Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 1 SC456535 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

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2013.

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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: 21 February 2023

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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: SC456535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 22/03/2022 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good 04/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, the child living at the home had recently moved in and one child had moved out into a semi-independent setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is happy living in the home. The child said, ‘I feel like someone cares. Before I was left to my own independence.’ The child is given the opportunity to discuss their wishes and feelings at weekly and monthly meetings. Their views on what activities they want to do and their meal choices are acted on by staff. Because of this, the child feels listened to and learns that their opinions are important.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child previously living at the home was supported effectively to attend school and has enrolled at college to continue their education. Staff are supporting the child currently living at the home to access education. As a result, children make considerable progress in all areas of their learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When it is safe to do so, staff nurture individual children’s relationships with their family and friends. This helps the child to maintain a sense of identity and provides a network of support to help them feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff routinely encourage the child to take part in activities that develop their independence skills, such as cooking and budgeting. Preparations to help the child to move on are robust and plans include ongoing support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to maintain a positive self-view. They routinely braid the child’s hair, which is nurturing the child’s self-identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is decorated and furnished to a good standard and the child’s bedroom is personalised. However, repair work is needed to the flooring in the kitchen, office and near the back door. Staff’s practice of locking the door to the conservatory restricts the child’s access to all areas of the home and gives an institutional feel. This diminishes the homely feel to the house.

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

The child talked about staff in the home being adults they can trust, and they can rely on them for help and protection. The child can identify a staff member that they can speak to if they are worried about anything. This means the child feels safe and secure in the home.

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

Staff teach the child how to protect themselves from harm. Regular key-work sessions help the child understand the impact that using substances has on their health and well-being. Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 4 Allegations are treated seriously by staff and the manager. When an allegation is made, leaders and managers investigate thoroughly and consult with relevant professionals, such as the local authority designated officer and the child’s social worker. Because of this, the potential risk of the child experiencing prolonged harm is reduced.

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

Staff have established positive working relationships with agencies such as the drug and alcohol service and work collaboratively with them. This gives staff confidence in their ability to provide effective support to the child and helps keep the child safe.

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

Risk management plans detail the child’s risks and provide staff with clear guidance on how to keep the child safe. Plans are reviewed and updated when incidents occur.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding practices used in the home. They understand how to report worries and concerns about a child’s safety and well- being. When asked, the child said they feel safe living at the home and know how to make a complaint.

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

Staff provide the child with clear and consistent expectations of behaviour. There is a system of reward and positive praise that builds self-esteem and teaches the child that there are consequences to their behaviour. There have been no incidents of physical restraint during the inspection period. Staff foster good relationships with the child and use this to de-escalate any negative behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since 2013 and is suitably qualified. She is supported in her role by a senior first line manager who is experienced and has good oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Relationships between staff and other professionals who support the child are positive. The social work team manager said he is regularly updated and staff are proactive when it comes to the child spending time with their family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervision sessions take place regularly. They are an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and the quality of care provided to the child. Staff say they feel supported by leaders and managers and are helped with their development. All mandatory training is up to date and staff have access to additional training through the online system.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems in place that identify shortfalls. This monitoring process allows leaders and managers to have good oversight of the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although risk management plans are updated regularly, they are not available to all staff. For example, bank staff do not have access to the home’s electronic system. Consequently, some staff are unable to respond to the child’s emerging risks. Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 5 Leaders and managers have put systems in place to ensure that all staff quickly understand children’s changing needs. However, at the time of the inspection, new systems have not been completely embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose has not been updated to notify Ofsted of changes to staffing arrangements in the home, in line with legislation. This impacts on the regulator’s ability to carry out its monitoring role. Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 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

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

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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

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the external areas of the home, such as fencing in the rear garden, should be well maintained. In addition, damage to flooring which could be a potential hazard to the child should be quickly repaired. 19 October 2023

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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 necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders, managers and staff ensuring that children have access to all areas of the home, particularly areas where food is stored. 19 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 19 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 7 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers keeping details of any changes to staffing arrangements up to date.

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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

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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should ensure that updates to risk management plans are accessible to all staff. 19 October 2023

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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: SC456535 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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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC456535 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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