Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 1 SC480429 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. The child spoke with the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is dual registered and has been in post since April 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2024 Full Inadequate 10/05/2022 Full Good 30/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. Two children have left the home since the last inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child has received good-quality care that has enabled them to make progress from their starting points. Staff have built trusting relationships with the child currently living in the home and speak about them with pride. The child has grown in confidence and has become more vocal about the things that are important to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is proud of the recent changes they have made to the lounge and study area. The child’s bedroom has benefited from redecoration and contains all the child’s personal belongings. The physical environment of the home is warm and welcoming and furnished to a good standard.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff travel some distance to take the child in school; this encourages good school attendance. The child enjoys school, and their certificates of achievement are displayed in the home alongside photos of them taking part in various activities. The registered manager is proactive at liaising with and working alongside a range of professionals regarding the child’s plan to ensure that the child is receiving the best support. The manager and staff are proactive at escalating concerns when there are delays.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager supports children’s rights, including advocacy, and arranges for the child to speak to an independent person outside of the home about matters relating to their future. This planning is crucial for the child when decisions are being made about their care, as it ensures that the child’s views are obtained and considered.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time with children, discussing a range of topics that have significance in their lives, such as emotional well-being, online safety and healthy eating. These discussions help each child to learn positive behaviours and routines that will prepare them for adulthood. Staff support and encourage the children to try new hobbies and experiences and see the therapeutic value, with each child spending time with animals. The child living in the home has visited a horse sanctuary and a cat café and fed animals during farm visits.

p.3

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

Individual risk assessments address the known vulnerabilities for the child and are regularly reviewed by the manager to ensure that safety is continually being considered.

p.3

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

Staff receive training to develop their skills and knowledge and to keep children safe. Staff have completed training specific to each child’s needs, such as neurodiversity. However, there is a missed opportunity to ensure that staff have been trained in relation to the implications of knife crime. A requirement has been raised to this effect. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 4 Physical intervention has not been necessary. Staff understand children’s individual past experiences and respond with setting appropriate boundaries from which each child can learn. When a child feels frustrated and upset or makes harmful comments, staff mostly encourage them to talk about this. They use strategies such as professional curiosity and responding with empathy to help them find an appropriate solution. This encourages each child to build trusting relationships with the adults that care for them.

p.3

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

Room searches take place when there are concerns for children’s safety. The manager evaluates the effectiveness of the room search, and the child’s view is obtained. Follow-up discussions with the child take place to provide advice and education around topics such as keeping safe in the community and the implications of drug and alcohol misuse.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment practice at the home ensures that all staff are appropriately vetted and that all checks are carried out before individuals come to work at the home. The child’s safety is further supported by routine health and safety checks that are regularly monitored and, where appropriate, actioned in a timely manner. This ensures that the home is a safe place for the child to live.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced manager leads the home. He is supported by an experienced deputy manager and together they have good knowledge of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The manager has effective monitoring systems in place and values the feedback from the independent visitor. These systems enable effective oversight of the home and the child’s progress and development as well as staff practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable workforce, and staff talk positively about how leaders and managers support them. They confirm that they receive regular, purposeful supervision that is reflective and supportive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is good; team meetings are well attended, take place regularly and are used as an opportunity for staff to reflect on practice and share new ideas. One member of staff said about their experience of working in the home, ‘ I enjoy working here; it’s a positive place to work.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have confidence in leaders and managers to escalate concerns around the child’s plans if they feel that decision-making has not been effective and is not in the child’s best interests.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team have developed positive working relationships with partner agencies. The manager knows the risks that are present in the local community and surrounding areas. He ensures that staff are aware of local risks, and he puts measures in place to help minimise risks for any child living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff are trained in and have in-depth knowledge of the implications of knife crime. 25 July 2025

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are provided with written guidance, as set out in the statement of purpose, detailing the home’s approach in meeting children’s physical, mental and emotional health. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 6

p.5

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: SC480429 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480429 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8