Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2661512 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited 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 run by a private provider. It is registered to care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home but has not applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 6 September 2023

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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: 2661512 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/09/2023 Full Good 16/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2661512 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and one child has moved into the home. Both children had planned moves. Staff listen to children to ensure that these moves are positive and in line with their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The current acting manager has reflected on the previous child’s move out of the home. The manager has a vision and ideas about how to improve the care staff provide for children when they move into and out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are barriers preventing the child currently living in the home from attending education. However, the manager challenges education providers to ensure that the child and their family members have an opportunity to be involved in the child’s education. In the interim, the child attends an alternative education provision where they are making progress. Before the child came to live at the home, there had been gaps in their attendance at their educational provision. The child is now completing formal qualifications alongside online learning and is also supported to take part in charity work in the local community and volunteering roles. This enhances their overall experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to a range of activities. Staff incorporate the child’s interests and hobbies into educational activities, where possible, to support the child’s engagement with learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s relationships with their family and friends. The child’s family and friends visit the child. This includes going out with the child on activities. One family member said, ‘It’s like a home from home.’ The manager and staff regularly communicate with the child’s family members and external professionals to support the child’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the child has moved into the home, staff have met their health needs. Staff support the child to access emotional health services in line with their wishes. Staff support the child in line with specialistadvice and have created a safe area for the child, which they go to when they need time alone to manage their feelings and emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff explore the child’s additional needs and how they impact on their day-to-day care.

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

Staff know the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. There are clear and up-to-date risk management and behaviour support plans in place. Plans are personalised to the child’s individual needs and include their views.

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

The child told the inspector that they feel safe living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661512 4 When incidents do occur, staff use de-escalation strategies as outlined in the child’s plans. Incidents have reduced because these strategies are effective. Staff use professional curiosity to understand what is happening for the child. The child’s positive relationships with staff ensure that incidents do not escalate. This helps the child feel secure.

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

When there are incidents of self-injurious behaviour, staff respond quickly and sensitively. This helps to keep the child safe. Staff and the manager seek guidance from external services to reduce the risk of self-injurious incidents reoccurring.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents when staff have needed to hold a child. This demonstrates positive relationships between children and staff.

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

There have been no incidents when the child has been missing from home. However, risk management plans are in place in case there are any incidents. These plans include clear guidance for staff to follow in practice.

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

There has been no registered manager in post since June 2023. This has had an impact on the overall leadership and management of the home. A requirement is made to reflect this shortfall.

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

There is a new manager in post and a new staff team.

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

Half of the staff team are inexperienced or not qualified in residential care. However, the staff receive training that supports them in their role to keep the child safe. The staff have undertaken further training to ensure they understand the child’s specific needs and behaviours.

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

Staff enjoy working in the home and report they are supported by the manager. When there are issues with staff practice, the manager takes appropriate action to address these issues. Staff receive supervision and attend regular team meetings. This provides them with the opportunity to discuss their practice and reflect on the care they provide for the child.

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

The manager is a positive advocate for the child and challenges other agencies when the support they provide is not in the child’s best interests. Both a professional and a family member report positive working relationships with staff and the manager, detailing their advocacy for the child as a strength. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661512 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 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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must register with Ofsted without delay. Furthermore, action should be taken to ensure the staff team is consistent for the child living in the home. 10 February 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting, and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 17, paragraph 3.27) Inspection report for children’s home: 2661512 6

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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: 2661512 7

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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

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2661512 8 regulates 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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