Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456800 1 SC456800 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 by a private provider. It provides care for two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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 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: 14 November 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: SC456800 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/08/2021 Full Good 26/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456800 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 in. Both children spoke with the inspector during the inspection and were positive about their experiences. One child said that staff ‘know what I need and when I need it.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education and academic progress are inconsistent. Staff supported one child to take part in home education and independence activities. This was in line with the child’s care plan. For the other child, participation in tuition and home education is limited, and plans for their academic progress are not documented in the home’s records. A requirement has been made to reflect this shortfall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s participation in activities outside of the home varies. Children spend a lot of their free time in the home or with staff. Children are encouraged to access a range of activities. However, there are individual barriers for some children. This limits how children develop their social skills and interests. A recommendation has been made to improve this situation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals involved with the children said that the home has exceeded their expectations, with both children making progress from their starting points. Professionals said that they are provided with regular updates about the children’s progress and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and homely. Photographs are displayed around the house, which reflect the children living in the home and the memories created by staff and children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated in line with their individual taste and interests. This allows children to have a sense of belonging in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with family members is supported in line with their care plans. When there are safeguarding factors to consider, staff and the child’s social worker have created plans to ensure that children can see their family in a safe location.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support children’s independence plans in line with their needs. When the staff and other agencies identify barriers for children, they devise additional plans to appropriately prepare each child for their adult life.

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

Staff know the children well. They understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Children have developed relationships with staff who they trust and can talk to. Staff support children’s understanding of risks and educate them when incidents occur.

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

There have been incidents when staff have not acted in an agreed timescale when a child has been missing from home. Although leaders and managers discussed the Inspection report for children’s home: SC456800 4 rationale for this decision-making, this was not documented. Furthermore, missing-from- care information is not detailed and does not include specific information about where staff have searched for children. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

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

When children are in crisis, staff use techniques that are effective. There have been incidents of physical restraint. However, these have decreased over time. Records demonstrate that restraint practice has been proportionate and used to keep the child safe. This demonstrates that the manager and staff understand the child’s needs and how to manage them effectively.

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

Staff are aware of, and support, each child’s health, and medical needs. The administration of medication in the home is safe.

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

The registered manager follows safer recruitment procedures, and staff are suitably vetted. This helps to ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with the children. One member of staff has left the home since the last inspection due to concerns about their practice. Managers ensured that this was investigated effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified manager. The manager recently registered with Ofsted. The manager knows the children well and is committed to providing the care that they need. Professionals involved in the children’s care, spoke highly of the manager and staff team, their efforts to safeguard the children and the levels of support that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has sufficient staff in place to meet the needs of the children. Staff receive a thorough induction into the home and understand the expectations of their roles. Staff receive ongoing training to ensure that they have the right skills to understand and respond to children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a consistent and stable staff team. Staff say that they enjoy their roles and receive consistent support from the manager. Staff receive regular supervision and attend regular team meetings. This forum provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers take action to address practice issues with staff individually and as a team. Arrangements are made for changes in the rota when children respond better to certain members of staff. This means that children are cared for by staff who they have a positive relationship with.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use external monitoring systems effectively. The manager constantly identifies ways of how they can improve the quality of care that children receive. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456800 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 registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)) 19 March 2025

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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. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all children are supported to engage in education in the home and outside of the home. 19 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456800 6 In addition, the registered person must ensure that all relevant plans relating to children’s education are on file and worked towards.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities, including a routine and being involved in their day-to-day care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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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: SC456800 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: SC456800 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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