Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Torbay

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 1 SC456910

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities. At the time of inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not in work at the time of this inspection.

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Inspection date: 5 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 5 November 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 2

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The care of children

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

There was one child present during this inspection. The inspector spoke to them during the inspection.

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The care of children

During the last inspection concerns were raised about the day-to-day routine of the child, educational progress, knowledge of the child’s social media use and management oversight of the care provided. Three of the recommendations from the previous inspection are met. One remains in place in relation to the leadership and management of the home.

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The care of children

Staff have trusted relationships with the child in their care. The staff respond to the child in a caring and non-judgemental way. They are supporting them to grow in confidence and independence. Staff talk to the child about lots of different aspects of their life, allowing them to feel listened to and valued.

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The care of children

The child has made positive educational progress. They now attend full time school and has clear educational targets in place for this academic year. Staff support them to recognise the importance of education and the positive impact it will have on their future.

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The care of children

Staff have been able to develop better routines for the child. This has improved their sleep routine and diet. Mobile phone checks now take place daily to support the child to remain safe online. However, no clear guidance has been made available on the broad spectrum of apps that could be accessed by the child or how they work and how they may cause harm to the child.

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The care of children

Room checks to help safeguard the child take place daily. The child consents to these taking place and understands why the staff are doing them. However, practice is inconsistent in terms of the records of staff’s findings and who has completed the checks. Management oversight of this process is also lacking.

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The safety of children

Staff have responded to safeguarding concerns in a timely manner, following the protocol in place to ensure the child is kept safe. There is effective multi-agency working with external professionals to ensure that any concerns the child has are reported and acted on quickly. Staff ensure the safety of the child is taken seriously by external agencies and advocate for the correct support. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 3 There is effective communication and safety planning with the child’s allocated social worker. Staff make sure safety plans are reviewed so that they do not place unnecessary restrictions on the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager was not present for this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The deputy manager of the home has worked tirelessly to ensure there is no significant impact on the child’s day-to-day care in the absence of the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

In the absence of full management oversight, there has been an impact on the consistency of care provided by staff. There needs to be a greater understanding by senior management of the impact this is having, so that a plan can be formulated to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The deputy manager has been proactive in requesting additional training for staff to be able to meet the child’s specific needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/09/2023 Full Outstanding 02/08/2022 Full Good 09/12/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 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, 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 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 the 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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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.

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Requirement Due date

This directly relates to the registered person implementing an effective monitoring system to fully understand the care being provided by all staff and evaluate that care, in order to safeguard and promote the child’s well-being. 02 January 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have clear guidance in place to help them identify when the child is at risk of harm from their online activity. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)  The registered person should ensure there are clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management of the home when they are absent. (‘Guide to the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 6 Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)  The registered person should ensure that staff carefully record information about the child in a clear and consistent way. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 7

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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

Hannah Spencer-Townesend, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC456910 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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