as complaints and have therefore not been formally investigated or responded to. Furthermore, children do not always feel able to share their views, as they say they do not think that they will be listened to or that their concerns will be acted on.

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improvement to be good

Children told the inspector that one member of staff speaks to them in a way which is derogatory. Other staff are alleged to be present when this happens, and they do not challenge it. This leaves children feeling unsupported and worried. Two children have taken audio recordings of interactions with staff to evidence how they are spoken to. These audio recordings had not been shared with the manager before the inspection. The manager took action during the inspection to respond to the concerns about staff conduct.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not ensure that children’s bedrooms are clean and well maintained. Children’s duvets and pillows were heavily worn. One child’s mattress was soiled and uncomfortable for the child to sleep on, as they could feel the springs coming through. During the inspection, all the children were provided with new bedding and one child was given a new mattress.

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improvement to be good

Some children have insufficient clothing. One child does not have a coat, another child did not have suitable footwear. Although children are provided with a clothing allowance, staff have not ensured that children have suitable clothing. Staff have incorrectly assessed that children have the skills and resources to meet this aspect of their care. One child was bought new footwear during the inspection and there is a plan to review what other clothes are needed.

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improvement to be good

Staff work closely with health professionals, including doctors and specialist nurses. This ensures that staff have the knowledge to meet the health needs of the children. One child with long-standing health needs has made significant progress since living in the home. In contrast, staff have not recently ensured that they had enough prescribed equipment to carry out required blood tests for one child. As a result, on three consecutive days, the child’s blood was not tested. This had the potential to comprise the child’s health. Staff now have the required equipment. Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 4 All the children of compulsory school age are engaged in education. An education professional said that two of the children have made significant progress in both attendance and attainment since living in the home. Staff have supported one child who has completed school to secure employment.

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improvement to be good

Children have made progress in other aspects of their lives. For example, one child has been supported to have driving lessons and has recently passed their driving test. This is an important life achievement.

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improvement to be good

Children’s known risks have reduced because of living in the home. This is because most staff understand and follow children’s individual plans. However, during the inspection, one member of staff did not have a clear understanding of a child’s specific vulnerabilities. This has the potential to reduce their understanding of how to keep the child safe. The manager had not identified that this individual required additional support to understand how to safeguard the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff sometimes lack professional curiosity. For example, a penknife was found during a search of a child’s bedroom. The penknife was removed but the staff member did not consider why the child had this in their possession. The manager’s oversight of the room searches completed by staff had also not identified the need for further action.

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improvement to be good

The manager works closely with external professionals to understand children’s experiences and identify specialist support when needed. One child was supported to understand the risks of online exploitation, through direct work and education activities.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has only been one physical restraint. This was appropriate to keep the child safe. The child was given an opportunity to share their views about this, which supports the child to understand their own behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do go missing, staff follow agreed plans to locate them quickly. When children return home, they have the opportunity to speak to an independent person.

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good

Management monitoring systems are ineffective because they have not enabled the manager to identify shortfalls in children’s care. For example, managers were not aware of concerns about staff conduct and children’s clothing and bedding before this inspection. In response to the findings from this inspection, the responsible individual has completed an action plan to address the shortfalls identified. Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 5 Staff feel supported by the manager. Staff take part in regular supervision and team meetings. Staff have completed all mandatory training. When needed, the manager has sourced specialist training for staff, including training about one child’s specific cultural background.

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good

Feedback from external professionals is positive. A social worker identified the valuable contributions the manager made to a child’s planning meeting, which supported decision-making around arrangements for them to see their family. Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who —

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to–

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to planning for each child to have all the necessities they need to live in the home, including clothing, toiletries and bedding. 31 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feeling standard is that children receive care from staff who —

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

engage with them; and 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 7 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings.

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to giving children opportunities to share their views about the care they receive and ensuring that all the children’s complaints, no matter how small, are responded to.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff treat every child with respect and meet each child’s individual emotional needs. 31 August 2023

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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

that staff — 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 8 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff understanding their responsibilities in keeping children safe and being professionally curious when specific items are found in children’s bedrooms.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having management arrangements in place which ensure that the staff are meeting the needs of each child and that the staff team provides consistency of care for each child. 31 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medications received into the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that —

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and no other child. (Regulation 23 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having arrangements in place to administer prescribed medication as directed and to ensure a record is kept of all medication which is administered. 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 9

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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: SC478468 10

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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

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC478468 11 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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