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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 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 managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

An acting manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home. They have not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

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: 1159397 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious and widespread concerns in relation to the protection of children at this assurance inspection. However, several shortfalls were identified.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have positive relationships with the children. They encourage children to develop peer relationships that are kind and compassionate. However, staff, at times, have struggled to help children to live together harmoniously. The children’s relationships are sometimes hostile and tense. One child experienced bullying, leaving them feeling unsafe.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have not consistently considered referral information so that children can live together safely. One child did not receive a carefully planned transition. A lack of consideration about the children’s suitability to live together resulted in instability in the home and children having negative experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive intensive training to help them support the children’s care needs. They use de-escalation techniques and, when necessary, request support from the police to help safeguard the children. The manager has oversight of these incidents when they occur, but this has not been consistent. Following a restraint incident, a review of a child to see if they had any injuries was not conducted properly. The manager did not follow safeguarding procedures to request a medical review of a suspected bruise, in line with the provider’s safeguarding policy.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers recruit staff safely to the home. They ensure that staff complete a comprehensive induction. Staff benefit from practice-related supervision that helps them to reflect on the progress children make and on their own practice. However, supervision sessions are not always regular.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff encourage children to develop their independence skills. This includes talking to children about protecting themselves from being in unsafe situations or with unsafe people. Staff help children to keep their own private spaces hygienic. However, one child’s bedroom was very untidy and remained uncleaned for a period of time, demonstrating a lack of consistency in staff’s support.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager provides a supportive environment for staff, who enjoy working in the home. Staff speak positively about the children. They openly acknowledge the recent challenging situations and express a strong commitment for children to achieve positive outcomes.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend school. Staff are ambitious for the children to achieve and do well in their education and learn practical skills. Children have a room for artwork and have a nail bar, where they enjoy learning nail art. This encourages children to develop positive interests. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 3 Staff help the children to manage and improve their health. They receive appropriate training to administer medication and manage the children’s health needs safely and effectively. They encourage children to develop their independence to administer their own medication where possible.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand that meaningful family time is important for children. Children have carefully assessed time with family members, monitored by the manager to ensure that this remains safe.

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Findings from the inspection

When children are missing from home, staff respond appropriately and try to locate children, with support from the police. Staff understand the risks to children, including the associated risks of using the internet. The use of electronic devices is appropriately risk managed. Staff are alert to risks of sexual exploitation and know how to respond to concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Children know how to make a complaint. They have regular conversations with staff about their worries and concerns. When children make allegations about staff’s practice, the manager takes time to hear their views. Allegations are reported to the relevant professionals and investigated appropriately. This helps children to feel listened to and ensures that safeguarding procedures are followed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have responded effectively to two recommendations made at the home’s last inspection. One recommendation remains in place. Four new requirements have been made during this assurance inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2024 Full Good 14/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b)) 30 May 2025

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 30 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 6 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff follow safeguarding procedures when there is a suspicion of bruises to a child.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

incident records have consistent management oversight;

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Requirement Due date

staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities to meet the needs of the children in the home, so children experience consistent levels of care. 30 May 2025

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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. 30 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 30 May 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the property is maintained to a good standard so that it feels homely and welcoming. In particular, children should be supported to keep their bedrooms clean and hygienic. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 8

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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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Inspector

Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1159397 9 regulates 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 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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