Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 1 SC456602 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 and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to them both.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2023 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting relationships with staff who know them well. Staff provide support and encourage children with positive comments. If children are struggling, staff remain consistent and reassure them that they will be there for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Learning is encouraged. One child has recently taken their GCSE exams. Another has completed a college course which gives them the opportunities for future work. When children struggle to engage with school, alternatives are identified. For example, children have a reduced timetable or new school arrangements. This helps them to re-engage with their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can access the health and well-being support that they need. Specialist services are available from the community mental health service. This is helpful for those children who are experiencing emotional difficulties. Staff are also able to seek advice from a mental health practitioner. This helps staff to understand how to support children, and the right approach to take. This makes sure that children have access to the right help and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how important it is for children to see their friends and family. Staff get to know the people who are special to the children by understanding their shared history and experiences. Families feel involved in their children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good planning when there are changes made to children’s living arrangements. This can be for when children move in or out of the home. One child has recently moved to live in semi-independent accommodation. Staff provided opportunities for them to develop skills needed so that they could live independently. This has resulted in a successful move into a flat and the child is now caring for herself. Children who have left the home often stay connected with staff. This gives them a place they can go to for advice if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is nicely decorated. The living room is a communal hub with comfortable sofas and cushions. Children decorate their own bedrooms and buy items that make it individual. One child has thought of ways that they can further individualise their bedroom space. This allows their creativity to thrive.

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

Children said that they feel safe in the home. Each child has their own risk assessment to identify the challenges that they are experiencing currently. These plans are easy to follow and give staff clear advice about how best to support children. However, door alarms are used on the children’s bedrooms, and the paperwork does not reflect the individual safeguarding reason for this measure to be used. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 4 Staff are knowledgeable about issues such as self-harm. They talk to children sensitively, which helps them to express their feelings. Staff also take practical steps such as completing bedroom searches to remove items that might cause harm. Follow-up discussions allow children to explore their thoughts and feelings. The children also develop alternative strategies to help to keep them safer, and for them to cope better at times when they are feeling unhappy.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged through staff’s reinforcement, and incentives are given. Staff rarely need to give consequences to children. This is in keeping with the home’s ethos and approach, which is restorative. Some physical interventions have been necessary, however these are mainly when staff have guided children to stop them from hurting themselves.

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

Children do not regularly go missing from the home. If they do, staff make efforts to find the children, and report them missing to the police if needed. This helps to return the children as soon as possible to help to reduce the risk of harm.

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

Children know how to make complaints about things they are not happy with. The manager takes the necessary action. This can involve suspending staff, speaking to the local authority designated officer and other professionals. Once the outcome of any investigation is complete, any agreed actions or learning are undertaken. This ensures that children are safe while the complaints are resolved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff aspire to achieve good outcomes for children. The manager has developed good relationships with the children and is actively involved in their care. His commitment is evident. The manager challenges other professionals to make sure that children get what they need and deserve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager deals with difficult situations. For example, he had to make the decision that a child, who had lived at the home for a long time, had to move out. The manager took a pragmatic view to make the best decision, and achieve the best outcome for all the children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been fluctuations in the staff team, with some people leaving and new people starting. However, the core team has provided some consistency for the children, with more experienced staff remaining who know the children well. Newer staff have good support from their colleagues, who are on hand to answer questions that they have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervision sessions take place regularly. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager and the team leaders. They can discuss work issues to gain advice and guidance. This makes sure that the team knows the best approach to take when caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback received from professionals is positive. They said that the staff know the children well and understand their needs. There is good multi-agency working and Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 5 staff provide regular communication about how children are progressing. This ensures that the children’s care team can make good decisions for them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager needs to ensure that the reason for the use of alarms on children’s bedroom doors is outlined in each child’s risk assessment. These measures need to be regularly reviewed and should only be used for as long as necessary. 6 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: SC456602 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

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456602 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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