Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 1

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to five children with mental health difficulties and who may not be able to live in the community without continued support. Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024, when the home opened.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a separately registered school on site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two children living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Following a full inspection in July 2024, Ofsted served a compliance notice in relation to the leadership and management of the home. On 17 September 2024, Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit. The purpose of this visit was to establish the provider’s progress in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice and monitor the restriction of accommodation. The provider has met the steps in the compliance notice. The restriction of accommodation has been adhered to and has now been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, there were three children living at the home. Two of the children were spoken to during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

There continues to be a high number of incidents. Given the needs of the children at the home, this is expected. Staff speak to children following incidents to explore these incidents. This means that children have the opportunity to think about how they can manage situations differently in the future.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive relevant training for their roles. There is a clear induction training course for new staff. While staff are working at the home before their induction training, risk assessments are used. These ensure that new staff have clear duties Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 2 which do not include being allocated to support individual children. Staff are now trained in trauma. This was identified as a training need for staff to meet a child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The fire risk assessment has been reviewed. The actions from this are being addressed within the timescales set. The risk assessment has not identified concerns about fire safety.

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This monitoring visit

An allegation has been made against a child by one of their peers. A police investigation is ongoing. A critical review was undertaken promptly to identify any learning. The review is detailed and identifies a number of actions. The review looked at the incident and the situation regarding how this occurred. Since then, the child’s supervision levels have been increased.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an improvement in the management oversight of the home. The manager has been spending more time at the home to increase her involvement. New systems have been introduced to ensure better recording of the actions taken by the manager. These systems include identifying whether there are any additional actions required. These are in the early stages of being embedded at the home. However, the reviews do not yet identify or evaluate whether there are any wider concerns or patterns that link to incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have allowed a child to access a razor. The child’s plan was clear about not having a razor. The staff member had not read the child’s plan and a razor had been left in a wash bag. Combined, these errors meant that the child was able to harm themselves. Immediate actions were taken regarding additional safeguarding training for the staff member.

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This monitoring visit

Notifications made to Ofsted are not always made within the required timeframes. There was a delay in notifying Ofsted of two incidents. This limits Ofsted’s ability to regulate the home.

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This monitoring visit

The working relationship between the on-site clinical team and the care team needs to be developed. The clinical team holds regular meetings which children attend. These meetings are used to review the children’s care plans and observation levels. However, decisions made at these meetings do not always involve the manager or the child’s social worker. This lack of collaborative working could mean children are not always receiving consistent information.

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This monitoring visit

A review of the staff team’s experience and skills has been undertaken. This helps managers assess whether the combination of staff meet children’s needs. Due to this being a new service, the staff team are relatively inexperienced. The staff lack confidence in the day-to day decisions about children’s care. The manager is aware of the need to upskill staff members and build their confidence. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 3 Two requirements from the full inspection were not reviewed at this visit. These have been restated and will be explored at the next inspection. Two requirements and one recommendation are unmet and have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/07/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 5

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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 with 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 registered 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand children’s plans and follow these, that staff are supported to be confident to make decisions in children’s best interests and that there is close working between the clinical and care team to ensure children receive consistent messages.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 25 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 6 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that lessons learned following incidents are identified and actioned and that managers’ oversight is evaluative and identifies any possible patterns or trends.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 25 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(b) (3)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that only trained physical intervention techniques are used and that any learning following restraints is taken forward and used to support staff development.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 25 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which— 25 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 7 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

In particular, ensure that all records about the same incidents are consistent and contain full details. Also, ensure that handwritten documents are legible and easy to read.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that notifications to Ofsted are made promptly if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living at the home which the registered person considers to be serious. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2770974 9 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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