Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 1 SC476292 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

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this visit

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a new manager who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 13 December 2023. Following the inspection, Ofsted issued six requirements. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to evaluate what steps the provider had taken to meet the requirements.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, no children have moved into the home, and no children have left. The feedback from children is mixed. Both children said that they felt safe living in the home. However, one child said that she worried about staff leaving. The manager told the inspector that she was aware of the children’s worries, and she is planning to complete additional discussions with them to provide reassurance.

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This monitoring visit

The home is well presented and homely. Since the previous inspection, the home has benefited from a sensory room that was designed by the children. The manager has plans to redecorate the living room and has ordered new furniture.

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This monitoring visit

Children continue to engage in weekly activities that are suited to their interests. Since the last inspection, staff and managers continue to work with teachers to support children’s educational progress. This has included working closely with teachers to identify manageable objectives and individualised timetables.

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This monitoring visit

The manager plans to improve children’s written care plans to include all known information, children’s set targets and how staff should support children in meeting Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 2 these. At the time of the inspection, not all children have had the opportunity to read and understand written information, which means it is difficult to understand their thoughts about their plans. This requirement remains and will be monitored at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has taken steps to improve partnership working between the home, parents, local authorities and police. This has included weekly calls to family members to help them feel involved with children’s care planning. In addition, the manager has escalated concerns with partner agencies about the support that was offered to a child who had previously lived at the home. The manager hopes that discussions with these agencies will generate learning for both parties and improve working relationships. This work remains ongoing at the time of the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made improvements to children’s written risk assessments. The assessments contain clear information about children’s risks and reduction strategies. The manager has further plans to improve assessments by incorporating a tracker system to help her identify trends in behaviours. This has demonstrated an improvement in the management oversight of the care provided.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been no allegations or complaints made by children. However, the manager has ensured that when children have made complaints, they have received a written response to explain the outcome of the investigation. In addition, the manager has spent time with both children to explain the company’s internal complaints policy and created a child-friendly booklet that further explains the process.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has now updated children’s individual risk assessments to reflect the need for door alarms. The manager has shared this with the children’s social workers. However, they have failed to consult with children to understand how they feel about this monitoring. This is a missed opportunity to help children understand risk and influence their day-to-day care. This will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, staff have completed additional training. However, not all staff have completed the required training that has been identified by the manager. For example, some staff still require missing-from-home training. The manager has plans to ensure that this shortfall is rectified. This has been made a requirement and will be monitored at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have yet to ensure that staff have received an annual appraisal. During the inspection, the manager provided evidence to demonstrate that she had scheduled time with staff to complete this. This has been made a requirement and will be monitored at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Following the last inspection, the company’s quality team completed an internal review of safeguarding practice and the care provided. At the time of the inspection, the managers had not reviewed this. However, they anticipate that this review will Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 3 identify areas for development that will be incorporated into their ongoing improvement plan. The managers also plan to complete a reflection of the shortfalls found at the last inspection to identify any further learning. This practice demonstrates an improvement in the management oversight of the care provided in the home. This will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The manager now benefits from regular meetings with the company’s internal quality team to support her to identify and address any staff practice issues. The managers plan to review the monitoring systems in place to ensure that they enable a prompt response to shortfalls in practice and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The effectiveness of this will be further considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Inadequate 12/07/2022 Full Good 21/04/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 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 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. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that managers escalate concerns effectively. 10 March 2024

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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

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; and

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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)(c)(f)(h)) 10 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 6 This relates to the manager evaluating the quality of care provided in the home and ensuring that that the monitoring systems in place effectively respond and identify shortfalls in practice.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must also ensure that staff have the skills to meet the needs of the children.

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children have individualised care plans that are reviewed and updated in consultation with them. 10 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that all staff working in the home receive a practice-related appraisal. 10 March 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. For example, the manager should consult with the children on the home’s monitoring systems. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 7

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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

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC476292 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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