Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

Inspection report children's home: SC450992 1 SC450992 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home provides care for up to six children who may have complex social and emotional needs because of their childhood experiences or previous trauma. The home is privately owned and forms part of a large social care organisation.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is suitably experienced and holds the relevant qualification. They have been in post since 5 February 2024 and have applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: SC450992 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2023 Full Good 22/06/2022 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC450992 3

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improvement to be good

One child currently lives in the home. Since the last inspection, four children have left the home. Two of them reunified with their family members or previous foster carer. One child has moved to a provision better able to meet their needs. The children's transitions were well supported. However, one child left the home in an unplanned way because staff were unable to keep them safe. This child did not make good progress or have positive experiences whilst living in the home.

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improvement to be good

The home has a new manager. Since they have been in post there have been significant improvements in the care provided for children. Admissions have paused to allow the staff team to reset, re-train and upskill. The new manager and responsible individual have reflected on children's experiences. They have identified learning outcomes and are taking action to improve the service. However, improvements are in the early stages and are not yet embedded into practice. Nevertheless, they have thus far had a positive impact on the child's experiences.

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improvement to be good

The home is undergoing refurbishment and redecoration. The new manager has ensured that the home environment is safe. The child has been redecorating the home with staff, choosing new colours and furniture. They have also been refurbishing and repainting old furniture. As a result, the child feels a sense of purpose and belonging, and is becoming more settled.

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improvement to be good

Children do not always experience positive transitions in to the home. The needs of all children are not thoroughly considered prior to any child moving in. One child moved in during a period when the home had no permanent manager. The child did not feel welcome and spent most of their time in their bedroom. They moved out after three weeks following a serious incident. This required staff to physically intervene to keep them safe. Professionals spoke positively about how staff responded to this incident.

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improvement to be good

Sometimes, children have felt uncomfortable. This was due to the behaviour of other children living in the home. Managers and staff did not implement effective measures to manage children’s behaviours. One child described the atmosphere in the home as being 'tense'. They said this was as a result of another child's behaviour. They aligned themselves with this child to keep themselves safe. One child displayed self-injurious behaviour after comments made by other children. This led to them requiring medical attention.

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improvement to be good

The home now has a new manager who has applied to register with Ofsted. They have reviewed all childrens care plans and risk assessments. Staff now have clear guidance in relation to responding to children’s needs and risks. The manager and newly formed staff team have developed positive relationships with the child. The child said they felt Inspection report children's home: SC450992 4 happy and safe living in the home. They stated that since the new manager arrived 'things are much better'. This was also the unanimous view of professionals.

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improvement to be good

The child living in the home has made good progress. Incidents of self-injury and substance use have reduced. Health professionals say that the child's overall wellbeing has improved. There have been no incidents of children going missing since the new manager has been in place.

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improvement to be good

Managers, at times, have had poor oversight of safeguarding incidents. During incidents when children have gone missing, staff have not searched for them. One child who was at risk of sexual exploitation went missing on several occasions. On some occasions the child had sent text messages to staff while they were missing. Staff did not respond to these messages until several hours later. This compromised the child’s safety, and left them feeling scared, uncared for and unwanted.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always respond to childrens behaviour effectively. This is because some staff do not understand children's needs. Staff do not fully supervise children when there are concerns about their behaviour. As a result, one child was able to persuade other children to go missing with them. When the new manager arrived, they reviewed all children’s missing from care plans and implemented additional training for staff. Since then, there has been no incidents of missing-from-home.

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improvement to be good

Managers have not notified Ofsted of all serious events. When they have notified Ofsted, these have often been late. This compromises the external oversight of safeguarding practice in the home. One child was subject to sexual exploitation online. This was not notified to Ofsted and there was a delay in notifying the placing authority. Support provided to the child was poor. The new manager has reviewed this incident and the child is now receiving the help and support they need. One professional said that this support is much more ‘creative and engaging’ for the child. There are also appropriate measures in place to monitor children's online activity. Children receive ongoing support to understand online risks.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not respond appropriately when there are concerns about children using substances. On two occasions staff found cannabis in one child's bedroom. Staff disposed of this themselves without seeking advice from the police. Follow up support with children around substance use was poor.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding practice in the home is now an improving picture. The new manager has reviewed the format of children’s risk assessments and care plans. They now include much more detail around children's needs and risks. In particular, how staff should respond to children to keep them safe. Staff have undertaken training to develop and upskill their knowledge and understanding, particularly around professional boundaries and curiosity and child sexual exploitation. Since the manager has been in post, safeguarding incidents have reduced. Inspection report children's home: SC450992 5 Staff support the child to develop alternative strategies when they feel they may harm themselves. The child trusts staff and is able to confide in them when they are feeling overwhelmed. Staff have been successful in identifying changes in the child’s behaviour. They respond quickly with empathy and nurture. This has minimised incidents of self-

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have not consistently monitored the service. As a result, they have not fully understood how well children were being cared for. Monitoring systems have been poor. Shortfalls in the quality of care children received were not identified. Audits of the home have been sporadic and did not identify concerns with staff practice. Senior leaders have commissioned a review of safeguarding practice at the home due to the shortfalls identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the previous inspection, there have been changes to leaders and managers. The home’s current manager commenced their role in February 2024. They are waiting for their registration interview with Ofsted. The child, staff and professionals speak very highly of the manager. They describe them as 'highly supportive' and 'dedicated'. Staff say that there is a marked improvement in the home since the manager arrived. The child said that the manager 'gets things done' and is very supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are aware of the areas for development in the home. They have started to implement an action plan to address them. As a result, they have begun to improve the quality of care children receive. The child living in the home now has a good routine and clear boundaries. They are engaging well with external health services. As a result, their emotional well-being is improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff team is newly formed, and the manager is focussing on their development and training. Some staff have transferred from other homes within the company. They are experienced and skilled and are supportive of the new manager. They are assisting with the upskilling of new staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are receiving meaningful supervision. This is helping them to reflect and fulfil their role and responsibilities. The induction of new staff has improved. As a result, new staff feel more confident and are becoming more familiar with their roles. Inspection report children's home: SC450992 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, 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; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; 22 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC450992 7 help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the necessary skills to intervene when children’s behaviours are harmful to one another. In addition, to ensure that staff intervene quickly and that measures to keep children safe are effective. Children should also receive help and support to understand harmful behaviours and their impact, as well as the expectations of behaviour in the home.

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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— 22 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC450992 8 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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure they frequently monitor and evaluate the quality of care children receive. This must take place at regular intervals. In addition, the registered person must take effective action when there are concerns about how children are being cared for such as ensuring that staff consistently follow children’s risk assessments and care plans. All plans should be reviewed regularly.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and 22 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC450992 9 that each child's relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child's needs; (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(d)(f)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children’s needs must be thoroughly considered prior to them moving in to the home. This includes the needs of children already living in the home as well as the stability of the staff team and their skills. In addition, managers and staff must ensure that they encourage positive relationships between children as soon as they move in. Children’s emerging needs should also be considered throughout their time living in the home.

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— must include details of— the matter;

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40(1)(a)(b)(d)(4)(a)(e)(5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all serious events are notified to Ofsted and all other relevant professionals. They must ensure that they provide the full detail of these events in a timely manner. 22 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC450992 10

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children's home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 children's home: SC450992 11

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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

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC450992 12 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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