Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 1 SC457183

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare 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 privately owned and registered to provide care for one child who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 17 September 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: SC457183 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

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager. The manager accepts there have been challenges with the turnover of staff. She has plans in place to address this. The manager ensures that staff are up to date with the provider’s mandatory and additional training. However, new staff who have come to work at the home do not have experience in residential care. All the staff, aside from the manager, do not hold a relevant qualification.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is working to build on the skills and experience in the team. However, external management oversight is required when the registered manager is not available in the home due to staff inexperience.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has challenged the placing authority when there is a delay in receiving children’s documents. This has resulted in most documents being provided. However, during the inspection, education plans had not been received and were not embedded in the home’s documentation. This limits the staff’s understanding of how to support the child with their education.

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Findings from the inspection

The child speaks positively about living in the home and the staff team. The child trusts the staff and knows who to speak to if they are worried about anything.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of challenging behaviour in the home are rare. If incidents do occur, staff manage these well. Staff recognise when the child is struggling with their emotions. This means that they can de-escalate situations effectively. As a result, the child has not needed to be held since the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support improving the child’s health needs. Since the last inspection, the child is now accessing support for their emotional well-being and is attending routine appointments to improve their overall health.

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Findings from the inspection

When the child shares information with staff that is a concern, this is responded to effectively. A protocol to manage disclosures has been put in place due to the complexities of the child’s previous experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

One previous requirement and recommendation has been met. Two requirements have not been met and are restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2021 Full Inadequate 04/12/2019 Full Good 04/07/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 4

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the child is receiving education in line with relevant plans and documents are received timely.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 20 May 2025

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 20 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have had relevant training in line with the home’s statement of purpose to support the child in their day-to-day care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any staff member in a supervisory role, such as ‘shift leader,’ should have substantial relevant experience of working in a children’s home.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is homely. In particular, the child has access to the garden area, and they can use this space in line with their interests. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 7 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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