Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 1 SC456719

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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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 is owned by a large national provider and is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently resigned, and an interim manager has been appointed. They were present throughout this inspection and were supported by the responsible individual.

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Information about this children’s home

One child currently lives in the home. They provided their views, which have been considered as part of this inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The following compliance action has been taken following an inadequate judgement in April 2024: Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 2 Restriction notice to prevent more children from moving into the home. Compliance notice under Regulation 12 (The protection of children standard) Compliance notice under Regulation 13 (The leadership and management standard) Compliance notice under Regulation 35 (Behaviour management policies and records) Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/04/2024 Full Inadequate 22/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/05/2022 Full Good 15/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 4

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. This was a planned move and was managed in a way that meant the child had a positive ending and transition to a new home. One child currently lives in the home, and they are starting to make progress. Relationships with the staff team have been rebuilt, and the child has positive and trusting relationships with the team. The child is provided with consistent and nurturing care, and as a result, the child is settled and says they feel safe and happy.

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improvement to be good

Some progress is being made in the child’s education, and they aspire to go to college later this year. They have recently undertaken some qualifications and attended their prom. This was positive for the child, and the team has celebrated these achievements and is proud of the child’s progress.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported to stay in touch with their family and regularly spends time with them. They participate in activities in the home and are planning a summer holiday with the team. The child is being supported to rebuild relationships with local shops and businesses, which will give them opportunities to spend more time in the local community.

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improvement to be good

The child’s health needs are well met, and they are registered with local health professionals, including a dentist, and have regular appointments to check on their overall health and well-being. They are being helped to develop their independence and life skills and are being supported to have a healthy lifestyle.

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improvement to be good

Children’s care and their plans have much improved, and the manager works positively with other professionals to create detailed and meaningful care plans. The child is regularly consulted with about their care, and they have a clear voice in the home. This means the child feels heard and is confident that any concerns or worries they may have would be listened to. The child has regular one-to-one time with staff to discuss their care.

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improvement to be good

The home environment has benefitted from some refurbishment and redecoration and looks warm and welcoming. Essential maintenance has been undertaken, and leaders and managers have improved their oversight and ensured that the home is being well maintained. This means children are now being provided with a safe and homely environment. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 5

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments and support plans have greatly improved, now contain all relevant information and are regularly reviewed and updated. The staff team knows and understands the child and is provided with clear guidance on how best to support them and manage any risks. The manager has worked with the child’s placing authority in implementing and agreeing safety plans and risk assessments.

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improvement to be good

There have been two missing-from-home episodes recently, and these have been well managed. Relevant professionals were informed, and the child was safely returned to the home. The manager has worked with external agencies to minimise the risks, and there have been no further concerns.

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improvement to be good

Despite some known concerns around online safety and the use of mobile phones, staff have not provided the child with support and guidance about how to stay safe online and how to protect themselves from potentially harmful risks. Staff have not consistently followed agreed safety plans regarding supervision when online or using games consoles, and a child was found to have been playing a game that was not appropriate for their age. This was addressed during the inspection, and the game was removed.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not consistently ensured that staff employed to work at the home have had the necessary checks to evidence that they are suitable to work with children. This could place children at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

New systems have been implemented to ensure that health and safety concerns are responded to effectively and that appropriate action is taken in response. Staff have had additional training to improve their awareness of their responsibility for health and safety. A warning notice relating to electrical safety had not been responded to, and leaders and managers were unaware of these concerns. Action was taken during the inspection to rectify this and to ensure that the home was safe.

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good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned, and an interim manager has been appointed. This manager is dedicated to the home and is child- centred in their approach. They are respected by the staff and provide a positive role model to them. The organisation is actively recruiting for a new permanent manager. The interim manager is being well supported by senior leaders and managers.

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good

There has been a notable improvement in the management oversight and quality assurance of the home. Systems and processes have been effective in identifying shortfalls and improving standards in the home. Regular audits and monitoring are being undertaken, and any concerns are being managed and addressed in a timely way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 6 The staff team has benefited from regular and more reflective supervisions and is feeling well supported. One new staff member has not been having supervision in line with company policies because they are currently working in another home. Staff are also being provided with extended team meetings and training workshops. This means staff are being helped to develop their knowledge and skills and are being provided with opportunities to reflect and learn from practice.

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good

Most of the staff have completed mandatory training in areas such as safeguarding and health and safety. Their learning is supplemented with additional training and workshops in areas such as therapeutic parenting and child exploitation. This means staff are being supported to understand the needs of children living in the home. Some staff have the relevant qualification for working with children, and other staff are in the process of undertaking this.

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good

The compliance actions and restrictions that were put in place following the last inspection are all judged to have been met due to the progress and improvement of standards of care in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 7

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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 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 register 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to staff following risk assessments around online safety and supervision to ensure that the child is not exposed to age-inappropriate gaming. It also relates to the manager responding to health and safety concerns when raised and taking relevant action in response. 1 September

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 1 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice, and this should include staff who may be working in other homes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC456719 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennise Springett

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456719 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 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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