Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 1 SC457500 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 operated by a large national provider. It provides care for up to six children with learning difficulties. The accommodation is split into the main house where four children can live, and an annex attached to the home for two children. Staff work in both areas of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified and experienced. They have been the manager at the home for several years. They were present throughout the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Children were seen and spoken to as part of this inspection.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/11/2021 Full Inadequate 10/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and two children have moved out. These were not positive or planned endings to their time at the home. Children’s progress and experiences have been variable due to instability in the staff team and some difficulties in relation to how staff manage children’s behaviours. More recently, the children have been settled and are making progress. They have positive and trusting relationships with the adults who are providing their care, which has helped in delivering more positive experiences, stability and consistency.

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improvement to be good

Children receive relevant education, and staff have been creative in accessing opportunities for supporting the children to learn and develop. Some children have blended timetables with activity-based education alongside more-formal learning. This has helped children to engage better and make educational progress.

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improvement to be good

Children have opportunities to engage in a range of activities in the home and local community. One child has recently enrolled in army cadets, which has been positive for them. Children are encouraged to develop their independence and social skills. Wherever possible, they can spend unsupervised time in the community going to local shops and walking to activities. Children have enjoyed a summer holiday to the seaside and numerous days out to theme parks and cities. This has provided them with lots of positive memories, which are captured in photos and scrapbooks.

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improvement to be good

Family time is supported and promoted, and the staff have developed good relationships with families and carers. This means that children get to maintain their family links and relationships. Communication has not always been consistent, but this is starting to improve. Feedback obtained from family members is that they are now better informed about the children and their progress. Some concerns previously raised by families have not been adequately addressed as conclusions and outcomes have not been shared with them. This means that, in some instances, family members have not been reassured about the care that children are receiving.

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improvement to be good

Two children have had unexpected endings to their time at the home. On one occasion, a child was moved to a more suitable home following some concerns around staff conduct and education provision. Another child left the home after it was decided that staff could not continue to provide care that would keep the child and others safe. The manager has not carried out a review of these placement endings, which may have identified any lessons learned to improve and develop practice and prevent further reoccurrences.

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improvement to be good

There have been improvements in the maintenance and decoration of the home. Children are provided with a safe and homely environment and have decorated their bedrooms to reflect their individual likes and interests. Children have the opportunity to live more independently and to develop essential life skills. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 4

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improvement to be good

There has been a large number of incidents that have required physical restraint. However, these have recently started to reduce. The recording and reporting of restraint incidents do not always provide a clear account of all the events. For example, one report referred to a child being restrained while standing but then referred to the child being on the floor. It is not clear from the report how the child was safely supported to the floor. Despite the large number of incidents, there has been no consideration for an incident reduction plan to be implemented to support staff and the child.

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improvement to be good

Children are not always given opportunities to discuss and reflect following incidents. This prevents children from expressing their views and any concerns they may have. The manager has failed to evaluate incidents effectively to identify any patterns and trends and areas for improvement and development. When marks and bruises have been noted on children following restraint, the cause has not been investigated to establish if there are concerns around staff practices.

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improvement to be good

There have been high levels of incidents of behaviours that have sometimes challenged staff. Staff have not always been able to positively manage and de- escalate incidents. Police assistance has been requested several times to support staff. On one occasion, an incident resulted in the police being called. The child had calmed following the incident and was still taken to the police station, despite the incident being over. This caused the child further distress. No action has been taken to follow these concerns up or to work with the police to agree strategies for any future involvement.

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improvement to be good

The manager has worked with external safeguarding professionals in managing allegations. Some staff conduct issues have been investigated, and appropriate action has been taken in response. Safe recruitment practices mean that staff employed to work with children have been assessed as suitable.

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improvement to be good

There have been several incidents of bullying between the children, and, on occasion, children have been threatened and hurt. There was a significant impact on children who were witnessing serious incidents where staff and other children were being harmed. However, staff have now carried out some work with the children to improve their relationships.

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improvement to be good

There are a range of measures in place to keep children safe online. Several of the children have identified risks around the use of the internet and social media, and these risks are well managed. Staff carry out regular spot checks on devices, and parental controls are used to keep children safe when they are using the internet. A concern raised by a parent around social media has not been addressed, and the manager was unaware of this concern. Action was taken in response to this during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 5

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good

The manager is highly experienced and has a warm and nurturing relationship with the children. They know the children well and provide a consistent and stable presence. There has been a high turnover of staff, which has impacted on children at times. However, this has started to improve, and the staff team is now more stable.

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good

There has been a lack of management oversight, reflection and evaluation, particularly during and following a challenging period in the home. There have been limited opportunities for lessons to be learned and for action to be taken to improve and develop the care provided. The impact on children from incidents has not been thoroughly evaluated and understood, which limits effective change to minimise reoccurrence.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision where they can reflect on and discuss their own practice and development. Staff do not have regular annual appraisals of their work, and personal development plans are not regularly reviewed. This limits opportunities for learning and improvement of staff practice There have been some conduct issues with staff this year. Although these have been investigated and addressed, the issues did impact on children at the time.

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good

Staff have opportunities to access a range of training courses to improve their knowledge and develop their practice. All staff have completed mandatory training in areas such as safeguarding and health and safety. Staff have also completed additional training relating to children’s needs and diagnoses to support their awareness of disabilities.

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good

Care planning is good, and children’s plans are individual and reflective of their needs, targets and desired outcomes. The children have regular meetings and consultations to capture their views. The manager works well within a multi-disciplinary team, and communication with parents, carers and other professionals is improving. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv)(xii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to bullying behaviour between the children and managing this to reduce instances. 1 February 2024

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 1 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 7 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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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)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff knowledge and understanding of managing behaviour that challenges them, staff conduct, and ensuring that any injuries, marks and bruises following incidents of restraint are properly investigated and evaluated.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to evaluation and reflection of incidents and events and taking any lessons learned to make and drive development and improvement. 1 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 1 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 8 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(vii)(viii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager fully evaluating each incident and ensuring that appropriate action is taken in response to any injuries observed following the use of restraint. It also relates to children having a debrief following incidents of restraint.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should liaise with the police around their involvement in supporting the management of behaviour in the home to avoid unnecessary involvement and action being taken in response that may impact on children’s emotional well-being. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 9.40)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised annually. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with and understand the importance of the clear recording of information. ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC457500 9

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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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Inspectors

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Natalie Marshall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457500 10 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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