Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 1 SC436372

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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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for six children who may have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2023

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) 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: SC436372 2

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The care of children

Children are settled and are making progress. They have positive relationships with the staff and speak fondly about them. Staff support children with their education and they have good school routines. Children share what has happened in their day when they come home knowing that they will be listened to. They are helped to make sense of any difficulties they have. This helps them to increase their resilience and manage the challenges in the school environment.

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The care of children

Staff support children with their hobbies and interests. One child is achieving success in several sports. Staff watch her play in team sports events which she enjoys. Another child has just joined a football team and there is a pitch in the garden where can practice.

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The care of children

Children receive help with their emotional wellbeing. Two children have experienced bereavements and are being supported by specialist services. The staff team have also received training in bereavement and loss so they can understand children’s needs and help them with difficult feelings.

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The care of children

The managers and staff ensure that children see family and friends. Children spoke about how valuable this is to them.

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The care of children

The home is generally well kept. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and decorated to the children’s personal preferences. There were some items in the garden which presented a potential hazard. These were quickly removed during the inspection.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the risk posed to and from children well. There have been very few incidents since the last inspection. This is because children are so settled. Children are rarely missing from home. There has been one occasion which was handled well by the staff team. They kept in contact with the child as far as possible and informed all relevant agencies. The child was found quickly and welcomed back to the home.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk management plans are regularly updated. There are also specific risk assessments for a range of situations including time away from the home. Managers recognise the importance of ensuring activity specific plans are cross referenced to general risk assessments to avoid confusion.

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The safety of children

Children are protected from exploitation. When children are away from the home staff keep in touch with them to make sure they are safe and well. Children’s electronic devices are checked to ensure they do not come into contact with risks Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 3 posed by unsafe people online. Children’s gaming takes place downstairs where adults are available to monitor and support children with this activity.

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The safety of children

One child has a risk assessment which states that external alarms are to be used to keep him safe. The external door alarms in the home are currently deactivated due to a fault. This is not currently impacting on the child’s safety but the system is not available if this situation changes for any child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is instability in the management team. The deputy manager left in December 2023 and the registered manager is currently away from the home. Senior managers are providing cover to ensure that staff are supported and have clear direction, however the home is currently without a permanent manager present in the home. This has impacted on staff morale and team cohesion although children have been shielded from this overall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has not completed core management tasks including regular supervision of staff, holding team meetings and internal checks and audits. Staff have maintained their commitment to children’s care however they are unhappy with the current management situation. Senior managers have recognised this and responded by speaking to team members individually to provide reassurance. Plans are in place to hold team meetings to re-establish effective communication in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Senior managers have conducted internal audits, so they are aware of the shortfalls in the home. Whilst the shortfalls are not currently impacting on children’s progress, they recognise that this is a possibility if left unchecked. As such, managers are currently prioritizing the supervision and support of staff to ensure consistency of children’s care. Staff feel confident to approach senior managers when they require guidance or making decisions about children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The existing requirements and recommendation will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/08/2022 Full Good 24/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 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, 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

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

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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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; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to staff following the agreed ethos and culture in the home as set out in the Statement of Purpose, and in following expected codes of conduct around their working practices. 13 June 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- 13 June 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to developing staff knowledge and skills and improvement of some staff practice issues. It also relates to providing effective management oversight to ensure the home is consistently run in line with the Statement of Purpose. The registered person must ensure that all employees-

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 13 June 2024

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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

that the home's day to day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the door alarm system is functioning should this be needed to keep children safe. 15 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person must challenge (under regulation 5(c)) any placing authority who does not provide a complete and current care plan on placement of a child in the home, as it is essential for the home to understand the child's needs before they accept responsibility for a child's placement. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards April 2015, page 56, paragraph 11.5) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 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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Inspector

Laura Walker, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC436372 10

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