Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 1 SC467704 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection 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 national company. It is registered to provide care for two children. There were two children registered as living in the home at the time of the inspection. However, one had recently moved to independent accommodation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2022 Full Outstanding 30/11/2021 Full Outstanding 18/11/2019 Full Outstanding 28/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a home that meets their needs. Their bedrooms are decorated to their taste and photos in the living room add to the personalised feel of the home. Work to upgrade and redecorate parts of the home is under way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers prioritise children’s learning and recognise the benefits of children having a routine. One child who attends education settings on a part-time basis is supported to undertake regular and well-planned educational activities at home. Children’s educational achievements are celebrated in the home. Carers have provided support to one child to apply for and attend employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between carers and children are generally positive. Carers know children well. Most of the time, carers are attuned to children’s needs, providing responsive care. However, on two occasions, the actions of carers have led to a child becoming upset. Staff have not considered how their actions may have impacted on the child and work has not been done to repair relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. These children lived in the home for several years and made progress. Carers have worked with other professionals to ensure that the accommodation that children move on to is appropriate. They support children to develop the skills and knowledge required for independent living. Carers remain in touch with children after they have moved out, recognising the importance of these relationships for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers have good awareness of children’s overall health needs. Regular focused and supportive conversations take place with children, encouraging them to make informed decisions about their health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A parent and an external professional were positive about the care provided to children and said that carers formed positive relationships with children. They said that carers want the best for children. The parent said that the level of communication they receive from carers is generally good, however, this is not consistent. The responsible individual and manager acknowledged this and formulated a plan to address the concern during the inspection.

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

The response from carers when a child goes missing is usually immediate. They understand the risks that the child may face when they are missing and follow the comprehensive plans that are in place. However, on one occasion, carers did not report the child missing to the police as swiftly as they usually do. Timescales for reporting the child missing were removed from a plan. This information was reinserted during the inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 4 Carers work with other professionals and people who are linked to or know children to keep children safe. When required, carers challenge the views of others, advocating for the child. They request meetings, gaining and sharing knowledge with others and ensuring that a multi-agency response is provided. However, carers have not made links with one agency which could be pivotal in reducing risks for a child.

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

Conversations about risk take place between carers and children. Carers encourage children to reflect on their actions and the actions of others. They educate children and encourage them to make safe choices, particularly in relation to going missing, self-harm and the risk of being criminalised. The use of chronologies supports carers to identify changes in the child’s behaviour and assess whether interventions are effecting change.

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

At times, plans and documents written by carers use the first person, as if they have been written by the child when they haven’t. This gives the reader a false impression of the child’s actual views and may cause the child upset if they were to view their records. Some of the language used in documents that may be seen by the children is institutional. On one occasion language used to describe a child’s actions may be considered as offensive by the child.

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

No behavioural incidents have occurred in the home since the last inspection. Two children have lived in the home for several years and have made progress in managing their behaviours in addition to developing secure relationships with carers. This has resulted in the children becoming settled. Positive behaviour is promoted. Strategies devised to support children to understand their behaviours are used successfully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the home and the children. The manager and responsible individual have a positive working relationship. Their joint thinking and decision-making is evident, particularly in relation to safeguarding concerns. Effective systems are in place to allow the manager to review the progress children make. Additionally, the manager has systems to monitor carers’ training and development. This helps to ensure that carers practice continues to positively evolve to meet the changing needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, there is no effective planning for who should make decisions when the manager is not available. This has led to poor decision-making by one carer and contributed to a significant incident. Leaders and managers are implementing plans to prevent a reoccurrence of this. Critical reflection allows leaders and managers to learn from the outcomes of their decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When children report complaints and concerns, the responses from leaders and managers are mixed. They have supported children to make complaints about external agencies. The outcome of a complaint was shared with a child. However, one child’s attempt to make a complaint has not been managed effectively. Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 5 Carers said that they like working in the home and feel supported by leaders and managers. Supervision is structured to support reflection. Team meetings include a good balance of discussion of the needs of children and the running of the home. Input from the in-house clinical therapist supports further reflection and adds a clinical perspective on practice. This benefits both carers and children by increasing their understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Robust systems are in in place for safe recruitment of staff, promoting safety for children. Potential concerns that were raised about one agency member of staff when they applied for a permanent position were shared with other professionals and the managers of other homes where that carers may be completing shifts to ensure children’s safety more widely. Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 6

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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 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.

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Requirement Due date

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 develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, when there are concerns that children have been upset by the actions of carers, this must be acknowledged and timely efforts made to repair relationships. 4 May 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

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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 4 May 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 7 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;

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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 home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all concerns reported by children are acted upon in line with safeguarding practice guidance.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that plans used by carers, particularly in relation to children going missing, have all the details needed.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that comprehensive planning is in place which supports effective decision making. 4 May 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Institutional language should not be used. Language used to describe a child’s action or behaviour should be respectful. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC467704 9

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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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Inspectors

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC467704 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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