Children's Home run by Area Camden Limited in Camden

Inspection report for children's home: 2535376 1 Registered provider: Area Camden 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

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2019 and provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 24 July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident occurred at the setting which is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incidents were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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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: 2535376 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2024 Full Good 19/04/2023 Full Good 06/12/2022 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2535376 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, four children have lived at the home. Two children have successfully moved into semi-independent accommodation. Staff prepare children for independence with practical skills and emotional support. They sensitively promote positive endings when children leave the home, and provide children with photo albums so that they can take with them special memories of their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care provided to children in this home is good. Staff place children at the centre of their practice and ensure that their day-to-day needs are met. Despite positive and consistent efforts from staff, not all children engage well with the support offered. Staff have not been able to engage one child, despite their regular and creative attempts to provide support. Staff show an appropriate understanding of the child’s background and the impact of their experiences on their day-to-day activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer children a range of activities. They take time to get to know children and their individual interests. For example, some children like football and art. Staff also provide alternative education activities when children are not in school. This ensures that activities available in the home are specific to the children’s interests and educational needs. Out of the home, staff arrange trips that the children enjoy and provide opportunities for the children to have new experiences. Some children engage well with the activities provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans are comprehensive and detailed. These plans support staff to understand children’s past experiences and guide them on how to meet their current needs. However, children are not involved in updating their records and their views are not documented in their care plans. This reduces the registered manager’s and staff’s understanding of the children’s wishes and views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s physical environment is well maintained and safe for children. The home is warm and welcoming and has a family atmosphere. Children are supported to decorate their bedrooms. Generally, staff complete bedroom searches when concerns are raised. However, staff do not always talk to children about the searches. Additionally, not all records of bedroom searches show appropriate management oversight to ensure that bedroom searches are being conducted proportionately and in line with children’s plans.

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

Leaders and managers take allegations of harm seriously and act promptly when issues arise. They share information with the relevant agencies and work well with safeguarding professionals to ensure that children are safe in the home.

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

Staff are clear about how to protect children and show a good understanding of safeguarding procedures to keep children safe. They understand children’s risks and Inspection report for children's home: 2535376 4 vulnerabilities and manage children’s risks well. Children’s risk assessments are effective because they are specific and relevant to the child. They include clear guidance to staff about how to keep children safe. This includes practical measures for dealing with children who may self-harm. This helps to keep children safe in the home.

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

Staff manage missing from home incidents well. There is a well-coordinated response when children are missing from the home. Staff understand the risks when children are missing and follow the child’s individual safety plan. The registered manager and staff work effectively with other professionals when children are missing from home and talk to children to help them understand risks in the community.

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

Incidents in the home are managed well. Staff support children to manage their behaviour and make use of rewards and positive reinforcement to improve behaviour. Incidents are thoroughly reviewed by managers and there are appropriate debriefs with staff. Risk assessments are updated to ensure that staff understand what is happening for children and can help to reduce risk.

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

Staff help children to understand risks through discussions in individual key-work sessions. Some children engage well and learn to develop important life skills as well as how to keep themselves safe. Discussions with children focus on the children’s individual needs. However, staff are not always successful at getting all children to engage with these sessions and learn to keep safe while in the community. For one child, incidents of missing from care have recently increased despite staff’s attempts to reduce these incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led and managed by a committed and experienced registered manager. The registered manager and staff know the children well and advocate well for them to ensure that their needs are met. Feedback from professionals and parents about the leaders, managers and staff is overwhelmingly positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are aspirational and want the best for children. They are enthusiastic about helping children to overcome negative life experiences, trauma and to learn life skills to help them in adulthood. Staff have a clear and shared vision for each child to support them to make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the home’s strengths and areas for development. There are effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that leaders and managers constantly review the quality of care provided to children. Leaders and managers work proactively with other professionals and build positive relationships with parents. Professionals and parents receive regular updates on the progress and experiences of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. They are suitably qualified and receive regular training and development opportunities. Staff undertake Inspection report for children's home: 2535376 5 more targeted training to meet the specific needs of individual children in addition to mandatory training. This ensures that staff understand the needs of children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings and can reflect on practice and the needs of children. They benefit from regular supervision which is reflective, offering staff support and guidance when considering the needs and progress of children. This also demonstrates that leaders and managers have effective oversight of staff practice in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2535376 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any searches of children’s bedrooms are carried out sensitively. Staff should discuss the reasons why a bedroom search has taken place. The search should be accurately recorded, including the reasons for the search, efforts to seek the child’s consent, and management oversight of a decision to carry out a search and how information is shared with relevant people. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that staff help children to participate in their care planning and that children’s views and wishes are clear in their care plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Information about this inspection

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: 2535376 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Polaris, Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2535376 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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