Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 1 SC424141 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 and operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties. There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not working at the home during the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place in response to Ofsted receiving a whistle-blowing complaint about the leadership and management practice at the home and an emerging culture of bullying. The allegations also relate to poor safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

There were significant delays in the provider acknowledging or responding to this whistle-blowing complaint, even though it was sent directly to the company’s whistle-blowing email address.

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This monitoring visit

The provider also failed to notify the children’s relevant placing local authorities about the concerns raised in the whistle-blowing complaint in a timely way. This prevented children’s placing local authorities from taking immediate action to fulfil their role in protecting children.

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This monitoring visit

Children highlighted that there are inconsistencies in the care that they receive. When they have tried to raise concerns, staff have recorded this as the child making allegations. This does not support children in having their voice listened to or their concerns responded to appropriately, and leaves children feeling unvalued. One child said that their experiences of living in the home are poor. This is because the child does not receive consistent positive messages from the manager and staff team. The child said that they were blamed for some of the shortfalls identified during Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 2 Ofsted inspections, quality assurance visits and the independent visitor’s visits. This does not enable children to share their views about living in the home and their care with the people who are responsible for gathering these views.

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This monitoring visit

Restrictive and punitive practice around a child’s finances is not in line with their plan. Staff apply consequences and supervise pocket money to try to reduce risks, for example when there are concerns around the child being involved in criminal activity. However, the rationale for this action is not clear or recorded, which means that actions may not always be proportionate to the risk. The risk is also not reflected in the child’s risk assessment. This means that there are no clear or consistent strategies for staff to use. No conversations have taken place with the child to help to support their understanding of why others may be worried.

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This monitoring visit

The blanket use of bedroom door alarms has been reviewed since the last assurance inspection in January 2024. Bedroom door alarms are now only used for one child in the home. There is a clear, recorded rationale around the use of this restrictive practice.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not always notified Ofsted of serious incidents. This prevents the regulator from having clear and timely oversight of significant concerns and the actions that have been taken by the provider.

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This monitoring visit

Staff who were at the home during this monitoring visit said that they feel supported by the manager and other members of staff. They said that they receive regular supervision from the manager and that team meetings help staff to achieve consistent care for the children.

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This monitoring visit

The shortfalls identified during this monitoring visit have resulted in Ofsted serving a restriction of accommodation notice to this home. A compliance notice under regulation 12 was also issued, under section 22 of The Care Standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements raised at the last inspection were not explored during this monitoring visit. Therefore, they have been carried forward to be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/04/2022 Full Good 23/02/2022 Full Inadequate 04/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vi)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are effective systems in place that enable staff to whistle- blow. These systems must allow for a timely response to any concerns that are raised. 24 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 5 The registered person must ensure that all whistle-blowing concerns, complaints and allegations are taken seriously and that appropriate safeguarding agencies are informed in a timely way to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. This includes the placing local authorities of children who live in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, when children raise issues about their care, this is recorded and responded to appropriately, in a child-focused way.

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(ix)) 24 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 24 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(x))

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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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is well maintained and that repairs are carried out in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s records contain accurate information and provide a clear understanding of decision-making. 24 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the matter; 6 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 7 the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 24 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC424141 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: Susan Fitzsimmons

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Inspector

Joanna Beal, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC424141 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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