Children's home run by The Cambian Group in Hammersmith and Fulham

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Declined in effectiveness .

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of factors have contributed to the home declining in effectiveness. Most significantly, changes in permanently employed staff and an increase in the use of agency staff has resulted in young people experiencing a number of unknown people in their home in a care worker role. One young person who has been in placement for nine months sums up his experience: ‘I don’t think they know how it feels for us to have agency staff coming in 24/7, it’s upsetting, and it’s our home. I want them to think about us.’ Whilst some committed staff continue to offer high quality care to young people, the lack of continuity in staffing has left young people feeling undervalued, believing that managers fail to appreciate the impact that changing staff has on them and their experience of living in their home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has joined the home since the last inspection. He has struggled to settle and his challenging behaviour has left the home in a poorer state of repair. Whilst immediate remedial work has been completed, the home has lost its homely, welcoming appeal. One young person said they feel ‘embarrassed about the state of their home and the way it presents to visitors’. Whilst another young person, when asked if there was one thing he could change, said: ‘The (broken and boarded) windows, they need to be fixed, as it’s not homely.’ Young people’s bedrooms also presented as unkempt, furniture is worn and a general sense of disorder prevails. The home requires improvement to return it to its former presentation, so that young people can experience a warm, homely environment which they are proud to call home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When considering the placement of a new resident, the service uses a formal impact assessment, intended to consider the risk factors and safeguarding strategies for new and existing residents. However, a shortfall in this practice identified that the assessment did not adequately identify risk factors, nor their impact or provide a clear rationale for the decision making of a placement. The home offers care to young people who, due to experiencing early life trauma, present with highly complex behaviours. Poor matching may result in young people becoming increasingly unsafe or place them at risk of disruption and an avoidable placement move. One young person has become the victim of bullying by another resident. This unacceptable behaviour has left the young person feeling unsafe and vulnerable. To safeguard young people and to significantly improve their care experience, staff are required to have the skills to recognise and act on bullying behaviour and manage the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

relationships between young people to prevent harmful interaction. Some staff have undertaken bullying training, however, there is a lack of consistent approach to formally identifying training for all staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been some positive progress. All young people are in education. For the young person recently placed, this is significant progress, having frequently not attended school in the previous placement. Staff continue to hold educational outcomes in high regard and support young people to maximise their learning and achievement. A member of staff noted how one young person had attained a good result in a science test: ‘He was so chuffed; he’s started to believe in himself now, where he didn’t before.’ Staff have also sourced specific learning experiences for young people outside the academic timetable, such as money management, to help with independence skills.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

No young people have left the service since the last inspection. However, skilled staff are working collaboratively with the wider professional team and family members to ensure good transition planning is in place for one young person who is due to move on. Careful parallel planning has considered all eventualities in order that appropriate accommodation and services are in place to meet the young person’s adult needs. This proactive style of working is likely to help young people experience a seamless transfer and help to reduce any possible apprehension or anxiety.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Whilst young people have experienced a frequent change in the workforce, they do speak very fondly of a few consistent workers. Both family members and professionals comment on these positive, trusting relationships and the difference they have made: ‘Staff are skilled at working with him, he was emotionally chaotic but they help him to work out his problems and he is much calmer.’ A return to a consistent, stable staff team will help to ensure young people experience reliable, dependable care, where trusting relationships help to create positive change.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the two requirements set to improve the quality and standard of care at the last inspection. Firstly, the manager effectively used a quality of care monitoring tool to consider the effectiveness of the service delivered to young people. This contributed to setting a clear plan of action for the continued development of the service. The second requirement met has seen a significant improvement in the monitoring of young people’s care plans. Monthly reviews help to ensure that young people receive the appropriate input to ensuring the service meets their assessed needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last inspection recommended that staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. The manager has not met this recommendation and it becomes a requirement of the service at this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private organisation own and operate this provision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard: To meet the protection of children standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff: 2 (a) (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 12/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard: To meet the protection of children standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff: 2 (a) (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. 12/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard: To meet the protection of children standard requires the registered person to ensure: 2 (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. 12/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard: To meet the leadership and management standard requires the registered person to: 2 (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 15/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4) (c)) 12/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Implement a workforce plan, which includes any new training and qualifications completed by the staff, and is used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53 paragraph 10.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 .

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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,

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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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

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