Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 1 SC472465

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Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to care for up to five children with complex needs who have suffered early childhood trauma. It is owned by a large organisation.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022 and is undertaking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, no children were living in the home. The staff team have been re deployed to other children’s homes within the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted visited the home to complete a full inspection on 3 and 4 October 2023. The inspector found serious and widespread failures in relation to the safeguarding arrangements and the leadership and management of the home. As a result, Ofsted reissued a notice restricting the accommodation of the home and two compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

On 29 November 2023, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit. The purpose of the visit was to review the provider’s progress against the compliance notices. The inspectors found that the provider had taken sufficient action to address all of the steps outlined in the compliance notices. However, the notice restricting accommodation remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

The home has undergone refurbishment. The addition of new furniture and soft furnishings creates a warm and homely feel. Managers have revised the home’s statement of purpose. This includes the age of the children they intend to care for. The provider intends to care for younger children. As a result, the provider has plans Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 2 in place to continue their refurbishments of the home to ensure that it is suitable for younger children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received some training pertinent to children’s needs and potential risks. The manager has evaluated the effectiveness of this training. They have visited the home’s where staff have been redeployed to observe staff practice. The managers of these homes have completed weekly feedback for them. This includes feedback from children. Staff also complete their own weekly reflective overviews. The manager explores this with staff during regular supervision. As a result, staff are reflective on their practice and able to recognise what they need to improve. However, at the time of this visit, staff were yet to receive training on how to care for younger children. This had been arranged by the provider and due take place.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has a better understanding of their role and responsibilities. The training they receive is effective. The manager is much more reflective on their practice. This has helped them to understand the shortfalls in the care children received. As a result, their oversight of the home and general practice is improving.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has started the organisation’s development programme. They have also attended other training pertinent to their role. The manager has been proactive in seeking their own learning too. They have liaised with external agencies to gain advice and guidance. In particular, from agencies who support children who are at risk of sexual exploitation. The manager has also sought advice from their peers who have shared with them best practice. This will help them to continue improving their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have reviewed and evaluated children’s experiences living in the home. The home’s quality improvement plan incorporates recommendations from the lessons learnt. However, not all outcomes of the reviews were accurate. One review identified that one child was safe while living at the home. However, managers and staff failed to meet this child's complex health needs. As a result of the poor care the child received, the child’s placing authority moved them to another home. Managers have since improved the home’s policies and procedures. In particular. the arrangements for caring for children with complex health needs. Senior managers have disseminated this learning across the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

The manager continues to investigate concerns about the care children received. They have discovered that one child had made an allegation about a staff member. Staff did not report this to the manager. As a result, the child did not feel listened to. The manager is taking appropriate action to rectify this. Another child who previously lived at the home continues to make allegations. Senior managers have re-opened an investigation to reconsider the child's views.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have improved the home’s monitoring systems. There is now a safeguarding audit which will be undertaken by a manager from outside of the home. Monthly audits continue to take place. The manager incorporates any actions into the home’s quality improvement plan. There are also plans to improve Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 3 consultation with children. In particular, to ensure that children are well prepared when moving in and out of the home. The manager has completed a thorough quality of care review which is evaluative. The action plan is reflective of the areas of development in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has reviewed the locality of the home. They have liaised with relevant external professionals to ensure that the review is thorough. However, Ofsted are also reviewing the locality of the home with other agencies. This will help to determine any potential risks pertinent to safeguarding children.

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This monitoring visit

The provider does not have a sufficient number of staff. This raises concern for any child who moves into the home. In particular, whether they would receive safe and consistent care. Therefore, the restriction notice will remain in.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will review the requirements at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/10/2023 Full Inadequate 26/06/2023 Full Inadequate 15/11/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 5

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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, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children's home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to senior managers and the registered manager escalating concerns about the performance of a placing authority. In addition, to maintaining clear lines of communication with professionals particularly when there is drift and delay in children’s care planning. 20 March 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 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; 20 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 6 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

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well- being; (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered persons must ensure that managers and staff understand and follow guidance provided by children's medical and health professionals. This includes the arrangements for administering medication.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, managers and staff must identify ways in which they can help and support children to understand and develop the skills to safely meet their own health needs.

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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

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; 20 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 7 are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff supporting children to explore their emotions and build positive relationships.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff provide clear boundaries and expectations.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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;

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

The registered persons must ensure that staff receive training to meet the needs of the children the home intends to care for. 20 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 arrangements are in place to— 20 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 8 plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child's relevant plans are followed; (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that the arrangements in place for children to move on from the home are carefully planned to support a smooth move. This includes ensuring that childrens belongings are checked prior to their move, to be certain that they have everything they need and in particular any medication or equipment to meet their health needs.

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The responsible individual must ensure that they have the skills necessary to oversee the management of the home effectively to identify shortfalls and ensure that action is taken to improve practice and the quality of care provided.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager and staff ensuring that all childrens records are updated and capture the child's journey. This also relates to the recording of physical intervention.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 9

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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 Berry, Social Care Inspector Mr Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC472465 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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