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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 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 is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since March 2024. A new manager has been appointed, who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. The inspectors spoke with both children during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 5 February 2025

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2024

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Inspection date: 5 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 5 February 2025

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: 1235818 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

Children have trusted adults they can talk with about any concerns. Staff know the children well. They understand the risks posed to children and the steps they should take to protect them. Children said they like the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children receive help and support to manage their feelings and behaviour safely. They benefit from regular, planned key-work sessions that are supportive of their needs. These sessions help children understand the risks posed to them and help them learn about appropriate relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents are generally well managed by staff and there is oversight from the manager. However, sufficient action has not been taken to prevent a specific, unsafe incident from being repeated, when a child was able to get hold of a dangerous item in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from increased opportunities to share their wishes and feelings. Staff help and educate children to learn from their actions by having regular, reflective conversations. They also help children to understand why decisions are made about their care.

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Findings from the inspection

Children participate in activities and have opportunities to try new things. For example, one child enjoys regular horse-riding lessons. Another child described how they were excelling in their apprenticeship and how they had the opportunity to cook for the staff and experiment with new foods in the home. This helps to develop the children’s self-esteem and confidence.

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Findings from the inspection

The new manager has oversight of the home and is using and enhancing management audit tools to make continuous improvements. The manager has ensured that the staff have regular, practice-related supervision sessions. Staff say these are reflective and helpful to them.

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Findings from the inspection

The regular staff meetings are attended by clinicians. The needs of children are the focus of these meetings. Staff benefit from additional training and information-giving sessions at these meetings. Consequently, staff are confident about how to respond to and support children, and what children need. However, a small number of staff have not refreshed their skills in line with the provider’s expectations.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans and assessments are updated regularly. However, one child’s local authority personal education plan was not completed as required. This may result in the child not having the support and help they are entitled to.

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted has not always been notified when a serious incident occurs. This prevents the regulator from having oversight of the manager’s actions to safeguard children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 3 The home is newly decorated and welcoming. Children have space to relax in a warm and nurturing environment, where they spend time with trusted adults. Bedrooms have new furniture and bedding. One child proudly showed off their new bookshelf and fairy lights. However, the furniture in the indoor den area is not in keeping with the rest of the home. It is worn, and the flooring is damaged by paint, demonstrating that some improvements are still needed.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, four requirements were raised. The managers have not progressed their action plan to address the requirements in full. Therefore, one requirement has been reissued. Managers are aware of what needs to happen and have plans to address the shortfalls. One new requirement and two recommendations have been issued from this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/02/2024 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(I)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, take action to reduce the risk of harm when children may hurt themselves or others to prevent this happening again.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that staff refresh their skills in line with the provider’s expectations.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 30 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. In particular, ensure that the furnishings and flooring in the den area are to the same standard as the rest of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff play a key role in supporting children in line with their personal education plan or education, health, and care plan. In particular, that personal education plans are completed as required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 26, paragraph 5.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 7

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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

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235818 8 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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