Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warwickshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 1 SC457488

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2023 and holds a relevant qualification at level 5.

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Inspection date: 19 December 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 December 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There is currently one child living in the home. No children have moved into or on from the home since the last inspection. The same child remains living in the home as at the time of the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, a significant number of staff have left and only one full- time member of staff has been recruited. Safe recruitment processes were followed. Changes in staffing and less experienced staff coming to work at the home have led to some inconsistency in the care provided to the child. Only the registered manager has the level 3 diploma in residential childcare or equivalent. While training is available and upskilling sessions are being provided, it is going to take time for staff to complete and embed these opportunities.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been incidents that have resulted in some staff being physically hurt. Some staff use therapeutic parenting effectively to help the child to regulate their emotions and behaviours. However, a lack of suitably trained staff means that the provider has made a decision to end the child’s placement because they cannot continue to meet his needs safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the challenges, the child has made some good progress in different areas of their development. Examples include spending less time on computers, improved manners, developing positive relationships with some staff and learning basic life skills, such as how to cook and how to wash clothes. The child also has improved health and well-being, participating in different activities and so being more active and engaged with others. The child is now engaging with home tuition, while efforts to find a school place continue.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s social worker and family members acknowledge the progress the child has made. While they understand the need for the child to move on, they are sad about this. Staff are working with others to support a planned move from the home for the child and to help the child understand what is happening and why.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help the child to communicate his needs. For example, the use of social stories and widgets supports the child to express their wishes and feelings daily and contribute to house meetings, where they make requests around their activities and weekly menu choices.

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Findings from the inspection

The child spends time with their family members, and values this. Staff support family time well, taking the child to meet family and welcoming family members into the home. This means the child maintains positive relationships with their family, who live a significant distance away. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 3 The home is warm, welcoming and homely. There has been a lot of consideration around children’s sensory needs and this can be seen throughout the home with lights, texture and objects that support varying needs.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, the registered manager was not working at the home. The deputy manager and responsible individual are overseeing the home in the registered manager’s absence.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are well supported by managers. This is seen in regular supervision, timely appraisals, team meetings and upskilling sessions with the provider’s clinician. The staff provided positive feedback about the support they receive and the management team. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 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, 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there are sufficient staff to provide consistent care for children, and that there are sufficient staff who are suitably skilled, experienced and qualified to meet the needs of the children living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 5 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 6

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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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Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457488 7 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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Inspector

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