Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 1 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 provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. There were no children in the home during this inspection. Two children were living at the home during the last inspection and have now moved out.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since August 2024 and has submitted their application for registration with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: 2599399 2

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Findings from the inspection

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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Findings from the inspection

Recently, one child lived in the home for three weeks but due to high-risk incidents and staff being unable to keep the child safe, they have moved out. Some children built trusting relationships with staff and the manager. This varies depending on how long children have lived in the home. Staff have discussions with children about their feelings. These topics have included children who harm themselves, who go missing from home and who become angry.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all staff are able to build relationships with children or manage complex behaviours. Children have noticed this, and incidents have increased. For example, a staff member had to restrain a child without any support from their colleague. Children’s needs are not always understood fully by staff. The manager ensures that all staff receive refresher training in physical intervention and under-performing staff now have regular reviews.

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Findings from the inspection

Children feel comfortable to make complaints. The manager provides a sensitive response. A child’s complaint was not resolved by the time they left the home. A letter was sent to their new home, which explained the outcome. The child’s views are important and, consequently, the child would feel valued and listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have had mixed experiences of leaving the home. One child left the home in a planned way, which has resulted in them having a positive start in their new home. Another child did not have a positive experience because they came and left the home in an unplanned way. The same child made minimal progress, but they did enjoy attending their new school.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical restraints have increased but are only used when necessary. The manager used a non-approved restraint to protect a child from a serious accident. The response was appropriate, and updates were provided to external professionals. However, the responsible individual failed to complete an overview within the expected timescales. This was necessary due to the severity of the incident and to inform future learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Inconsistent staff vigilance has had an impact on children’s safety. Some incidents occurred during a difficult time in the home, and children were not hurt. For example, a child was given an incorrect dose of medication. An effective medication audit found this, and notifications were sent to external professionals. Two children accessed the company car because the keys were not locked away. These incidents have been formally addressed by the manager. Team meetings have included discussions about these incidents to support learning. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 3 Risk assessments are generally updated. However, one child’s risk assessment was not updated after two significant incidents, including the child hurting themselves. This was at a time of significant instability in the home and this contributed to the delay in ensuring risk assessments were updated. However, it meant that not all

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Findings from the inspection

information relating to significant incidents was accessible for all staff and strategies were not updated in line with new presenting risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Education about knife crime is prioritised because of a child’s risk of carrying a knife. A police liaison officer supported staff to manage this emerging risk. A comprehensive safety plan was devised to ensure that staff can support the child effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff communicate effectively with external professionals and seek advice to keep children safe. An overview of the child’s first week’s experience in the home explored existing and new risks. The manager shared this with the local authority. The child’s placement ended because staff were unable to keep the child safe. This was despite high levels of support and safety planning.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, a new manager has been appointed. She understands the strengths and developmental needs of the staff. She plans to further develop monitoring tools to support her oversight. The home environment has also improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have regular staff supervision to provide reflection and learning. Topics include children’s lived experiences and feelings about significant incidents. In addition, all staff have completed mandatory training, and safeguarding policies are accessible.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is reflective and wants to achieve positive outcomes for children. A reflective learning log has been written to learn from a child’s most recent experience in the home. The manager’s focus is to develop the confidence and competence of the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager plays an active role in the home and leads by positive example. The manager started her role at a time when the home has been unsettled. She has applied hard work and consistency to meet three out of the four requirements. This includes all the recommendations from the last inspection too. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/09/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 29/11/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 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 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

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

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all risk assessments for children are updated with significant incidents. Staff should be knowledgeable and confident in implementing the actions identified in children’s individual safety plans, especially when they go missing. 4 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; 4 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 6 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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to all staff having the skill set to build effective and meaningful relationships with all children, to promote their well-being and safety.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— 4 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 7 the name of the child;

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring these records have adequate oversight and actions are completed within required timeframes. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 8

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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

Caoimhe Richards, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 9 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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