Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home: SC465079 1 SC465079 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 home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for one child who may have social, emotional or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

This home had no children living in it from May 2021 until February 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2020

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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: SC465079 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2020 Full Good 06/03/2019 Full Good 06/12/2017 Full Good 23/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC465079 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and nicely decorated. It is furnished to meet the needs of the child. The child’s bedroom is personalised and contains their own possessions, including photos of family members. The living areas are clean and well utilised, and the home presents as lived in. There is a good outdoor space that has play equipment chosen by the child, and it encourages them to engage in leisure activities. It has a relaxed atmosphere and gives a strong sense of a family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress in the home from their starting point. Managers and staff encourage and support the child to attend school. The school staff say that the child is making progress and speak positively about the support that staff in the home offer. When there are barriers to a child receiving education, staff will advocate on their behalf to ensure their needs are being met. This includes staff communicating with educational providers and attending meetings regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is developing meaningful relationships with staff. This is because the staff show that they are committed to the child and keep them at the centre of their practice. The staff are compassionate and determined to support the child to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to take part in a range of activities and days out. This includes activities in the home and the community. This helps the child to learn new skills, develop their social skills and explore their talents and interests. These are documented in a memory book for the child, which will provide them with a record of their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s family is important to the staff in the home. Staff communicate regularly with family members and create opportunities for them to spend time with their child and take part in activities. These are important relationships to the child, and it makes a difference to know that their families are still part of their lives. One family member spoke positively about the care provided to their child, commenting, ‘The home is perfect for [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals speak positively about the home and the progress the child is making. Communication is good, and the home will make regular contact regarding the needs of the child. One professional stated, ‘The home goes above and beyond my expectations.’ These positive relationships help to ensure that children get the right help and support in a timely way.

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

The child’s files contain all relevant documentation to help staff manage risk. The risk assessments are detailed and specific to the individual needs of the child. They provide a clear overview to staff of what the risks are and how these may present themselves. Inspection report for children’s home: SC465079 4 They are regularly updated to reflect the ever-changing needs of the child. This helps to ensure that the child is kept as safe as possible and protected from harm.

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

The staff support the child using a trauma-informed approach. Managers and staff know the child well and use effective de-escalation techniques to calm challenging situations. One child, who has now moved on from the home, sometimes had to be held by staff when they became distressed. When holds were used, the manager maintained oversight of all incidents to ensure the response was appropriate, and they were only used as a last resort. This included ensuring that the child was spoken to and supported.

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

The child is sometimes vulnerable to going missing from home. When this happens, there is an effective response that includes staff looking for the child and reporting them to the police. Staff will contact family members and known locations to the child. When a child returns, staff check their welfare and help them to settle back into the home.

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

The manager ensures that all new staff are checked and vetted before working in the home. Safer recruitment checks are completed. This helps to ensure that the adults working in the home are suitable to do so, thus keeping the children safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. The management team knows the child well and speaks positively about them. The deputy manager is confident that the child is making progress and is settled in their home. There is a focus on promoting positive behaviours, and progress is monitored on a weekly basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Decisions made for children to live at the home are subject to scrutiny. Managers ensure they have detailed information, and where there may be gaps, these are discussed with the relevant agencies. Where possible, the manager plans to introduce the child to the home. This enables them to meet staff and visit the home. One child moved into the home without a plan. However, the staff provided consistent support and reassurance to help the child to settle into their new home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When a child moves on from the home, managers liaise with agencies and the new home. They support the child to meet staff and visit their new home. This helps the child to understand the change and prepare them for a new environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy manager speaks highly of the staff team, saying that they are skilled, experienced and have built good relationships with the child. This is mirrored by the staff who feel well supported by the managers at the home and consider the staff team to be approachable and the home a nice place to work. Staff are supported with regular supervision. Supervision covers a wide area of discussion which is child-focused and reflective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff complete their mandatory training and have access to additional training opportunities to support them in meeting the needs of the child. New staff are well Inspection report for children’s home: SC465079 5 supported with a comprehensive induction programme and probationary period. This helps to ensure that they develop the necessary skills to care for the child effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place on a regular basis. Staff are able to reflect on their roles and their care of the children. It provides an opportunity for staff to share their views and ideas and consider areas of improvement.

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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: SC465079 6

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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

Kerry Chater, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC465079 7 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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