Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

One young person was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Good 21/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in this home has benefited from several years of consistent and well- planned care from a stable and committed staff team. The trusting relationships that have developed between staff and the child enable the child to feel safe and contribute to good progress in their social, physical, emotional and behavioural development.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is enrolled in sixth-form college. Their attendance and enthusiasm for education is admirable. The child aspires to enter a career in law and has completed work placements in law firms and shadowed solicitors and judges in their roles. The manager and staff spoke of their admiration and pride of the child’s achievements.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to develop age-appropriate life-skills. There are clear programmes in place for the preparation of independence. The child is encouraged to develop further skills, such as budgeting, cooking and learning to drive. The child is being supported in managing their own medication in preparation for moving towards adulthood.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is provided with a warm and nurturing home environment. Staff speak about the child with warmth and enthusiasm. They demonstrate unwavering commitment to the child. The child said, ‘I completely trust [name of manager]. She is straight-talking and has empathy.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s wishes are recorded, and records reflect the progress they are making. Records also show that the child is at the focal point of decision-making about their future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a home which is warm, comfortable and homely. The atmosphere is that of a happy, family home, filled with warmth and laughter.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and receive safeguarding training. Keeping the child safe is also discussed in one-to-one meetings and team meetings.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child is very settled in the home. There have been no incidents requiring staff inventions. To ensure that staff are up to date with what to do should any incidents occur, the manager provides the staff with thought-provoking group activities to help them to extend their understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Staff say that this approach helps to improve their practice.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations are taken seriously, and swift action is taken to keep the child safe. One allegation has been recorded since the last inspection. This has been reported to the Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 4 local authority designated officer (LADO). Following LADO advice, an appropriate investigation was carried out, and the matter was quickly resolved.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Consequences are used sparingly in this home as there is a culture of focusing on rewarding and celebrating positive behaviour. When consequences are used, the child is supported to reflect on their behaviours and explore alternative strategies that would help them.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk management plans are up to date. They are reflective of the child’s needs and provide clear guidance for staff to reduce levels of risk.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When recruiting new staff, the manager ensures that all appropriate checks are in place before employment starts. The provider has a robust induction programme in place for new staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced, dedicated and shows compassion in all aspects of her work. She has been in her role for seven months and has made a considerable difference in the care provided. The child said, ‘The difference she has made is outstanding.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported in their roles and day-to-day practice. The registered manager is visible and approachable. Staff work well together, and morale is now extremely high. The registered manager and her team have ambitious, creative plans to improve outcomes for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete regular training to support their continual development. All staff have completed mandatory training and were complimentary about the quality of the training available to them. Staff have completed training specific to the individual needs of the child living in the home and spoke confidently about the positive impact this has on their day-to-day practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel valued, and express high levels of job satisfaction. They speak with genuine pride about how they are making a difference. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the manager in the home and the support that they receive from her. She shares her broad range of knowledge and skills with the staff, who value this.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the management team ensures that plans for the child are up to date and reflective of their needs. However, records contain some minor errors, such as dates being incorrect and hourly observations of the child being recorded despite there being no rationale for such detail. This requires improvement. Furthermore, the rosters showing the staff on duty do not always identify the full name of staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met all the requirements and recommendations that were made at the last inspection. The manager has a clear vision for the development of the Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 5 home. She uses internal and external monitoring systems effectively to develop a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. This enables her to take effective action when required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 6

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of clear, concise recording. Information recorded in children’s records should be in line with the child’s current plans and risk management plans and contain accurate details. Information about the child must be recorded in such a way that the child can understand the content. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s duty rosters clearly document staff names and when they are on duty. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

p.7

Inspector

Elaine Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2621119 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8