Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 1 SC456719

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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 owned by a large national provider. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was present throughout this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Children were spoken to as part of this inspection and their views were taken into consideration.

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Inspection date: 16 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 16 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors 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: SC456719 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. Prior to the inspection, two children had moved out. Both had unexpected endings to their time at the home. One of these children moved to another home that is owned by the organisation. This was because staff were unable to safely manage the relationships between the two children. Another child left the home with immediate effect following several incidents of behaviour that challenged. Staff were unable to keep children safe and prevent significant damage to the home.

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The care of children

The children have appropriate education provisions in place, but do not consistently attend school. Alternative timetables and plans, including online lessons, are being used. Staff are trying to support children to maintain and engage in education.

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The care of children

Children have opportunities to participate in activities in the community, although recent incidents in the home have impacted on children undertaking these activities. One child said the home ‘wasn’t a nice place to live’ and they felt ‘unfairly treated’. The manager is aware of these views. However, staff were observed to be working positively with the children and were responsive to their needs. A child could identify a trusted adult they could speak to if they had any concerns.

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The care of children

Children’s care plans lack sufficient detail and information about children’s individual needs, particularly in respect of their cultural needs. Children are registered with relevant health professionals and are supported to attend appointments as required. Some children are awaiting input from the external therapy service for further support with their emotional health and well-being.

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The safety of children

There has been an increase in incidents of behaviour that challenges and episodes of going missing from care. This has led to police involvement in supporting staff in managing incidents and led to children, at times, being arrested. There has been significant damage caused to the home and the manager is in the process of replacing broken items.

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The safety of children

Staff have correctly followed procedures when children have gone missing from care. They have worked with external agencies in locating children and returning them home. Children have been involved in incidents in the community where they have placed themselves and others at risk. Staff are not undertaking debriefs following incidents where physical intervention has been used. This prevents opportunities to reflect and learn and impedes management oversight. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 3 A significant incident led to children accessing staff keys and preventing staff from entering or leaving rooms in the home. Police were called to support staff to gain access. The manager has failed to complete a review of this incident to identify risks and to minimise further occurrences. Additionally, two children were involved in an inappropriate relationship and the manager has not completed a review of this to

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The safety of children

There has been a recent allegation made against staff. In response, the manager has taken appropriate action and reported it to the correct external professionals. Consequences are not consistently restorative and do not support children to learn and reflect following incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management oversight and monitoring have started to improve, and the manager has implemented some new reviewing systems. The new systems are yet to be fully embedded to ensure that standards of recording and management oversight are effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff team has remained stable. This provides children with consistency of care. Staff have regular and individual supervision sessions with a manager. However, these do not always support staff to reflect on their care practice. Staff have opportunities to engage in regular training to improve their knowledge and skills. The manager has not yet completed the required qualification; this remains ongoing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Essential maintenance is not always completed in a timely manner and the home needs some redecoration and refurbishment, particularly around replacing worn and damaged carpets. One area of the home has some significant damp issues and is odorous, which could be an issue should a child move into a bedroom in this area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has taken some action in response to requirements set at the last inspection. However, there has been insufficient progress in some areas and two requirements have been reset. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/05/2022 Full Good 15/09/2021 Full Good 22/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the need to have individualised care plans which include plans to meet children’s cultural needs. 1 April 2024

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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 and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; 1 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 6 communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff being able to appropriately manage incidents and support children to develop more effective strategies for managing their emotions.

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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 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 7 within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to staff involved in an incident having a debrief afterwards. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 8

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennise Springett

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Inspectors

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 9 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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Inspectors

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