Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Devon

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458352 1 SC458352

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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

This children’s home can provide care for up to three children with social and emotional needs. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a suitably qualified registered manager in post.

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Inspection date: 18 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 March 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: SC458352 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 children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children are currently living in the home. One child has continued to live in the home since the last inspection, and the second child has lived in the home for several weeks. One child has left the home and has moved on in a planned way. Two children were seen and spoken to during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff are developing stronger relationships with the children. One child said that they like living in the home, and they enjoyed going fishing with the staff during the inspection. One child joked about what it was like to live in the home. There was lovely banter observed between the child and the staff around this. Children seemed to be happy in the home, and to have lots of fun with the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has made good progress with their education, and they are attending college more regularly. The other child is being provided with a bespoke educational package that is being developed in the home while a school placement is identified for them. The manager has been proactive in seeking an educational placement for this child. Children can do fun activities that they enjoy and have been going to local youth groups to see what they are like.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are supporting children to develop positive routines and to learn to care for themselves. Children are responding to the boundaries that are in place and have incentives in place to support them with their behaviour. The home was seen to be clean, warm and comfortable. There are comfortable sofas in the lounge and a suitable dining room where children can enjoy meals with staff. The trampoline enclosure was damaged during a recent storm and a new one has been ordered.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a noticeable reduction in episodes where children have gone missing or have used alcohol/substances in their local community. Staff have supported children well so they can learn about keeping safe in the local area. This has had a positive impact on children’s safety in the home. Although there has been agreement for door alarms to be used, these are no longer in use.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguards and boundaries regarding the children’s use of the internet, social media and mobile phones are in place. One child has access to their own mobile phone, and the manager has not identified any concerns in relation to this. A safe plan is being developed with another child to support them with having their own mobile phone.

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Findings from the inspection

Communication with families, social workers and other professionals is timely and effective in helping to keep children safe and promoting their welfare. There are regular multi-agency meetings taking place, and plans for children are developed in Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458352 3 consultation with other professionals. However, when one child raised worries about the care they had received in the past, this was not followed up in a timely way.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken steps to address the shortfalls that were identified at the last inspection. Safeguarding practice has appeared more robust. A new manager is registered with Ofsted, and she has a good understanding of the risks to the children. There are regular conversations taking place within the multi- agency group to manage risks and to think about how to improve things in this area.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been several incidents where concerns have been raised about staff practice. When this has happened, these concerns have been investigated appropriately, and external agencies have been informed in a timely way. Leaders and managers have acted in response to these events to address the concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

During the inspection, there were concerns highlighted about safer recruitment processes not always being followed. Thorough checks were not completed in relation to one member of staff who worked in the home. When agency staff have been used, managers were not assured about their suitability to work in the home. Learning has been taken from this, and steps are being taken to address this. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458352 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2022 Full Good 01/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458352 5

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

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 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

ensures that staff have the experiences, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that robust safer recruitment checks are in place for all staff and that any staff are suitable to work in the home. 25 April 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 that staff—

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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

The registered person should ensure that any worries about the care of children are followed up in a timely way. 25 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458352 6

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicola McClements

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Inspector

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458352 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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