Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 1 SC456543 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 is a private children’s home that is registered to care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

During this inspection period, one child moved out of the home, and one moved into the home. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The inspector spoke with the child as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably experienced and has been in post since April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2024 Full Good 06/09/2023 Full Good 18/01/2023 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built positive relationships with each child and are committed to the care and support they provide. The child stated, ‘I am happy in this home and the staff help me with my mental health and education.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is currently undergoing repairs following damage, and a new kitchen and carpets have been fitted. The child’s bedroom is well furnished and personalised. The communal areas of the home and staff bedrooms look tired and dated. The double- glazed windows have failed, causing fogging between panes, and the guttering needs repair.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child’s move in and out of the home is positive. The manager carefully considers the needs of the child moving into the home, assessing their needs alongside the skills and experience of the staff. The manager speaks to those who know the child. Visits are arranged between staff and the child, and visits to the home are made before the child moves in. This helps to build familiarity before the move and lessens the child’s anxieties about moving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a child has moved on from this home, they have experienced a planned move into group living. Staff help each child to develop alternative coping skills when faced with challenges, enabling them to be secure in taking their next steps. Staff work with professionals to facilitate moves and ensure that each child has familiar people during the move. Staff celebrate the child’s time in the home with a meal and thoughtful gifts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create thoughtful ‘My Time’ books for each child, which capture their memories and achievements from their time spent in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager promotes the child’s education. The manager has found a suitable provision for the child on a part-time timetable to encourage their reintegration into education. As a result, the child’s attendance has improved. Alternative plans are in place in the home to enhance learning and the part-time timetable. This includes the child going on educational outings, learning independence skills and doing key work on specified individual goals. The structure in place is supporting the child’s transition back into formal education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that care and planning meetings are taking place. However, key documentation, such as personal education plans and updated care plans, is not always on file following meetings. This does not ensure that staff are working with the agreed plans and actions for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with all key healthcare professionals. Key work completed with the child has led to improvements in oral hygiene, physical health and healthy eating. The child is encouraged to attend all routine appointments; however, the child’s annual health Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 4 assessment is not on file. This does not ensure that staff are working to support the child’s identified healthcare needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child’s views and wishes are gathered in weekly meetings. This encourages them to contribute to day-to-day decisions about their care. The manager provides feedback following each meeting. This ensures that every child feels valued and listened to and helps them to feel effective in their own plans.

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

Each child has enjoyed positive relationships with staff and see them as trusted adults. They can approach adults with their worries and concerns and feel that they are listened to and understood. This ensures that they feel cared for and safe. Through trusted relationships, staff can tackle sensitive subjects with each child. Staff have discussed relationships, self-harm and health. Each child has learned to understand issues that affect their daily lives, to recognise dangers and adopt alternative ways of coping. Professionals state, ‘Staff know the child well and know exactly how to respond and support them. As a result, their mental health has improved since living in the home.’

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

Although the staff team has changed slightly in the past year, there is a consistent team in the home. Communication between the staff is thorough. Therefore, there are consistent boundaries in the home. This enables each child to feel secure.

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

Staff understand the risks to every child they care for. Each child’s risks are documented in risk management plans that direct and support staff to prevent and reduce risk. However, risk management plans are not always updated following incidents, which does not ensure that staff are aware of incidents and have updated responses.

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

Incidents of self-harm and low mood are managed well by staff. Staff understand and follow the child’s risk management plans. Staff monitor the child’s moods and provide emotional support, reflecting on incidents and feelings. This lets the child know that staff care about them and are available. Staff know when to escalate concerns and seek additional support if required. The manager provides oversight of incidents and reflects on incidents with staff, providing guidance on how to improve practice and emotional support if required.

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

There have been no missing-from-home incidents; however, the child will leave the home in the evening when in a low mood. Clear risk management plans are in place for staff to follow in these instances. Staff know and follow the plans.

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

The child has access to specialist professional support, such as mental health and youth support workers. Staff encourage and facilitate the child’s engagement with specialist professionals, ensuring that the child has access to the adults who are most able to help them with their specific issues.

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

Allegations are investigated fully. Each child has consultations with their social workers to allow for an independent overview. They are spoken to about the outcomes of Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 5 allegations and are reassured and supported while allegations are still ongoing. This reassures them that they are being listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy provide a consistent, stable presence in the home and are committed to improving each child’s outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy oversee the home well. Monthly audits ensure that the home operates in accordance with regulations. A weekly tracking system ensures that managerial tasks are completed within timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment procedures, taking extra precautions when necessary. This ensures that staff are safe to fulfil their role. Leaders and managers use the allocated probation period to ensure that staff are suited to caring for children. They take necessary action to ensure good-quality care for each child and that they are safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervisions are supportive and focus on reflection of practice, planning for each child, expectations of the role and guidance. However, staff do not always receive regular supervision. Staff feel supported in their role and enjoy working in the home; however, they do not always feel that there is an opportunity to work on career progression.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Annual appraisals are not taking place. This does not provide leaders and managers the opportunity to understand the team’s strengths and areas of development or plan for career progression.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place monthly and are well attended. They are used to ensure that staff understand, and are working with, risk management plans, are aware of and implementing routines and boundaries in the home, and enhance staff knowledge on recording and reporting, and professional curiosity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and parents state that the manager and staff advocate for each child and communicate effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 6

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals and are supported to progress through professional development. 29 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that documentation, such as annual health assessments, personal education plans, and updated care plans, are requested and are on file following statutory meetings and that structured escalation plans are in place when requested documentation is not received. 29 August 2025

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 7 meet the needs of each child; and

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2) (1)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that repairs, damages and redecoration are completed to a good standard. This includes plastering in the kitchen and around the front door casing and the redecoration of staff bedrooms, living rooms and hallways. Also, leaders and managers must ensure that windows and outside guttering are functional.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan and risk management plans agreed between the home and their placing authority must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 8

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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: SC456543 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456543 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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