Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in September 2019 and is part of a large national provider of children’s homes. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, one child was living in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The focus of this visit was to monitor and review the actions taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have received additional training in ligature safety, allegations, safeguarding and child protection to increase their knowledge and understanding of managing risks to children. However, there is limited evaluation of the impact this training has had on staff.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has improved her oversight of the home. Improvements have been made to the overall monitoring of the home. The registered manager has reviewed incidents and day-to-day management through a comprehensive weekly audit. However, these systems are not effective because leaders and managers have not identified weaknesses in practice that inspectors pointed out during this visit. Safeguarding incidents, identified at the full inspection, have not been evaluated. This means that vital learning has not been considered, and steps to prevent incidents from reoccurring are not in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 2 The child has spent the night in police custody on two separate occasions. Staff do not respond with appropriate or identified strategies to de-escalate behaviours. This has led to inconsistent approaches from staff as they do not always follow behaviour

p.1

This monitoring visit

The safety of the home environment continues to be an issue. The staff are required to identify and mitigate ligature risks due to the child's significant needs. However, this situation remains a concern. The home was observed to have several potential ligature risks despite staff having a new ‘environment checklist’. The registered manager agreed that the home environment was not safe and took immediate action to rectify this.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The online safety risk assessment and plan have been expanded to include all risks. However, not all staff are carrying out checks on online devices, such as a games console and a smart television. This has left gaps in the identification and management of risks to the child.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has taken action to challenge and report poor practice by a staff member. Reflective sessions have taken place to ensure that the member of staff and the rest of the team are aware of the standards expected of them. However, not all information was shared with the local authority designated officer (LADO), and the correct procedure was not followed. This has resulted in the LADO having limited oversight in respect of advice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Not all safeguarding incidents are reported to Ofsted within the correct time frames. This limits Ofsted’s oversight of serious incidents.

p.2

This monitoring visit

It is Ofsted’s view that the provider has not taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. Therefore, these notices have been issued again. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2025 Full Inadequate 25/05/2023 Full Inadequate 28/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/05/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b)(d))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there are plans in place to safeguard the child against all known risks and that staff follow the child’s plans, responding appropriately to the child’s social and emotional needs. 4 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 5 *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.5

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;

p.5

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there is sufficient management oversight of staff practice and that any concerns are identified and addressed. Additionally, leaders and managers must ensure that staff are suitably trained to meet the child’s needs. 4 May 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

that staff— 20 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 6 meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.6

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff understand and respond appropriately to the child’s social and emotional needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)) 20 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 7 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any concerns in relation to the child’s health needs are communicated effectively and addressed with the relevant professionals, escalating them when necessary.

p.6

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

p.7

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Beverley Williams

p.8

Inspectors

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Hayley Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2542813 9 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.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9