Children's Home run by London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in Hammersmith and Fulham

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are happy in this home. They are helped and supported by a close bond with proactive key staff. This ensures young people remain settled and their behaviour good.  The care of young people is supported by clear and thorough risk assessments. These are produced with the support of key professionals so young people receive the best care possible.  Staffing levels are high to ensure that young people are kept safe by close staff observation and are able to access a greater choice of activity.   Staff access a regular programme of training to keep fully informed and understand young people’s needs.  Parents and carers are encouraged to support young people while they are staying at the home. They are able to provide toys and bed linen and contact their children by phone; this helps young people to settle and feel happy in the home.   Staff are skilled in helping young people move on from the home. On

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

leaving, young people choose to receive ongoing support and are keen to return to the home to enjoy regular breaks.  Young people benefit from an experienced and committed management team who challenge delay and advocate strongly on their behalf for the provision of services. This has helped young people by ensuring that assessments are completed on time and their needs are met.  Numerous additions to the day service provision in this home are not fully reflected in the statement of purpose. However, this has not affected the service being provided to those receiving short breaks. There has been an absence of formal supervision for agency staff and the location assessment is yet to be completed.

p.3

Requirements Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (3) (a)) 30 October

p.4

Requirements Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12 (2) (c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1)) 30 October

p.4

Requirements Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4) (b)) 30 October

p.4

Requirements Due date

6 The quality and purpose of care standard

p.4

Requirements Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure (2) (c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished to (i) meet the needs of each child; 30 October

p.4

Information about this children's home

 This local authority children’s home is registered for up to seven children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. The home mainly provides short breaks, but when it is in the best interest of the child, it also provides interim emergency placements.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

14/02/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

16/12/2013 Interim Satisfactory Progress

p.5

Good

The home is situated in an accessible area. This ensures that young people easily access local schools and other health services following their overnight stay and there is limited disruption to their daily lives.

p.6

Good

The home is well decorated and secure. The garden furniture is shabby and has been clearly marked and de-faced. This could potentially injure children. Replacing it will allow young people to feel more comfortable when using this space .

p.6

Good

There is coded access at both entrance and exit points which supports young people’s security. Young people benefit from good facilities in this home. On arrival from school, the sensory room is often used as a place where they can relax before joining in with the routines of the home.

p.6

Good

Staffing levels are high. This allows a choice of activities for young people and for one-to-one supervision. Young people are able to continue with hobbies and activities while they enjoy periods of respite in the home. There is a choice of activities including ballet, safe access to the internet, yoga, and trips to the cinema, horse riding or trips to a local safari park.

p.6

Good

Young people are happy in the home and there is a strong and secure attachment with staff. One parent comments, ‘One mention of the home and he is in the car like a shot.’ The home is full of laughter and smiles as young people enjoy warm interactions with staff.

p.6

Good

Young people feel safe in the home. Risk assessments are clear and concise. Staff adapt the home to meet the specific needs of each young person staying that evening. Menus are planned in advance to consider specific dietary requirements. This includes ensuring the safety of bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas.

p.6

Good

Behaviour is good. Staff are trained in sign language; they understand young people’s needs and recognise signs of bad behaviour. This ensures that communication is good and that staff intervene early. Young people understand that bad behaviour is not acceptable. When restraints occur, these are fully recorded and discussed with parents and managers.

p.6

Good

Staff set ambitious and realistic goals for young people. They are encouraged to enjoy new experiences and tasks such as cooking, going to a local café or washing themselves with the support of staff. This helps them develop some independence skills.

p.6

Good

Goals around understanding money or performing basic self-care tasks are regularly reviewed with the help of managers and professionals. Monthly reports show that young people make progress with their own individual care plans.

p.7

Good

Parents and carers are actively involved in their children’s care. Managers respond promptly to any concerns or complaints that may be raised. One parent comments, ‘They are so caring and flexible in the home, whenever I pick up my child I am given a full account of what has happened.’

p.7

Good

The locality risk assessment is not yet completed. Therefore, information regarding any risks posed in the community are not ascertained. Judgement grade

p.7

Good

Staff understand the statement of purpose and their roles and responsibilities. They are knowledgeable of the home’s policies and procedures and act confidently and with consistency in interpreting these.

p.8

Good

Young people receive specialist services. Community nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapists are regular visitors to the home. This ensures that staff receive regular training and fully understand complex needs in areas such as medication, safe handling and peg feeding.

p.8

Good

There is an established link with the local authority for consultation on specialist issues such as child sexual exploitation and safeguarding. Staff are able to access training in safeguarding from the local authority.

p.8

Good

Educational progress is prioritised. The local special school provides advice and guidance for staff on issues such as sensory diets for young people. There is a communication book with school, which is regularly updated. This ensures that any risk factors are regularly evaluated and that young people are kept safe.

p.8

Good

The home is well maintained. Specialist hoists are well maintained and equipment such as shower chairs allow professionals to work with young people while in the home. One professional commented, ‘Staying in the home gives me the perfect window to work with staff and parents and complex issues such as safe handling and reviewing medication.’

p.8

Good

There is a clear referral process to admit young people to the home. They have the opportunity to visit or receive a home visit from an allocated keyworker prior to admission. This ensures that important information is gathered and young people are ready for their first overnight stay. Staff are able to keep young people safe by having a full understanding of their medication, risk factors and any likes and dislikes.

p.8

Good

Young people move on successfully from the home. Managers have built a relationship with the adult short break provision within the borough. Staff have continued to support young people with activities such as music therapy following a move from the London area. This helps young people to continue to progress following their move into adulthood.

p.8

Good

Young people are encouraged to participate in decisions about their care and what goes on in the home. Review reports show that staff are able to use good communication and observation skills to represent wishes and feelings. When appropriate, young people are encouraged to sign for their own medication and attend review meetings. Young people have good access to advocacy support in the home. This helps young people feel valued and supported. One young person comments, ‘I can talk to my advocate whenever I want - she has really helped me with contact with my mum.’

p.8

Good

Recruitment practice is robust. All staff have up-to-date checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and all references are verified prior to any person starting work in the home. This ensures that unsuitable persons do not gain easy access to the home. Judgement grade

p.9

Good

The manager has been registered since 2005. He has a qualification in management at level 4 and over 27 years of appropriate experience of working with children and young people with disabilities.

p.10

Good

He is presently completing a level 5 qualification and aims to complete this by the spring of 2016. He is a governor at a local special school and engages with local charities supporting disabled children in the area.

p.10

Good

External monitoring of the home is robust and holds the staff and management to account by setting clear tasks with timescales for completion. Reports are received by Ofsted on a monthly basis. This gives a clear account of the progress being made by managers.

p.10

Good

The manager is well respected among the staff team and is well supported by two long-standing deputy managers. Supervision is regular and of value to permanent staff. One staff member reported, ‘Managers are always there if we want them, their experience really helps when things get difficult.’ Agency staff who work at the home on a regular basis have not been given formal supervision. Managers have agreed to prioritise formal supervision at least once every twelve weeks.

p.10

Good

There is a strong permanent staff team in the home. One staff member comments, ‘We all feel part of the furniture here, it really helps because we will know the children and understand their triggers and how they behave.’ Young people benefit from long-standing and close relationships with keyworkers.

p.10

Good

Communication between professionals and carers is prioritised in the home. Staff have access to the local authority’s information recording system. One professional comments, ‘We are fully informed of the welfare and progress of all of the young people; this home provides an invaluable lifeline for the community.’

p.10

Good

Managers use the weekly staff meeting to evaluate the progress of each of the young people. Case files show regular management audit. This means that managers have a clear idea of the needs and issues affecting young people in the home.

p.10

Good

Managers ensure that the home is kept in a good state of repair with all of the necessary risk assessments and checks undertaken in respect of the building. The home is assessed as being of low fire risk.

p.10

Good

There have been numerous developments to the day service being offered in the home. These services are now acting with the appropriate registration from Ofsted. Managers have not updated the statement of purpose to reflect these changes. They have prioritised the needs of young people receiving short break support during this time.

p.10

Good

Managers actively monitor admissions to the unit. Strong action is taken when young people cannot be managed within the home and become too disruptive. This helps ensure the stability of the home and protects those using the service.

p.11

Good

Managers have taken steps to address the recommendations of the previous inspection. A new policy about the observation of children has been drafted and this is now clearly recorded in the revised statement of purpose.

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

p.13

Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.13

Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.14