Children's Home run by Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 1 Registered provider: Cambridgeshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides short breaks for up to five children with diagnosed learning difficulties and/or complex health needs. The home offers long-term placements for three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 22 April 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Good 19/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, the home was being used by another children’s service while their home was being refurbished. Therefore, during this time, the short breaks have been limited. There are currently 14 children using the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

From the moment children arrive, they are encouraged to feel at home. Children bring additional toys and games for their bedrooms and share these with other children. Staff make sure that the children’s bedrooms have individualised bedding and personal touches to encourage them to feel secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Short-break stays are treasured by the children and their parents. Staff recognise that working with parents is at the heart of building trusting relationships. Children’s families are invited to visit the home. It helps younger children to know where their brothers and sisters are when they are not at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All staff have the training to ensure that they can competently meet children’s complex health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has two large gardens with stimulating toys and activities. These include areas for climbing, an accessible swing and a lock and bolt activity that is unique and engaging. The gardens are appealing and interesting and the children often ask to go outside. There are two new sensory areas inside the home that provide children with stimulation using light, sound and sensory activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a friendly atmosphere at the home. During the inspection, the children were celebrating Halloween. They had made pictures and decorations with staff. Staff provide a number of activities and trips outside the home. Several children have shared interests and enjoy trips that support these. Other children enjoy visiting local zoos and wildlife parks. Children are offered a wide choice of activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are creative in obtaining the views of the child, using methods that enable all the children to contribute to the development of the service. Children who are non- verbal are supported by staff who understand how they communicate. This helps children to feel listened to and contribute to the home’s community. An independent advocate regularly visits at weekends. Children and parents can meet with them for advice or support.

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

There are effective safeguarding systems that are understood by staff, who are confident about when to use them. Partner professionals are positive about how the staff share concerns. Parents are confident that staff will respond to safeguarding concerns to protect their children. Managers ensure that staff undertake Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 4 safeguarding training. Managers are clear that staff’s safeguarding responses should be consistent and informed by good practice.

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

Staff report any incidents swiftly, providing reflective and detailed incident reports. The staff explore children’s behaviours in context, which helps to identify triggers and reduce related incidents. The manager undertakes quality assurance reviews to recognise behaviour patterns or emerging trends. These are considered at reflective team meetings which help staff to improve their practice and responses.

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

Children’s social workers are particularly positive about the home. They speak highly of the relationships that the staff have with children and the staff’s attendance at meetings where they advocate for the children.

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

Staff are encouraged to use research to support practice. Recently, a member of staff developed an internet safety training package to help support children who access the internet. Through several individually tailored sessions, this helped to support a child and their parent to understand the impact of social media. The parent was helped to develop skills to reinforce their child’s learning. This will help both of them to understand how to keep safe online.

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

The last fire inspection advised that the sprinkler system is tested yearly. This testing is overdue and therefore does not ensure that fire prevention equipment is in good working order.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and has a level 5 diploma in management and a degree in clinical psychology. There is a suitably experienced and qualified deputy manager. Both managers have experience of managing short breaks for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff rotas are established several months in advance. This supports how visits for children are prepared for and managed. Both managers are dedicated and work hard to raise the standards of the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular and reflective individual and group supervision meetings. These meetings are valued by staff, who are positive about the manager’s support. These meetings provide the opportunity to talk about any concerns and the staff’s professional development. The managers use scenario-based training in team meetings, which the staff enjoy. This supports staff to meet the needs of the children consistently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly quality assurance systems mean the managers can monitor feedback from parents and stakeholders. This helps managers to assess children’s progress and identify patterns from safeguarding meetings. The managers know the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have a development plan that staff are encouraged to contribute to. As a result, the standards of care are consistently good. Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 5 The recent refurbishment of the home has identified that the heating still needs updating. The manager has highlighted this with the local authority to ensure a timely response. Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 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

If the regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(30) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 1 December 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: 2605508 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambridgeshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sunley House, Summers Hill Drive, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3AB

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Andreia Alves da Silva

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Inspector

Trudy Potter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2605508 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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