Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 1 SC472465 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 owned by a large organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who have complex needs and have suffered early childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2022 and is undertaking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Inadequate 26/06/2023 Full Inadequate 15/11/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, one child has moved into the home. At the time of this inspection, the child had lived in the home for two weeks. The registered manager carefully considered the child’s needs before they moved in. They consulted with professionals and family members to gather pertinent information, in addition to considering the skills and experience of staff. As a result, the child has experienced a positive and well-planned transition. They said that they feel welcome and described the home as ‘calm’ and ‘relaxed’.

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improvement to be good

The home is clean, tidy and well kept. The registered manager is implementing a home development plan. This includes redecorating and refurbishing of the home. The home provides the child with a pleasant environment. However, there are aspects of the furnishings which are not homely, such as door handles and light fittings, and internal doors slam. The registered manager took action to address these issues during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

The child’s health plan contains information about the child’s health needs. However, it does not outline what staff should do to meet each health need. For example, in relation to the child’s allergies and potential seizures, there is a lack of guidance for staff. This could compromise the child’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Staff are forming positive relationships with the child. They ensure that the child can pursue their interests and hobbies. The child enjoys days out and going swimming, and they have already joined a local football team. These positive experiences will help the child to feel valued.

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improvement to be good

Staff consider the child’s views, wishes and feelings, particularly in preparation for when new children move in. This helps the child to feel included in the future plans for the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to stay connected with people who are important to them. Some of these people live a long distance away. Staff also consider the communication needs of family members. They have implemented appropriate measures to support them. This ensures that the child can communicate effectively with their family.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager and staff have reflected on lessons learned from previous safeguarding shortfalls. They are now aware of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 4 Overall, the quality of children’s placement plans and risk assessments has improved. Risk assessments contain information about children’s needs and risks. However, they are not always updated, such as when the child was communicating on their mobile phone with an unknown male. Although the manager implemented daily checks on the child’s mobile phone, staff were not provided with clear guidance about carrying these out. This had the potential to compromise the child’s safety. The recording of the checks is poor, which limits the manager’s oversight.

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improvement to be good

The quality of medication records requires improvement. Records are not made immediately after administering medication. There are also gaps in records, such as dates of when the child receives their medication and dates of when staff carry out audits. This compromises the manager’s oversight of the child’s medication.

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improvement to be good

Cleaning fluids were observed in one of the bathrooms. The child’s risk assessment identifies an increased risk around cleaning fluids. Therefore, this was a risk to the child. The registered manager took immediate action to store the cleaning fluid safely.

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improvement to be good

Two staff members remain redeployed in other homes in the organisation. They are both under investigation for allegations made by children about their conduct. The staff were due to return to work in this home; however, the registered manager did not inform relevant professionals. This does not support the external oversight of safeguarding practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager is tenacious and challenges the performance of placing authorities when appropriate. They complained about the planning and preparation for one child who has left the home. This led to the placing authority making recommendations to improve practice when planning and supporting children leaving care.

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

Leaders and managers have made improvements to the overall running of the home. This includes their oversight of the home and the quality of care provided to children. However, there are some areas that still require improvement.

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

All staff, including the manager, do not hold the relevant qualification. However, most staff are enrolled to attain this. As a result, children are not cared for by qualified staff. Staff have continued to receive training, the impact of which is yet to be fully realised. However, there are some gaps. Staff have not received training that is pertinent to the needs of the child they are caring for. Therefore, the child may receive care from staff who do not understand their needs.

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

The monitoring and management of staff performance require improvement. One staff member has recently returned to work after being under investigation. This resulted in disciplinary action. The arrangements to monitor their return to work were weak. This does not provide the manager with good oversight of their practice, nor does it minimise potential risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 5 Management oversight of the home has improved. As a result, the manager has a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager has completed a thorough and comprehensive quality of care report. The manager is taking appropriate action to improve the care children receive.

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

Leaders and managers have good monitoring systems in place. Audits identify shortfalls and there are plans in place to rectify them. The impact on improving the quality of care children receive is not yet known. However, the manager is enthusiastic and committed to driving forward improvement.

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

The child’s social worker gave positive feedback about the manager and the home. They described the child’s transition to the home as ‘moving the child into a home and not into a placement’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being.(Regulation 10(1)(a)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that managers and staff understand and follow guidance provided by children’s medical and health professionals, particularly in relation to seizures and allergies.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, managers and staff must identify ways in which they can help and support children to understand and develop the skills to safely meet their own health needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 8 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 7 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;

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff receive adequate training which equips them with the skills to meet the needs of the children they provide care for, in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 8 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager and staff ensuring that all children’s records are updated, including risk assessments, and that staff are provided with detailed guidance when carrying out and recording mobile phone checks. This also relates to ensuring accurate completion of children’s medication records.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 8 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a system in place so that serious incidents are notified to all relevant professionals involved in the external oversight of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should ensure that they have appropriate systems in place to monitor and manage the performance of staff effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC472465 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

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Louise Naylor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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