Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 1 SC066127 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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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 and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties, and who may have a sensory impairment, learning disabilities and a mental health condition.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke to all four children during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 February 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2024 Full Outstanding 22/03/2023 Full Outstanding 01/11/2021 Full Outstanding 16/01/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This home feels like a family home for the children who live there. The manager and staff know the children exceptionally well and are invested in them. The manager and staff go above and beyond to provide exciting opportunities for children. This includes recovering from past trauma, achieving their dreams and making the journey an enjoyable one along the way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise the huge importance of trusting relationships for children and how these develop as staff and children work through difficulties together. The manager and staff are committed to the children. They are nurturing, patient and empathetic. Staff supported one child for several months to become established in their new school by staying with them until they were no longer needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children all make exceptional progress from their starting points. Staff support them with individualised plans, which reflect their unique needs. Children are consulted at every step of the way in a meaningful way to them. Staff help newer children to settle and develop a sense of belonging. They support them to experience many new things and settle into their school and community. Children are all making excellent progress in their health and well-being and education, and in learning social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to see their families and staff support them with this recognising the difficult feelings that may arise for children at times. Staff are persistent and sensitive in their support for families and use effective planning to make each time the best it can be. Staff create lovely memories in books and photo blankets for children when their families are not around them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children share what a difference living here has made to their lives. They have a powerful sense of belonging and are encouraged to aspire to great things. Staff celebrate the children’s milestones with them, and children support their local community through fundraising and taking part in local events. The manager and staff encourage children to identify their dreams and find ways to support them to achieve them. Children have changed lives because they live here.

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

Forward-thinking and creative safeguarding practice means that all children have a strong sense of safety and well-being in this home. Staff adapt their practice and think creatively to support children safely to take positive risks. If a child expresses a dream staff are quick to act on it and find safe ways for it to happen. They have high aspirations for children and support them to follow their dreams.

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

The manager recognises their limitations and knows when to seek professional support for children. The manager purposefully supports children to access mainstream services Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 4 in their community. This helps them to build relationships outside the home and reflects the open culture in the home, which professionals comment on.

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

Physical interventions are rarely used, and the manager reports low-level incidents and follows them up thoroughly. She reflects with staff and children after incidents to try and avoid them happening again. As part of this process the manager ensures that children are well supported to understand and manage their own emotions. Children are consulted to create ways to de-escalate situations, and to find creative alternative strategies that are effective.

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

When children raise any concerns, the manager takes decisive action, shares information, and ensures that children are heard. Professionals acknowledge the strength of plans around allegation management, and these have significantly reduced across the year as staff have worked openly with partner agencies. The manager maintains professional curiosity and reminds the team to do so, and evaluates and learns from concerns raised.

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

Children do not go missing from this home, but plans are in place if they were to. Children’s plans are reflective and thorough and give staff clear instructions of how to support them. They are kept under regular review and staff understand and follow them.

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

Professionals have no concerns about the staff’s ability to safeguard children and support them to stay safe. Staff excel at putting boundaries and expectations in place for children, which, in turn, makes them feel safe and secure. This allows children to take positive risks and experience new things in life. It also builds the children’s self confidence in new situations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high aspirations for this home and plans for children to succeed. This culture sets high expectations for staff to change and improve the lives of the children they are responsible for. Staff carry this vision too and children learn to believe they can achieve anything. The manager’s vision for the home can be clearly seen in day-to-day living.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff care for the children and aspire for them to do well. The manager knows the strengths and areas to develop in the home. They are on a journey of continual reflection and improvement. They know the children’s starting points, their motivators and challenges and commit to working through difficulties with them. The children all make exceptional progress because of this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and team leaders provide high-quality support and supervision to the team. Staff receive a thorough induction and a wide range of training. The manager continuously develops her own skills and those of her team. Team meetings are interactive, child-focused and solution focused. The manager uses research in team meetings and in meetings about children to help staff understand their needs and challenges and find the best ways of working with them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 5 Leaders and managers have outstanding working relationships with partner agencies and schools that ensure the best possible care, experiences and futures for children. They share information frequently and challenge and support each other to better support the children. Children attend school and meet and engage with health professionals because of this. A professional involved with a child said, ‘The progress they have made there is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Where children are struggling to settle, the manager works with partner agencies to source additional support. This is planned thoughtfully and kept under review. For one child, this support has helped them to settle, remain safe and start to build trusting relationships after many previous moves. This has led to the child settling into the home and school and recognising and managing their own emotions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager listens actively to the children. Their views are valued, and children contribute to their care planning and decisions. They are encouraged to speak up and shape all areas of life in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 6

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC066127 7

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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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Inspector

Carol Jagger, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 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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