Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 1 SC483856

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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 privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2020.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Good 02/03/2023 Full Good 16/03/2022 Full Good 24/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has recently moved into the home, and two children have lived there for over a year. They receive good-quality, individualised care that meets their personal needs. This support provides stability and enables children to make good progress. Staff provide a nurturing environment that enables children to build positive relationships with staff. As a result, children develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move in and out of the home in a well-planned way. Children are able to visit before moving in. This reduces their anxieties and helps them to settle in quickly. Staff ensure that children have the necessary skills and support to move on with confidence. Children who have moved out stay in touch with staff and update them on how well they are doing. This shows the positive relationships they developed in the time they were living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health improves because of the support that they receive from staff. Staff support children to attend appointments and to understand their individual health needs. The manager has developed good working relationships with other professionals. This ensures that the appropriate support is available for children, to help meet their emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are accessing education that meets their needs. The manager has high expectations and aspirations of children attending school, and staff are giving them both formal and informal learning opportunities. There are clear structures and plans in place. One child, who is new to the home, has now re-engaged with school and is attending full time. One professional said, ‘In the short time the child has been at the home, the staff have done an amazing job in supporting the child to attend school,’ emphasising that the child had refused to attend for ‘quite a while’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly speak to children to explore their views, wishes and feelings around their care plans and cultural identity. The manager ensures that an independent advocate is available to support children who are preparing to move on. This means that children feel involved in the decision-making process for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend quality time with their families and friends in line with their agreed plans, even when this involves travelling a long distance. The manager works with other professionals to ensure that children build up positive relationships with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff, and there are several activities provided in the home. However, staff are not encouraging children to attend regular planned activities in the community. This is not allowing children to develop their skills or introducing them to new experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 4 Staff encourage children to develop their independence and life skills. One child follows a structured independence plan to allow them to develop confidence in planning, shopping, budgeting and cooking their own meals. This gives the child an opportunity to develop their skills and prepare them for adult life.

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

Staff understand the vulnerabilities and needs of the children. Risk assessments give clear guidance to staff, are up to date and are reviewed regularly. When a child is new to the home, staff understand their risks. Staff are clear on the steps to follow to ensure that children are better protected. Children are supported in taking age-appropriate risk, and they go out regularly with friends. Staff complete welfare checks and speak with children about keeping safe.

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

Children said they feel safe in the home, and they can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any worries or concerns.

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

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. The concerns were of alleged historical animal cruelty by children. The manager was aware of the complaint and shared the concerns raised with other agencies. Although there was no evidence found to substantiate the concerns, the manager has taken steps to improve the information-gathering before children move in, so that any risk of animal cruelty is known.

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

Children have built up positive and trusting relationships with staff. Through this support, staff can de-escalate any issues quickly. Staff promote positive behaviour and celebrate children’s achievements. This helps to develop children’s self-esteem and confidence. The use of physical intervention has not been necessary since before the last inspection.

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

Incidents of children going missing from home are well managed. Staff follow clear risk assessments and actively search the local area and involve other professionals to ensure the quick and safe return of the child. Children are given an opportunity to speak to an independent person on their return.

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

The manager ensures that appropriate health and safety checks are completed. The home is clean, tidy and feels welcoming. However, some areas are in need of minor repair.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and qualified manager covering the long-term absence of the registered manager. She is committed, aspirational, child-centred and has a good understanding of the needs of children. The interim manager advocates for children on all aspects of their life, including education, health and their future plans. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 5 The interim manager creates a positive working environment. Everyone at the home understands the expectations and responsibilities of their role. There is a committed staff team in place that describes a settled, supportive and happy work environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager has systems in place to ensure that she has good management oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. A review of the quality of care that the staff provide for the children has been completed. However, this does not include feedback from parents or professionals. This feedback is essential in assessing the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager works proactively and positively with external agencies and follows up and escalates concerns if responses from others are not satisfactory. This helps to ensure that children receive the right support to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a comprehensive training programme. In addition, the company’s therapist provides ongoing support to staff and additional training. This support helps them to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs and provide them with consistency. However, not all staff have completed the appropriate qualification in the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervisions and appraisals take place in the appropriate timescales, and staff reflect on their practice. This allows staff to develop their knowledge and skills. Team meetings take place regularly, and this gives the staff an opportunity to share their knowledge and skills. As a result, teamworking is strong. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 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 enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must provide children with a structure and routine to their daily lives which encourages and challenges them to develop their interests, and they must support them in accessing activities so they can reach their potential. 27 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 27 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 7 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that when completing a quality of care review, parents’ and professionals’ feedback is taken into consideration.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 27 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 8 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”);

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Requirement Due date

or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff that work in the home in a care role have obtained their relevant qualification by the relevant date.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained and that any damage identified is quickly repaired. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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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: SC483856 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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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483856 10 regulates and inspects 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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