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

Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 1 SC059180 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 home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 5 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living in the home and all children were seen and spoken with 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2025 Full Outstanding 20/03/2024 Full Outstanding 21/03/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive consistent, child focused and nurturing care from staff. Children love living in this family-orientated home. Their overall quality of life is enhanced because of this, and they make excellent progress as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children share meaningful and trusting relationships with staff and enjoy spending time with them. Children enjoy the care and affection that is shown to them by the staff, and instinctively seek out 'high fives', hugs and comfort. Children love singing and dancing and staff often play children's favourite songs, instantly lifting their mood. The positive relationships that the children have with the staff allow them to feel accepted, build on their self-esteem and thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's wishes and feelings are championed in this home; there is a well-embedded total communication approach. The dedication from staff to get this right is immense. Staff know the children extremely well and are attuned to their individual communication needs. They receive in-depth training on the most-effective ways to communicate with children, and there has been significant investment to ensure that all staff are trained to level 4 in Makaton. Furthermore, the manager uses research to inform practice, including a recent initiative to remove all written text from the home environment and replace it with visuals. For one child who is diagnosed as non-speaking, this has enabled them to find their voice, which is a life-changing outcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children take part in a wide range of enjoyable activities. They have new experiences, such as visits to animal farms, trips to the seaside and going bowling. One parent said, 'My child has achieved things I never thought possible, climbing mountains in the lakes and running the great north run; this is testament to the care and support from the team.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff consistently demonstrate unwavering commitment to support the children's personal development. One staff member provided extensive support to help a child successfully learn to swim, and another child has learned to ride a bike because of patient, sustained encouragement. Staff are imaginative in creating opportunities that broaden children's experiences and promote growth. For example, they introduce foods from around the world, helping children to gain confidence in trying new flavours and significantly widening their diets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's health needs are expertly addressed. Staff work in partnership with medical professionals effectively and respond promptly to the children's evolving care needs. Health interventions are closely monitored, with sleep routines and medication reviewed through careful data collection and analysis. This approach ensures that decisions are informed and lead to excellent outcomes for children. For example, one child has had their medication reduced, and another has been able to stop medication altogether. Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 4 Most children live at this home for a long time, providing them with sustained stability and consistency. One professional said, 'Talk about stickability, they [staff] never give up.' When children move on from the home, they are supported by dedicated staff who are meticulous in ensuring that moving out arrangements are planned in the best interests of each child. As a result, children are well prepared to begin their new chapter

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

as young adults. Their achievements and memories are captured in a personalised photo album, providing a lasting record and visual reminder of their experiences at the home.

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

The manager ensures that staff receive training that is tailored to the specific needs of the children. As a result, staff have a thorough understanding of children's risks and know how to respond effectively to prevent and reduce the risk of harm.

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

Person-centred care and the integration of positive behaviour support are central to practice in the home. The team's overall focus is on improving the quality of life for the children, and they work consistently to reduce restrictive practices. As children develop trust and feel safer, they no longer require the specialist equipment that was previously necessary. For example, one child no longer needs a specialist buggy, another no longer requires a car safety harness and a further child no longer needs a protective helmet.

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

Systems are in place to monitor trends and patterns in the children's behaviour, and staff routinely discuss their findings and observations. This analysis directly informs each child's individual positive behaviour support plan. Consequently, incidents of children becoming anxious, frustrated and upset have significantly reduced.

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

The manager has introduced a mapping process to support the staff team in understanding children's past trauma and how this may present differently for each child. As a result, staff have an excellent understanding of each child's lived experiences. Using trauma-informed theory, they apply intensive, well-scaffolded approaches to support children effectively. This highly attuned practice has enabled children to begin identifying, expressing and understanding their own emotions and feelings.

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

Staff use innovative and well-thought-out strategies when children experience anxiety or worry about attending routine health appointments or managing their personal care. They implement carefully planned desensitisation interventions, including role modelling and role play, to help children feel safe and in control. For example, one child who was previously fearful of having their hair washed engaged in playing 'hairdressers', washing and brushing staff's hair. Through this imaginative approach, the child now feels relaxed when having their hair washed, brushed and cut.

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

Staff seize every opportunity to educate children and help them to better understand the world around them. As a result, children are developing a stronger awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they enjoy regular visits from the fire service, where they learn to recognise signs of danger and understand how they should respond, all while having fun at the same time. In addition, one child is now safer when travelling in the car. Staff used a thoughtful and imaginative approach by introducing a teddy bear Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 5 alongside social stories. The child learned to keep the bear safe, which improved their own understanding of safety and supported a positive change in behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a highly effective and motivational leader. Her creativity, which is often innovative, has resulted in extensive progress and improvement since the last inspection. The manager uses her position to advocate for children, challenging professionals when necessary and in the best interests of those in her care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and comprehensive practice-related supervision sessions, which contribute to driving improvement forward. The topics covered are explored further, when appropriate, in team meetings. This allows for good practice to be acknowledged and shared, while providing opportunities to discuss areas for development. In addition, the manager routinely facilitates workshops that staff can drop into, focusing on developing specific areas of practice, such as report writing and familiarisation with the escalation process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is constantly looking to learn and draws on the knowledge of those around her, also seeking input from other agencies. Through her work, she demonstrates a strong desire to improve the lives of children and routinely shares practice that may be beneficial to other providers. An example of this is her willingness to share her knowledge and experience of supporting children with complex needs, including those who may be subject to deprivations of liberty.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals is very positive. The manager and her staff team are held in high regard for the practice in the home. One professional said, 'I love everything about this home and how dedicated the staff are. It is a special place for the children, in fact life-changing.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy have high expectations of the staff team and have an exceptional understanding of the team's strengths and areas for development. Staff development is strongly promoted. Each staff member has a personal workforce plan that identifies strengths, areas for improvement and clear actions to support their ongoing professional growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an excellent advocate for children. She is tenacious in her efforts, ensuring that children's voices are heard and their rights are promoted. For example, when other services were not responding to a child's health needs, she initiated a formal complaint and held professionals to account. This led to the child receiving the timely support and treatment they required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent oversight of the home. Monitoring systems are thorough to help the manager maintain her understanding of daily practice. Comprehensive internal and external audits are used effectively to identify and address shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made during this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 6

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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: SC059180 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children's home details

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

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Children's home details

Registered manager: Lindsay Metcalfe-Shaw

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC059180 8 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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