Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2662847 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 part of a large national provider of children’s homes. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2025

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2024

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Inspection date: 25 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 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: 2662847 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 the child living in the home at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child living in the home is cared for by a consistent staff team. Staff engage the child in meaningful work following incidents and when new issues or concerns emerge. Staff support the child with warmth and empathy. As a result, relationships between the child and staff team have improved. The child now seeks out support from staff at times of distress or worry.

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Findings from the inspection

The child continues to make progress in education. The child’s engagement with the in-house education mentor has improved. The child has access to a tutor who visits the home to provide learning opportunities. This prepares the child for a transition to a formal education setting.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s physical health needs are met. Staff support the child to attend appointments with health professionals when concerns arise.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has challenged the decisions of professionals to continue with court- imposed restrictions for the child. She has advocated for the child to be able to enjoy age related freedoms in the community. As a result, the child is no longer subject to any restrictions and is able to spend time in the community with friends. This has had a positive impact of the child’s mental health. Furthermore, incidents of the child going missing have reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding practice in the home has improved. Staff understand the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. However, staff do not always follow the child’s plans to manage incidents of challenging behaviour and the child’s use of electronic cigarettes. Decisions to not physically hold the child at times of distress has led to an escalation of behaviours for the child. As a result, the police have attended the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Debriefs with the child and staff team take place following incidents of challenging behaviour in the home. This provides the child and staff team to reflect on their behaviour. However, independent oversight of incidents involving the child being physically held has not been undertaken when the manager has been involved.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of the care being provided in the home is improved. The manager evaluates incidents and identifies shortfalls in the staff’s practice. However, action is not always taken with staff to address these concerns. Furthermore, the child’s records are not always updated to include up to date and accurate information.

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Findings from the inspection

Sufficient action has not been taken by leaders and managers to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection, and four requirements have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2662847 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/09/2024 Full Inadequate 19/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/09/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2662847 4

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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 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;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically ensure that children’s records are maintained and updated to include all known risks and vulnerabilities for the child; and that staff understand and follow plans that are in place to safeguard the child. 16 April 2025

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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— 16 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2662847 5 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that action is taken to address identified shortfalls in staff practice and that there is oversight of all care being provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that incidents are reviewed and debriefs are undertaken by an independent person when managers are involved in incidents in which the child has been physically held. 16 April 2025

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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 signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically ensure that children’s records and reviewed and maintained to include all actions taken to safeguard the child and include accurate information. 16 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2662847 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: Beverley Williams

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Inspector

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2662847 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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Inspector

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