Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury children’s home making improvements after critical report, says Ofsted

A children’s home in Shrewsbury which was making “serious failures” is now making improvement, according to Ofsted.

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Inspectors rated the home, run by Cambian Childcare Limited, ‘inadequate’ following a visit in July when it found the young people living there were “not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded”.

At that time it raised four requirements and made one recommendation.

But a monitoring visit at the end of August praised staff for making changes.

Rumbi Mangoma, social care inspector, said: “Managers and staff have worked hard to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection.

“They have made good progress and have met three of the four requirements and the one recommendation raised.

“The registered manager has completed a review of the service and has a clear plan to continue to improve the quality of care provided at the home.”

She also note training for safeguarding and work to review and update young people’s contact plans and risk assessments, adding: “New monitoring systems enable the registered manager to ensure that staff are recording all of the relevant information about young people’s day-to-day care.

“Consequently, there is a clear audit trail, and this minimises the risk of important information being lost or overlooked.

“Furthermore, these new monitoring systems ensure that young people’s care and progress are reviewed and evaluated.”

The July inspection also found an incident of abuse had not been recorded until two months after the incident.

Ms Mangoma added: “Managers told the inspector that an investigation into what happened has now taken place.

“However, the evidence to support this was not available for the inspector to view at the monitoring visit

“As a result, one requirement raised at the last inspection is repeated.”

That was due by the end of September.

The home is registered for six young people aged 11 to 18 whose “adverse childhood experiences” have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.