Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 1 SC457183 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 privately owned and provides care for up to one children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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This monitoring visit

On 4 May 2021, a full inspection was carried out at the home. Serious and widespread shortfalls were found in safeguarding practice and leadership and management. As a result, the home was judged inadequate, and four compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard), Regulation 14 (the care planning standard) and Regulation 40 (notification of a serious event).

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, Ofsted received several safeguarding notifications that raised serious concerns about the manager’s and staff’s inadequate response to serious incidents. This raised further concerns about the manager’s and staff’s ability to keep the child safe.

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This monitoring visit

On 26 May 2021, a monitoring visit was carried out at the home. The inspector found continued serious and widespread shortfalls in safeguarding practice and leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the repeated inadequacies in safeguarding practice and leadership and management, an emergency suspension notice was served on the home on 26 May 2021. The provider took the decision to close the home and a three-month condition was imposed, requiring the provider to inform Ofsted three months before it intends to admit a child to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 2 On 14 March 2024 a monitoring visit was carried out. The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken by the provider in preparation for the home becoming operational and admitting children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the condition was imposed, the provider has taken steps to ensure that a a new manager has been recruited and there is a responsible individual in place. The manager recently had her fit person interview and is deemed suitable to become the home’s registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has recently reviewed and updated the home’s statement of purpose. She demonstrates a passionate approach to providing good-quality childcare in line with the aims and objectives of the home. The home has been redecorated throughout and new items of furniture have been purchased. As a result, the home feels warm and welcoming.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has recruited a sufficient staff team to safely support and meet the needs of children admitted to the home. Robust checks are in place in line with safer recruitment practices.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has completed a critical overview and detailed action plan to identify the shortfalls highlighted at the inspection. There are regular visits from the independent visitor to ensure that the home is making progress.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received a detailed induction and training programme. The training focused on all the mandatory training. Further training has been identified by the manager in therapeutic parenting and adverse childhood experiences. This ensures that staff have built a good portfolio of skills and knowledge to support children’s needs effectively.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 22 March 2024. It was deemed that sufficient action has been taken for the three-month condition to be removed.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the requirements under Regulations 6, 26 and 28 were deemed to be met. Other requirements identified at the full inspection were not considered as part of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/05/2021 Full Inadequate 04/12/2019 Full Good 04/07/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training, or employment and to prepare for future care, education, or employment; and

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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)(i)(ix)(x)) 11 June 2021

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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. 11 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 5 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk management plans are in place that contain effective strategies for staff to follow to safeguard children from key risks. Additionally, when a child is missing from the home, ensure that independent return home interviews take place on the child’s return.

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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

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 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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that there is a suitably experienced, skilled and consistent team of staff in 11 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 6 the home who understand the child’s needs and risks. The manager must have effective monitoring and review systems in place to review the care practice in the home and ensure the child’s safety and welfare.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

to manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a robust impact risk assessment must be in place to ensure that only children whose needs the staff can meet live in the home. 11 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager requires regular supervision in line with company policy. 11 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 11/06/2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 7 In particular, rotas must contain the full names of the staff who work in the home and the actual hours worked.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation.

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there.

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 11 June 2021

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must consult with external agencies to ensure that all known risks in the local area are assessed in line with a child’s risks and needs. 11 June 2021

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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: SC457183 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

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457183 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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