Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2631595 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned by a national provider. It provides care for up to five children who are likely to experience social and emotional difficulties due to past trauma. There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since March 2024.

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Inspection date: 13 February 2025

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: 2631595 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out due to concerns Ofsted received about the home.

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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

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Three children have moved in, and three children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. Three children spoke with the inspector.

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Findings from the inspection

There is no registered manager. The registered manager resigned in March 2024. A manager has been appointed; they have applied to register with Ofsted. The manager was not present during this inspection. The inspection was led by the responsible individual.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are positive about their experiences of living at the home. All children said that they feel happy and safe at the home. Children said they did not have any worries or concerns and identified staff they would speak to if they did have any worries or concerns. Children spoke positively about the activities they are offered and rewards for positive behaviour and working hard.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making progress with their education from their starting points. They access education with support tailored to their individual needs. Staff encourage children to persevere with education and work through challenges. Staff also encourage and support children to acquire age-appropriate independence skills.

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Findings from the inspection

Positive, warm and nurturing interactions were observed between the children and staff, with lots of laughter and staff being responsive to the individual needs of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children receive individualised care. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and liking. Where safe and appropriate, the staff support children to maintain links with those who are important to them. Staff also have a good understanding of children’s health needs and work closely with external agencies to support children with health concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have not always had positive experiences moving on from the home. Leaders and managers have a process of assessing children before they move into the home and children have positive transitions into the home. However, leaders and managers have not always fully considered children’s needs as recorded in their relevant plans and the impact they could have on the existing group of children before they move in. This has resulted in staff struggling to manage some complex behaviours and incidents and an existing child’s placement breaking down. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2631595 3 There have been incidents of children going missing from the home. When children go missing, staff are quick to respond. Partnership work with the police is effective and staff actively ensure that the children return home as soon as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

When children are involved in incidents, they are supported to reflect on their behaviour. Incidents of physical intervention are rare and generally managed well. Following one intervention, a child made an allegation against staff; this was managed effectively by leaders and managers without delay.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff complete the organisation’s mandatory training and leaders and managers strive to provide staff with additional training. As a result, staff access training that is tailored to the children’s emerging needs. This means staff are supported to have the skills and knowledge to care for the children and meet their individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff benefit from regular one-to-one reflective supervision. However, staff do not always have an annual appraisal of their working practices. This means opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and development may be missed.

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Findings from the inspection

Feedback from staff is positive. Staff say they feel fulfilled in their role and are supported by the management team.

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Findings from the inspection

Feedback from external professionals is positive. A professional said that they are happy with the care provided to children and they felt their child was safe. They were impressed with how quickly the staff and managers respond to any issues or concerns and said that communication was good. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2631595 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2024 Full Good 03/07/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Good 16/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2631595 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must only accept children into the home when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the impact on the existing group of children. 24 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 24 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2631595 6

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennise Springett

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2631595 7 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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Inspector

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