Children's Home run by Cambian Autism Services Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 1 Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services 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 run by a private company and provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities. The company also provides education on site at a registered school.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this setting.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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Inspection date: 20 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. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 2 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: 2693741 3

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, several serious allegations have been made about the staff working in the home. The provider took sufficient action to ensure that children were safe once they were aware of the allegations. However, the local authority designated officer raised concerns about how senior leaders managed the investigation process. This included concerns about their transparency in the process and delays in the investigation. The company’s safeguarding director accepts that there have been delays in this process.

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Findings from the inspection

Following these significant safeguarding concerns, senior leaders made the decision for the three children to move out of the home. Senior leaders and the children’s social workers made the decision to move two of the children into another of the company’s homes during the investigation. One local authority decided to move their child back to their home area.

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Findings from the inspection

During the investigation period, the provider made changes to the leadership and management arrangements of the home. A new manager and responsible individual have been appointed to oversee the home. The manager and responsible individual ensure that the home is a welcoming environment for children to live. They have worked intensely with the staff team to improve their knowledge and skills in relation to their caring practices, for example in respect of safeguarding practices. Staff have a clear understanding of what actions they should take if they have concerns about another staff member’s practice or presentation. Additionally, staff receive training specific to the children’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result, two of the children who previously lived in the home have moved back into the home. Staff worked well to help the children settle into the home again. Staff used relevant resources to support children to understand plans for them to return to the home. Children were prepared for the move in advance. However, children have not taken part in a fire drill since returning to live in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environment has been adapted to meet the children’s needs. Communication tools are present throughout the home to help the children understand some of the rules and expectations. Children’s bedrooms are clean, tidy and decorated to reflect children’s likes and interests. There are photos of the children and their families around the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend the on-site school. The staff team can access support from other professionals. For example, a speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist are available to support children’s sensory needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff encourage children to communicate their choices and emotions. However, children’s views and feelings about the staff are not obtained. This is a missed Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 4 opportunity to understand if children say they are safe and happy with the staff who support them. This is particularly important due to the concerns raised about staff who previously worked in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s families are involved in their child’s care. They have opportunities to visit the home and speak to the children on the phone regularly. Additionally, children have access to advocacy and are visited by other professionals outside the company.

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Findings from the inspection

There have not been any incidents of children being restrained or of staff using restrictive practices since the last inspection. The manager has identified that one child requires light touch support as permitted in a court directed order. However, staff do not record these incidents when this practice is used. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to have oversight of all care practices.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager made some changes to the rosters to meet the children’s needs. Some staff have struggled with the changes and as a result have left their employment. The manager has continued to recruit to the vacant posts.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight has improved since the children have moved back in. Staff supervision sessions and team meetings take place regularly. However, the records of these lack sufficient detail. The manager is aware that this practice needs to improve. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2024 Full Good 23/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 6

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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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)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that allegations are acted on and investigated without delay and information is shared with the local authority designated officer. 4 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them; 4 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 7 engage with them; and

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that children are supported to communicate their views, wishes and feelings about the care and support they receive from the staff working at the home.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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; and 4 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 8 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that staff supervision sessions and team meetings are used to reflect on and discuss the progress of the children living at the home.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to children taking part in regular fire drills. 4 April 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all restrictions of liberty of movement are recorded as restraint. Some children, perhaps due to impairment or disability, may not offer any resistance, but such measures should still constitute a restraint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.42) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services 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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Inspectors

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2693741 10 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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