Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Tameside

Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 1 SC430239 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 owned and managed by a large private company. The home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children with social and emotional difficulties. There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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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: SC430239 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/07/2022 Full Good 08/12/2021 Full Good 13/11/2019 Full Good 05/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are supported by a manager and staff who hold them in high regard. The children have positive relationships with the staff who care for them, built on trust and affection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate good knowledge of the children and are able to meet their needs. The manager and staff have created a safe environment where children feel listened to and can express their wishes and feelings freely. However, children do not have advocates to support them with issues relating to their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a relaxed atmosphere in the home. The children’s bedrooms are personalised and have plenty of storage. The home environment requires some repair work. The manager has requested that this work is completed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Support includes transporting children to family homes and maintaining good communication. This provides children with a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with people who matter most to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good information-sharing between the staff and children’s education providers. Children’s education is promoted and there has been improved attainment and attendance. The manager remains persistent in their attempt to engage children in education. However, there is a lack of structure to the day when children are not in school. This means that there are missed opportunities to support education in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities both inside and outside the home. Activities include swimming, playing on games consoles, and going to museums and the cinema. Children are encouraged to cook and do their own laundry and shopping. This has helped children to develop their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in good health and staff actively encourage and support children to attend health appointments. One child has not yet received treatment they require. However, the manager continues to work with professionals to ensure that this is provided. Additionally, one child has not attended their annual health assessment.

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

Staff take time to listen to the children. Children have good relationships with the manager and staff and know who to talk to if they have any worries. Allegations and complaints are responded to appropriately and in a timely manner. Children said that they feel safe in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 4 There are good behaviour support strategies in place. There have been no incidents of restraint since the last inspection. Positive rewards outweigh negative consequences. This has helped to reduce incidents of children going missing from home. Staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedure.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and they take the time to talk to the children and educate them. This has contributed to a reduction in significant incidents.

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

There is good multi-agency working. A headteacher said, ‘[Name of home] is really committed. They never gave up on [name of child]. He has been able to make lots of changes and he has a plan for his future.’ Children are making progress from their starting points.

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

Staff understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. The manager and staff undertake training to ensure that they have the skills to support children. This includes training around safeguarding, equality and diversity, substance misuse, behaviour management and child criminal exploitation.

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

The recruitment process for new members of staff is robust. However, the manager did not explore further the reasons for one staff member leaving a previous employment. The manager has changed the recruitment process following reflection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and is working towards her qualification. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and is accessible to staff and children. The manager is proud of the progress that children have made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members have regular supervisions. Staff members said that they feel supported by the manager. One member of staff said, ‘The manager fully supported me when I started as it was a big change, and I did not know anyone. She taught me everything.’ The manager holds regular team meetings, which are well attended and child-focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Rotas are in place to show which staff are working. However, the rotas do not detail the hours worked or include the manager’s hours. The manager does not use agency staff, which ensures consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good communication with professionals. This, in turn, has improved the communication that children have with professionals. Professionals speak highly of the manager and staff. A social worker said, ‘The communication is fantastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight and understanding of the events in the home, staff practice, and children’s needs and progress. The manager advocates for the children on all aspects of their life, including their education and future plans. The manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 5 has the confidence to address and escalate any concerns. These are dealt with in a professional and timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the requirements from the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 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 must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home—

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager reviewing recruitment files and ensuring that new employees are suitable to work in the home. 10 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 10 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 7 understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to staff ensuring that children receive advised medical treatment.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to staff ensuring that children attend their annual health assessments.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential;

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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 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that the home is maintained to a high standard. 10 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that full names of all staff are recorded on the rota, including 10 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 8 the manager. The rota also needs to include the actual hours worked.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to engage in suitable structured activities when they are not in school. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: SC430239 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

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC430239 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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