Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC428895 1 SC428895 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

A private company runs this home. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2023

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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: SC428895 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Outstanding 14/09/2022 Full Good 19/04/2021 Full Good 19/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC428895 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Individual progress for children is exceptional and unique. All three children were spoken with and were overwhelmingly positive about the care they receive. Children’s progress is continuously evaluated, and the care provided is of a consistently high standard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home mirrors that of a family home and is warm and welcoming. There are various musical instruments around the home that the children play. All children have their own bedroom and there is also enough space for siblings to share when this is required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have a particularly strong sense of belonging in the home. One child, who is preparing to move on to independence, does not want to leave. The child said, ‘I wouldn’t have lived here nearly three years if I did not love it here, and I would live here another three years if I could.’ The provider acknowledges the potential anxiety children may experience when preparing to move out of the home. Leaders and managers are prepared to help to support the child through this time and have plans in place to maintain the relationship with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are very happy living in the home and feel safe. This is because of the trusting relationships they have established with staff. Staff take their time building relationships. They consider the individual interests of each child and use these as foundations to build on. One member of staff said, ‘We prioritise the children and their needs and we learn all about their backgrounds.’ This shows children that staff are invested in them, and from this, children have developed safe and secure relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education for children is a priority of the staff. One child was not able to sit their exams in their school setting, and therefore the exams took place in the home. The staff support children to apply and attend for work and further education at college. If children are not receiving a full timetable at school, staff are tenacious and will not stop pursuing the issue until children receive education that meets their needs. Education professionals all said how well staff know the children, and staff support children to achieve excellent results in school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are committed to ensuring that children have the best experiences. Children make lifelong memories in many ways, including going on foreign holidays with staff. When one child could not attend their school prom, staff put on a prom at the home. Everyone got dressed up, a mobile disco was hired, and awards were given to the children and staff.

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

Risks that affect children have significantly reduced. Staff are consistently curious about who children spend time with while in the local community. Due to this proactive Inspection report for children’s home: SC428895 4 approach, one child is no longer considered at risk of exploitation and no longer goes missing from home.

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

Staff are open and honest and talk to children about their worries and concerns. Staff are resourceful and agree safety words with children that they can text to staff if they are worried and need support. One professional said, ‘For one child, there were concerns around exploitation, but staff have worked hard to reduce this risk. I have been involved with the child for two years now and it is hugely positive that this is no longer such a risk.’ Staff help to make children aware of what healthy relationships are and how they can stay safer.

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

Children make remarkable progress in being able to better manage their emotions. Children are encouraged to express themselves through interests such as art and music. Staff use research to inform practice, care planning and risk management. Staff work flexibly to adapt their practice in line with expert advice from a clinical professional. Staff access emotional and well-being resources that all children can engage with. One child has weekly sessions with a clinical psychologist and looks forward to those sessions. Children feel comfortable to share their feelings and this helps them to build resilience and develop better ways of coping.

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

Staff consistently go above and beyond to get children the correct health support. Staff are sensitive to any challenges children face around healthy eating. Staff work with health professionals to monitor health needs regularly. Some children need support from staff to attend their appointment. Staff are creative in how they encourage children to attend, including inviting family members to go with children to their appointment. This has been successful in easing children’s anxieties, and they now attend health appointments without issue. Consequently, children’s health and emotional well-being have improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspiring and ambitious. They consistently strive towards better ways of listening to children and improving outcomes. Children’s views are gathered, and time is taken to hear their voices about the care they receive. Children can spend time with leaders and managers in regular meetings. This has offered children the opportunity to have a say in how things can improve in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers advocate strongly for children and there is a culture of achieving best outcomes for them. Partner agencies are challenged, and children are provided every opportunity to develop. Professionals speak highly of leaders and managers, saying care is consistent and of the highest standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals also speak highly of the staff. One professional said, ‘The staff act as parents to the children, and the staff get it. The home is well led and well managed.’ The manager and staff have built excellent relationships with families, professionals and external agencies. This means that care is delivered in a consistent way that increases Inspection report for children’s home: SC428895 5 opportunities for children to make progress. Children are building stronger relationships with professionals, who they would not have engaged with before living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professional development is a strong focus in the home. Staff can progress into more senior roles within the organisation. The manager develops staff into these positions, and this has supported stability among the team. The manager ensures that her own development is also prioritised. The manager accesses support from other leaders in the organisation to develop her own knowledge and skill base. The staff learned sign language, which greatly increased the quality of one child’s family time. There are plans to further develop staff’s communication skills to improve practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Morale is exceptionally high among the staff team. Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. One staff member said, ’The registered manager is approachable, and I can tell her anything.’ Celebrations of good practice take place in team meetings and individuals are recognised by leaders for the work that they do.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the home, with effective auditing and monitoring tools. The manager evaluates the information and identifies actions to improve quality. The evaluation of incidents helps staff to identify if additional help is needed for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is actively involved and regularly spends time with the children and takes them on activities. When children return from education, they seek the manager and staff out to share their day and experiences. The manager is very proud of the children and regularly tells them so. This shows children that the staff and managers are invested in them and staff understand how important it is to spend quality time with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC428895 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: SC428895 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

Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC428895 8 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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