Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 1 SC476251 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who are at risk of or subject to exploitation. There is a Department for Education-registered school on the same site. The inspector only inspected the children’s home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 18 September 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/09/2023 Full Good 15/02/2023 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Outstanding 28/01/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children living at the home were spoken to during the inspection. Five children have left the home since the last inspection. The children who moved had positive endings. Three children have moved into the home since the last inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child recently moved in and has settled well. Two children have been at the home for some time and are making good progress from their starting points. The children receive individualised support that focuses on the development of daily routines. These include attending education, building trusting relationships with staff and preparing for independence, such as budgeting and cooking. One parent said that living at the home has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’ for his child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic offer is highly individualised. All of the children have access to a clinical specialist who visits the home weekly. Children benefit from a programme of targeted therapeutic support from staff who are trained in the therapeutic model of care. The staff understand how adverse childhood experiences are linked to children’s emotional presentation. Children know that the staff understand them. This helps them to feel safe.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have strong relationships with partner agencies. A specialist police officer visits the home regularly. She sometimes eats with the children and has attended leaving parties when children move on. This helps children to foster trusting relationships with police officers.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a large garden with outdoor play equipment. However, some areas require attention. Plastic sheeting and discarded bags of soil have not been put away. Chairs present a trip hazard. The patio has uneven and broken paving slabs, which could cause someone to trip and fall. Overall, the garden is untidy, unwelcoming and poorly maintained.

p.3

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

There have been some missing-from-home incidents. Staff understand and follow the missing-from-care protocol. They inform appropriate agencies in a timely manner. Staff follow children and record these incidents in detail. They understand why children leave the home and help them to make positive choices. Staff always have conversations with the child when they return. The staff provide key-work sessions that help children to reflect on their decisions.

p.3

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

Staff set out the boundaries and expectations in discussions with children when they move to the home. Children know that staff have high aspirations for them. The staff provide consistent support and encouragement. This helps children to make better choices in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 4 Children participate regularly in well-planned one-to-one discussions with staff. The staff understand how to explore topics that may be hard for children to talk about. Conversations include online safety and managing healthy relationships. These support the child’s emotional resilience. Children say that they can talk to the staff about most things. When children are reluctant to talk about subjects, staff react with kindness and curiosity. This helps children to know that they can trust the staff to help them.

p.3

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

Children who were previously at risk of exploitation are safer. Staff know how to manage risk. The staff confidently identify new activities and experiences. They talk to children about what they are worried about so children understand how staff will help to keep them safe. Children are supported by good-quality risk assessments. Children work in partnership with the staff, social care professionals and their families, who all contribute to minimising external risks. This helps children feel more confident in trying new opportunities in the community.

p.4

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

At the time of the inspection, two fire doors did not self-close. These were reported immediately. In the event of a fire, these doors pose a risk to children and staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced, suitably qualified and child focused. She is supported by a new deputy manager who is studying towards a management qualification. The responsible individual is a regular visitor to the home. Together, they have a strong understanding of children’s individual needs. Children who have moved on from the home since the last inspection have left statements praising the managers and staff. There is a good rapport between the manager, staff and children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are very positive about the manager and say that she is dedicated, understanding and a very good role model. The manager advocates strongly for the children and is appropriately challenging on their behalf.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals. The manager supports staff to develop new concepts from training that can be applied to practice. All staff are encouraged to contribute ideas that support best practice and the development of the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s therapist contributes to regular staff meetings and monthly clinical meetings. These provide a forum for staff to discuss concerns about children and to plan strategies to address new or emerging behaviours. These opportunities ensure that staff are updated about each child and have the time to fully understand their plans and targets. These help the team to be consistent in its delivery of high-quality therapeutic practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Comprehensive monitoring plans have been developed by the manager. Each child’s records are clearly detailed, up to date and provide very good oversight of the children. Weekly and monthly audits, daily scrutiny of records and monthly supervision sessions mean that the manager understands each child extremely well. She identifies themes and patterns of behaviour, which helps with planning the home’s development. Learning Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 5 from internal monitoring is shared with senior managers and the wider professional network. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 11 October 2024

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a supportive and safe environment that meets the children’s needs. This specifically relates to ensuring that maintenance work to the garden is carried out and potential hazards are removed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

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: SC476251 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennise Springett

p.7

Inspector

Trudy Potter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC476251 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8