Cambridge Care Company

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 1 Cambridge Care Company

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Registered provider: Cambridge Care Company Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

Cambridge Care Company registered with Ofsted on 12 December 2023 to provide ring-fenced, non-ring-fenced and single-occupancy accommodation. The same person is the nominated individual and the registered service manager.

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provider

At the time of registration, the provider had seven properties offering supported accommodation for up to 30 children. At the time of this visit, the provider had 19 properties, offering supported accommodation for up to 80 children.

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provider

This monitoring visit was announced approximately one hour in advance. On the day of this visit, 59 children from three different local authorities were placed with this provider.

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provider

The inspectors visited three properties and spoke to the nominated individual/ registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was arranged to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit focused on the effectiveness of leaders and managers within the organisation, how leaders and managers safeguard children and the impact of the expansion of the organisation on the experiences of children.

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This monitoring visit

Serious incidents have not had oversight from the registered service manager. This has resulted in serious incidents not being reported to Ofsted. When incidents have occurred, plans for children have not been adapted to consider the current risks. This led to staff not consistently supporting children. Staff have encouraged a child to have contact with an individual who is considered a risk to them. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 2 Children do not benefit from quality time with staff to address specific issues. Conversations with children do not meaningfully focus on the important issues after events and incidents have occurred. This means that staff are not supporting children to understand and learn from what has happened.

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This monitoring visit

When children go missing, this is appropriately reported to the police. However, when children return, checks are not recorded, meaning that important information about where they have been and who they have been with is not available. Support offered to children who have returned from being missing is unclear. This means that there was no evidence that children had received support from staff when they return to the accommodation after being missing.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of the accommodation is not of a consistent standard. Improvements had been made to one property. Two other properties had hazards, including a broken window and glass on the floor. One home has signs of mould in the bathroom. This means not all accommodation is well maintained and comfortable.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor this provider. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 3

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need to do to improve?

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the 'Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards'. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)) 15 September

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must prepare and implement a policy setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking from going missing, and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working for the supported accommodation undertaking, in relation to a child who is, or has previously been, missing.

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Requirement Due date

Before implementing, or making an amendment to, the missing child policy, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person, and

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Requirement Due date

have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. (Regulation 21 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)) 15 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 4 *The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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 plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

keep the child’s support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child’s needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are supported to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b)(c)(n)) 15 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any 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 or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 15 September Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 5 (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment. (Regulation 6 (1)) 15 September

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 6

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Cambridge Care Company Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Pheasant House, Mill Road, Great Barton, Bury St Edmunds IP31 2QQ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Penny Stapleton

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Inspectors

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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