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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 1 SC457435

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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

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021. At the time of the inspection, the manager was away from the home. The responsible individual currently oversees the running of the home. Three managers from the company provide support to the staff.

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Inspection date: 13 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 13 November 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: SC457435 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Unstable leadership and management of the home.  Poor care planning for children.  Staff have not kept the child safe or managed the child’s risks effectively.  Insufficient skilled, trained and experienced staff working at the home.  Staff are not adequately meeting the child’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The inspectors spoke with the child living in the home during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing sufficiency is an ongoing concern at this home. This has impacted on staff developing strong and trusting relationships with the child. The child sees different people all the time and does not have anyone caring for them who they can easily confide in. New staff are not consistently reading the child’s key information before starting a shift, which limits their understanding of the child’s needs and how to meet those needs. As a result, staff have not kept the child safe in the home or in the community.

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Findings from the inspection

The newly recruited staff and agency workers do not fully understand the child’s increasing risks. Their limited awareness of the child’s social networks has resulted in concerns for the child’s safety in the community increasing. Local youths have made threats to the child’s life, and they have entered the grounds and the home at least three times. Staff’s responses to two incidents were poor and did not manage or reduce risk for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is not attending school. Staff struggle to encourage the child to attend and engage with formal and informal learning. Staff do not have a good understanding of the child’s learning needs. They are not able to provide parenting that is consistent with healthy and supportive boundaries and routines for the child. The child self- directs their day-to-day activities. There is low nurturing for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not have the skills and ability to manage unwanted behaviours. Damage to the home, risks of fire-setting and threats to staff are not met with appropriate responses to ensure the safety of the child and staff. In addition, staff do not consistently respond to the child’s health needs. For example, during the inspection, the child unsuccessfully tried to make a GP appointment at the wrong practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff carry out direct work sessions with the child. However, they miss out on opportunities to help the child to learn from their experiences when they do not pursue challenging conversations. The child has developed interests which are not safe and is at risk of criminal and offending behaviour. Staff show a lack interest to see Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 3 the child’s mobile phone and videos the child records. This lack of professional curiosity does not promote the child’s safety and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of incidents in the home is not consistent. Leaders and managers update the child’s risk assessment when incidents occur. However, the behaviour support plan is not well written and includes a very important handwritten instruction that did not reflect as part of the support plan. The lack of consistency does not create coherent understanding for how staff should respond to risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not consistently receive supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. One member of staff was not clear whether they had received supervision since they joined the care team. Staff say they do not feel supported. They occasionally work very long hours, and supervision for one member of staff does not highlight consideration for their health and well-being. This affects how staff can care for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Lack of management oversight underpins the shortfalls and failings identified at this inspection. This affects the review of the daily arrangements and the quality of care provided to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The new responsible individual and supporting managers have quickly identified the risks for the child. They worked well with the child’s lead professionals to take effective actions to safeguard the child and move them on from the home. On the day of the inspection, the responsible individual provided an action plan to Ofsted and took immediate actions to address shortfalls. This includes a review of the staffing arrangements.

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Findings from the inspection

During a case review held on 20 November 2024, Ofsted decided that enforcement action was not required. Two requirements have been met, and two new requirements were made. Requirements and recommendations made will be reviewed at the monitoring visit. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2023 Full Good 17/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(b)) 5 January 2025

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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— 5 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders must ensure that there is a consistent manager in day-to-day charge of the home. In addition, leaders must ensure that the home has sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 31 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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 achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. 31 January 25 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 8 (Reg 8 (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality-of-care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality-of-care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a) 31 January 25

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, staff should enable children to reflect on their experiences. Key-work sessions should highlight professional curiosity and learning gained from talking to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 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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Inspectors

Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Mark Cryer, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457435 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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