Children's Home run by Cedarways Residential Child Care Albury House Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2724258 1 Registered provider: Cedarways Residential Child Care Albury House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted on 29 June 2023. The registered manager holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare.

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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: not applicable

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to the home on 6 July 2023. As a result of that visit, Ofsted issued a compliance notice in relation to the fitness of the registered provider.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection on 8 August 2023. The purpose of the inspection was to review the provider’s progress with the compliance notice. The inspectors found that the provider had taken sufficient action to address all of the steps outlined in the compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724258 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently two children living in the home. Both children have moved in since the assurance inspection in August 2023, and both experienced positive moves. The registered manager now gathers relevant information to assess whether children’s needs can be met by staff, before offering a place for them to live. Children can meet people who will be caring for them and visit the home before they move in. This practice helps children to prepare for significant changes in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with each other and with the staff who care for them. They enjoy a range of activities in the home and in the community. Both children help staff to prepare meals, and they recently baked cakes for a charity coffee morning. These opportunities help children to develop skills that will support them in their adulthood. The positive recognition that children receive for their contributions in the community increases their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff seek children’s views and wishes. As a result, staff understand the important people in children’s lives. Staff identify friendships that have an adverse effect on children’s emotional well-being. Through discussions with children, staff help them to develop an understanding of healthy relationships. This empowers children to make better decisions about friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Prior to moving into the home, both children were not attending any education. The manager has worked with professionals to identify suitable education packages. During the inspection, one child attended their first tuition session, and there are plans for the other child to visit his new school. The manager and staff promote education, which means that both children understand staff expectations about attending education daily.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are in good health. Staff support them to access local health services and attend routine health checks. Children’s daily routines promote self-care. Both children occasionally smoke or vape. Staff have not provided children with advice and guidance on the risks this may have on their health and well-being.

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

Children feel safe and well cared for. Staff have a good understanding of children’s behaviours and associated risks. Risk assessments provide staff with clear guidance that helps them to respond consistently when children display negative behaviours. Since moving into the home, both children’s risks have significantly reduced.

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

Two new staff members have started working in the home. Effective systems are in place to reduce the risk of children been cared for by unsuitable individuals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724258 3 Staff promote positive behaviour and celebrate children’s achievements. Staff are skilled in managing behaviours, so they do not escalate. As a result, incidents are rare and do not require physical intervention.

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

There have been two occasions when children have not been where they were expected to be. On both occasions, the children left the home together without informing staff. As soon as staff became aware that the children were missing, they took appropriate action. One of these occasions was during the night, and staff were alerted when one child phoned, requesting to be collected. A thorough investigation was completed by the manager to determine how the children were able to leave without activating the alarm system. Staff are familiar with the new process in place when setting the alarm at night. There have been no further incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children receive care from a stable and consistent staff team. This practice provides children with the opportunity to build trusting relationships with staff. Both children advised the inspector that they feel able to speak with staff about any worries or concerns they have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems are in place. This helps the manager to understand the quality of care that children receive. The manager seeks feedback from children, staff and professionals, and feedback received is positive. The manager has plans in place to develop areas that she feels could enhance children’s lived experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication with partner agencies and parents is good. The manager consults regularly with the children’s social workers to ensure that each child’s plans are reviewed and implemented in line with the child’s needs and wishes. The manager acts as an advocate when there are delays in children accessing statutory services, such as education. This demonstrates that the children’s best interests remain at the forefront of the manager’s practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported to reflect on their practice through monthly supervision and team meetings. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to discuss children’s care plans, day-to-day arrangements in the home, and their roles and responsibilities. The manager ensures that all staff have had their performance reviewed during their probationary period and have completed required training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Half of the staff hold a relevant qualification related to their role. Two staff members are in the process of completing their qualification and three staff members are planning to enrol on the relevant course after completing their probationary period. All staff complete mandatory training and training that is specific to the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724258 4

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that systems in place for monitoring children leaving the home are effective. 14 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change, negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being such as, but not limited to, use of legal highs, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.19)

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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: 2724258 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cedarways Residential Child Care Albury House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 45 Burton Road, Branston, Burton-on-Trent DE14 3DL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Ashleen Thompson

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Inspectors

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2724258 6 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

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