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 2024 to provide ring-fenced, non-ring-fenced and single occupancy accommodation. The same person is the registered service manager and the nominated individual.

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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. The inspector visited the head office and spoke to the nominated individual/registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was undertaken to monitor the registered person’s progress with meeting the steps identified in three compliance notices, which were issued after the previous monitoring visit on 24 July 2024.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit focused on the effectiveness of leaders and managers in the organisation, how leaders and managers safeguard children, how leaders and managers oversee missing-from-home episodes for children, and the quality of the support offered to children.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made in how staff manage significant incidents that involve children. Staff now understand how they can better support children after an incident occurs now that changes to practice and paperwork have been made. However, the registered manager continues to lack oversight of these incidents. The manager was not able to evidence that they had reviewed the safeguarding reports Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 2 that staff have written. This means that the manager’s oversight of any staff intervention, as well as any actions taken by staff to safeguard children, is not apparent.

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This monitoring visit

The registered person has implemented an effective system to manage any incidents when children go missing from their accommodation. The registered manager is actively involved in overseeing these incidents and ensures all children receive a return home interview. When a child returns home, the staff make changes to the child’s support plan, which ensures they receive the correct support from staff. This helps to reduce future missing-from-home episodes for the children.

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This monitoring visit

The staff now complete regular key-working sessions with the children. These are tailored to meet the specific needs of the child, particularly when incidents occur. Staff now record these sessions effectively, so it is clear how children are being supported to improve their actions and behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The registered person has yet to implement a system that ensures safe recruitment practice is followed. The registered person has failed to consistently undertake the required safer recruitment checks. In one case, a significant gap in employment was not explored, and in another, overseas police checks had not been completed. This poor management oversight in vetting employees’ suitability could result in employing individuals who are not safe or suitable to work with children.

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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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Statutory requirements

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;

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Requirement Due date

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(e)) 24 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is 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 4

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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

Leah Stannard, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider – monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 5 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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