Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 1 SC457175 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

This home is owned by a large national provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 8 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2024 Full Good 05/10/2022 Full Outstanding 14/09/2021 Full Good 10/03/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Moves in and out of the home have been well planned and managed in a child- centred way. One child was supported to move to a larger home, which aligned with their wishes. They were able to meet the staff beforehand and had the opportunity to spend time with a staff member from their new home on holiday. This has meant that the child has been able to settle in well to their new home, and they have continued to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who has moved in has been supported to form positive relationships with the staff, who are getting to know them well and are becoming attuned to their needs. The child is able to express their feelings and wishes in a variety of creative ways. The child is being encouraged to try new leisure activities and develop new interests. However, arrangements for family time are not always in line with the child’s plan, and this has not been challenged by the manager in a timely manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted and encouraged in the home. Neither of the children who have lived in the home in this inspection period were engaging with education when they first arrived. Staff and the manager work with children in a measured and child-centred way to overcome reluctance to accessing education. Through the perseverance of staff and education professionals working with the provider one child has been successfully supported to attend college. The other child is being supported to work with tutors and mentors to reintroduce them to education provision. A social worker shared that the child ‘has not engaged in any form of education or positive activities for over two years. Since moving to [name of home], he is looking much healthier, he has a better sleeping routine and their eating has also improved.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported both children’s individual health needs, ensuring that they are registered with all relevant services. Referrals to specialist services are made when required. Medication is stored safely in the home. However, recording of administration of medication is variable, and it has not always been clear when children have refused medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a safe and welcoming environment. Some refurbishment was taking place at the time of inspection, including decorating in the lounge area. The child now living in the home has been involved in choosing the decor and colour schemes. This gives them a sense of ownership of the home.

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

The child who is living in the home is kept safe by staff, who understand their needs well. There is strong multi-agency working to manage potential risks and vulnerabilities for the child. Regular meetings and updates to assessments mean that staff and the Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 4 manager are aware of any emerging risks and can mitigate these accordingly. There are comprehensive risk management plans in place, which supports staff to keep the child safe.

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

There have been several instances of substance misuse, which have been managed appropriately by staff. They have sought medical advice and also ensured that they have looked in the child’s room to attempt to locate any items of concern. Staff have discussions with the child to help educate them on the dangers of certain substances.

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

Missing-from-home episodes have been well managed, with staff being proactive in seeking to prevent these. Staff and the manager spoke about searching for the child and ensuring that they are collected when they are ready to come home. However, it has not always been fully recorded on the child’s record when staff have searched for children.

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

Staff have access to the provider’s therapy team, whose members support them with understanding the child’s needs. This has helped the staff to support the child to manage their emotions and behaviour. In most instances, staff are able to effectively de-escalate situations, and this has led to a reduction in incidents involving the child.

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

Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and know how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Staff recruitment is done safely in an effort to ensure that only suitable individuals work with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified and her practice is child centred. She also has management responsibility for another home within the company. The manager is supported by a committed and stable staff team. There is minimal use of staff from other homes. When this does happen, the manager ensures that a small pool of staff is used to ensure consistency for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions that allow them to reflect on their practice and identify any emerging needs of children. Team meetings are also held regularly and are used as an opportunity for learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide range of training. The manager ensures that staff receive training that supports them to meet the child’s individual needs. Some staff are experienced and qualified in childcare. New members of staff complete an induction before being enrolled to attain a recognised childcare qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home and uses effective tools and systems to monitor performance and care provided. The independent person visits the home on a monthly basis and provides an evaluation of the quality of care provided to the children. However, they do not regularly obtain feedback from the child or other key people to provide additional scrutiny of the quality of care provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 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 each child’s relevant plans are followed; and

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Requirement Due date

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)) 3 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)) 10 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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that records are kept which detail all actions taken during missing-from-home episodes, including staff where and when staff have searched for children. 10 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records must are kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 3, paragraph 7.15)

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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: SC457175 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Beverley Williams

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 8 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 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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