Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties, and who may have a sensory impairment, physical disabilities and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke to three of 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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2024 Full Outstanding 28/02/2023 Full Outstanding 28/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive high-quality, personalised care from a committed and knowledgeable staff team. As a result, this is a happy, family-orientated home with the children’s presence felt, seen and heard throughout . Children have excellent relationships with staff. The ethos is one of a ‘family’ within the home. The relationships go beyond the role of ‘carer’. The children have built affectionate relationships, which staff appropriately reciprocate. This helps children to feel valued and loved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have enjoyable experiences and make strong progress from their starting points. The quality of children’s lives significantly improves because of their experience of living in the home. Children learn essential independence skills, such as feeding and dressing themselves, choosing and purchasing items from the local shop and using public transport.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The care and support that children receive provide them with the best possible opportunities for progression and development. For one child, this included improvements in their toileting, which has significantly improved their quality of life. Furthermore, the staff arranged food taster sessions, which has significantly broadened one child’s diet. Consequently, the child’s overall health has dramatically improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work closely with families and build strong and trusting relationships with them. Children enjoy regular family time, including visits home and regular video calls. The positive connections with families serve to enhance children’s overall experience in the home. Families trust the manager and the staff and recognise the difference that living in the home makes to children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One parent said: ‘My child has made so much progress. They are doing things that I could only have dreamed of. Life does not seem as scary now for [name of child]. I could not have asked for a better home and extended family for my child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help children to understand their medical conditions. This includes staff supporting the children to understand their health needs, and staff provide them with accessible information.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Communication, choice and preference are championed in this home. When a child moved in it was shared that they were scared of the shower. Early intervention from staff identified that the child did not have an accessible form of communication to explore this fear. The introduction of communication aids has provided the child with clarity, routine and structure. The child is now initiating and enjoying a daily shower.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are persistent in their efforts to improve the fulfilment of children’s health needs and ensure they have access to the right treatment. Staff have been creative in helping one child receive their vaccinations. Another child, who had anxieties about the dentist, Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 4 has now successfully attended the dentist for the first time in many years. Furthermore, the manager strongly advocates for regular reviews of children’s prescribed medication and looks for alternative holistic ways to support children. This has resulted in one child no longer needing medication to help them sleep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to live fulfilled lives and reach their full potential. They are supported to do a range of activities, such as swimming, going to play parks, feeding the ducks and going to soft play areas. Children enjoy holidays with staff, going to theme parks and nature reserves. Children are supported to have new experiences, such as one child who went to a restaurant for the first time. Another child experienced the beach and the feeling of sand between their toes. Staff immerse themselves, and these opportunities and new experiences enrich the children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to promote positive relationships between children and the local community. Recently, the children baked cakes and delivered these to their neighbours. Children attended a local coffee morning and held their own carnival day. Children develop a sense of belonging and become more confident and independent in accessing their community safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage children to engage with and fundraise for charities. This helps to make positive memories for children and builds relationships with others who may be affected by the same health condition. The children all completed a sponsored five-mile walk. This is an incredible achievement, as some children could not walk when they came to live at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is an abundance of photos and memory books of important occasions which have been lovingly put together by the staff. This helps children to feel cared for and have special memories to take with them when they move on.

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

The staff team has an excellent insight into the different risks and vulnerabilities that the children face. These are highlighted in the highly individualised and extremely detailed risk management plans. The staff meticulously plan the day-to-day arrangements in the home. Sufficient staffing arrangements mean that the children are supervised and safely observed, without being deprived of their liberty.

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

The manager and staff have exceptional communication with external professionals and discuss new emerging risks with them without delay. When needed, the manager appropriately challenges other professionals when services do not meet children’s needs. There have been concerns emerging for one child at school. The manager has been concerned about the response and has used a solution-focused approach to explore this. The manager has worked with other professionals to ensure that the risks are understood by all and appropriate steps are taken to improve. Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 5 Staff understand that all behaviour is a form of communication. The team uses assessments to understand the function of behaviour. As a result, incidents of children becoming upset, worried or overwhelmed significantly reduce.

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

Incidents of children being physically held are rare. Holds are carried out safely and always as a last resort. The strong relationships between staff and children mean that staff can de-escalate incidents well. The manager has oversight of all incidents and opportunities are provided to staff to reflect on and learn from these.

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

The manager uses pattern analyses to identify trends and patterns in the children’s behaviours and, subsequently, care plans and risk assessments are reviewed and updated. Through excellent analysis of the children’s behaviours, several initiatives have been introduced. The manager is innovative and creative and ensures the highest quality of care is offered to children. Other professionals compliment the manager and the strategies in place to respond to behaviour.

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

One professional said: ‘The manager and staff are influential in children’s lives. We, as professionals in the field, could not enhance the behaviour support plans; they are exemplary.’

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

Person-centred care and the integration of positive behaviour support are at the centre of practice in the home. The team’s overall focus is on improving the quality of life for the children. The team strives to reduce restrictive practices. For example, one child now has freedom to explore when outside the home, having moved in using walking reins and a restrictive buggy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is ambitious and experienced and an exceptional leader. He has high expectations for children and staff, and staff follow his lead. He is consistently present in the home, which helps to provide reassurance to staff and children, especially those who are new to the home. Staff receive tailored support, and the manager is fully aware of the strengths and skill set of his team. The team leaders are experienced and support the manager to an extremely high standard, which creates a collaborative leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have a clear vision and strong desire to achieve positive outcomes for children. Staff speak highly of the registered manager’s commitment and support. Staff benefit from regular, purposeful supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This gives staff the opportunity to reflect and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager encourages staff to use their knowledge and expertise to learn from one another. Staff are encouraged to be highly reflective, and team meetings include discussions on children’s progress, lessons learned from practice and challenges staff are facing. When there are gaps in staff knowledge, the manager arranges specific training to upskill them and this ensures that children receive outstanding levels of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 6 Staff retention is good and means that children experience consistent care. A strong emphasis is placed on staff well-being following the manager’s research into ‘carer fatigue’. For example, the manager facilitates ‘brew days’ and ‘well-being walks’. This contributes towards a stable and an exceptionally well supported staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff work in collaboration with external agencies and have positive working relationships. Feedback is consistently and overwhelmingly positive. Professionals speak highly of the team and describe the excellent progress that children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One professional said: ‘The team are open and transparent in their information-sharing. I am impressed with their commitment and pursuit to do the best. The team are a force in driving us all to work together.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a keen interest in evidence-based and research-informed practice. He continues to develop a large-scale project across the organisation focused on positive behaviour support, considering how they can continue to integrate this into the existing person-centred model of care that the staff use in working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has established consistent and robust quality assurance measures. As a result, the manager has an excellent oversight of the development of the home, and staff continue to provide an excellent level of care for the children. External agencies have reached out to model this practice, improving standards of care for disabled children in the region.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 7

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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: 2607587 8

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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

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2607587 9 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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