Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with the children during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good 01/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 3

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, together with staff’s poor safeguarding practice, have had an impact on the overall experiences of children.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views regarding the quality of care that they receive varies. For example, one child said that there is a lack of food in the home and did not feel safe because of the damage that had occurred at the home. Children also expressed that they are not able to have private phone conversations with their friends and family. Furthermore, children expressed that they do not have anyone that they are able to confide in.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff say that they support the children to share their views directly with them and they make efforts to address their concerns. However, these worries are still being expressed by children and have not been properly resolved for them. This does not enable the children to feel confident that their views are being listened to.

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improvement to be good

Children have overhead staff discussions, particularly about financial matters. For example, children say that they have not been able to do an activity because of insufficient funds. Furthermore, children report that they must pay for staff to attend activities with the money that they earn as rewards. Children say that they would rather not have any activities as a result. This affects how children view relationships in the home, how they understand some aspects of their care and does not make the children feel valued in their home.

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improvement to be good

Children have personalised care plans. Staff understand children’s needs and how they should be helped and supported. Children develop independence skills according to their needs and abilities. One child has been promoted to pursue an apprenticeship in catering and the child is given opportunities to cook at home, which they enjoy. Staff celebrate children’s achievements, and this helps them to stay motivated to achieve better success.

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improvement to be good

Children make good progress in education. Three children have completed GCSE examinations and they have been accepted into further education. Managers are ambitious for children and they work well with the home’s school staff. When children are not in school, staff encourage children to engage in meaningful activities. This ensures that children continue to learn.

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improvement to be good

Children spend time with their family and people who matter the most to them. A parent spoke positively of the care and support that staff provide and how family time is prioritised. When family time has not gone well, staff support the child to communicate their views to professionals. This helps children to enjoy positive relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 4 The children’s home is spacious, and children have access to most areas of the home. However, some areas of the home are cluttered and carpets are not clean. One vacant bedroom is unhygienic and unsafe and has graffiti on the furniture, walls and ceilings. This was a child’s way of expressing their emotions. However, staff have not fully considered the words of the child, and the bedroom has not been redecorated to avoid this being seen by the other children. The cleaning routines in place have been poor and detract from the otherwise homeliness of the environment.

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improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose outlines that staff provide care for children who have experienced child sexual exploitation. Staff do not demonstrate professional curiosity and did not report their concerns to managers about a child’s new relationship. Furthermore, staff missed opportunities to speak to the child to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to keep themselves safe. This absence of work and failure to act put a child at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

There has been an increase in periods when children struggle to manage their emotions and behaviour. Staff provide children with help and support and understand the children’s trauma responses. Additionally, staff use de-escalation techniques to prevent a crisis. However, some children say that they are affected by these incidents. Staff do not accept that children are affected by some of the events in the home, whereas one child said that they do not feel their worries are acknowledged by staff. This does not create a sense of nurturing and safety for all children.

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improvement to be good

Risks to the children are known. Risk assessments completed prior to children coming to live in the home are clear about the actions required to mitigate the risks. Despite this, staff do not follow the agreed actions to guard against online harm. For example, one child was allowed to use a mobile phone which did not have parent-shield locks. This does not keep children safe from online abuse and exploitation.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers promote a restorative approach to parenting. When children receive consequences in response to negative and unwanted behaviours, staff explain sensitively the reasons for the actions. When consequences are given by other relevant professionals and they have the potential to disrupt essential parts of the child’s care plan, managers advocate for the child by escalating these worries. This helps the children to feel valued and protected.

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improvement to be good

Children currently living in the home said that they are safe. Some children are happy to participate and learn from the discussions undertaken by staff to help them understand about sexual harm and exploitation. For those children who struggle to talk about their experiences, staff maintain positive relationships with relevant safeguarding professionals who offer specialist support when it is required. Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A registered manager has not yet been appointed to the home. Management oversight has been provided by people including the deputy manager. Staff and the children speak positively about the support they receive from the deputy manager and team leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The deputy manager has a good understanding of the children’s needs, and she understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. Management monitoring systems have not been effective. For example, not all staff have received regular supervision sessions, children’s behaviour management plans need to be reviewed and housekeeping routines have not had strong management oversight. Managers have not challenged effectively placing authorities for key records, such as the outcome of a strategy discussion. This does not inform urgent actions for staff to take, or information to update risk assessments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have not clearly articulated or made a proper record of a whistle-blowing complaint. Staff have not followed the recording policy, which has prevented appropriate actions being taken in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has been affected by poor staffing levels. However, staff have additional support from the clinical team, which offers consultations to help staff to understand the children’s behaviours and how to respond appropriately. This helps the staff to support children to manage their emotions better.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff say they have reflective supervision sessions. However, staff have not always had the chance to receive regular supervision. Team meetings take place regularly and staff also attend meetings to discuss the children. Feedback from children’s meetings helps professionals to understand the views, wishes and feelings of the children. This helps staff and professionals to keep the children at the forefront of their care arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 6

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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 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.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child's best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should support staff to reflect on the views of the children and evaluate the quality of care provided and take appropriate action. 2 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; 2 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 7 an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; and

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(vi)(viii)(ix)(x))

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)) 2 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 8 In particular, take action to reduce the risk of harm when evidence suggests that a child may be at risk of exploitation.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, when risk of exploitation is indicated, the registered person should ensure that staff talk to children and update risk assessments.

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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 children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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)(b) (2) (c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to ensure that reviewing systems and case records are kept up to date. Furthermore, staff should ensure that the children’s bedrooms are nurturing environments that meet the needs of the children. 2 December 2024

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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: 1235818 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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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

Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 10 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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