Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Torbay

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457318 1 SC457318 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

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional, social or special educational needs and/or disabilities. At the time of inspection, two children were living at the home.

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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: 28 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457318 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Good 10/12/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC457318 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers know these children well; they know how to support them and meet their needs. Children are spoken about, and to, with warmth and love. Children know how to make a complaint, and they receive sensitive responses to any concerns they may have. Complaints where appropriate are discussed in reflection sessions with carers so that any practice learning can be promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in education. One child is now attending school consistently, making friends and socialising. A recent issue with the school for another child has hampered their attendance. However, the manager has been proactive at challenging this and accessed the help of other professionals. Both children are supported in their learning and carers have high aspirations for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for children moving into the home is a real strength. Time was taken to consider the two children moving into the home and how they would get along together. Specific training was put into place, so carers understand how to support these children. Similarly, children moving on from the home are well supported, and plans to gradually reduce that support are thorough.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are monitored and managed well. For one child with diabetes, a clear safety plan is in place, carers know the plan and what to do at various stages. There is a very careful balance of supporting the child to be independent by not pushing them too far but ensuring their safety. Carers work well with key medical professionals to ensure this child is safe. However, support for sexual health is lacking. When one child asked for condoms at school, further advice on this was slow.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, this is a warm, family home. It is well maintained and personalised to the children that live here. There are extra fridges in the kitchen to support the children to develop independence. Models the children have made and board games they play are on display. The children have locks on their doors; this is due to their particular needs and ages. The open-plan kitchen and lounge area provide a great place for everyone to come together. Children are encouraged to cook and budget meals independently.

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

There have been very few incidents within the home since the last inspection. This could have been a difficult time with changes of staff and two new children arriving. Careful consideration at the moving-in stage and planning led to a settled start for both children.

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

When incidents such as self-harming happen, they are managed and recorded well. Carers know how to respond; children’s immediate health needs are met, and Inspection report for children’s home: SC457318 4 conversations take place with children about their feelings. Professionals, parents, and relatives are informed appropriately. The manager has been quick to request training for the team in response to safeguarding incidents. On one occasion, records indicated that a carer did not show empathy when asking a child to consider the needs of others before their own. This was acknowledged by the manager and a plan was put in place to help prevent such responses. In the main, a nurturing and caring approach is taken.

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

Children know who they can talk to about their worries. Their worries are taken seriously and responded to quickly. Risk assessments are thorough and clear. Carers have clear guidance to help them know what to do when incidents happen. Assessments are updated routinely to ensure that they evolve in line with children’s changing needs. Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks, which are detailed in their plans. The use of physical intervention has not been needed at all since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home is led by a strong manager who knows these children well and is passionate about their voices being heard. The manager advocates strongly for the children’s right to education. Good systems are in place to monitor the children’s care and to track the supervision and training of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers speak of a manager who is wholly supportive and puts the needs of the staff and children at the top of her list. Supervision is held in high regard. The manager was quick to respond to a safeguarding incident and requested relevant training the next day.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The use of a clinical lead is good practice and helps the carers to meet the children’s needs more effectively. This input is valued by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and workshops take place regularly and show a good balance of practical issues, children’s needs and reflection. Feedback from professionals and parents is largely positive. There have been some concerns about communication, which the manager has previously tried to resolve and confirmed will look at again. She was quickly able to consider what could be done differently. When required, bespoke and specialist training has been commissioned to support carers to help keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457318 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being to enhance and supplement that provided by their school. This means that conversations about sexual health should take place with children, and access to and advice on contraception should be easily available. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18).  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. Consideration should be given to how incidents are written so that there is an accurate reflection of the care provided. (‘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: SC457318 6

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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

Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457318 7 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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