Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The young person living in the home has made excellent progress since admission. Staff know him well, and support and encourage him to reach attainable goals. He is more able to manage his behaviour and knows how to keep himself safe.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff encourage and support young people to engage in education. They work collectively with education staff to promote educational progress.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 In-depth risk assessments and behaviour management plans assist young people to participate safely in community activities. This develops self- confidence and self-esteem.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people’s safety is given the highest priority. Staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the young person’s risks and vulnerabilities. They ensure that the right action is taken to keep young people safe from harm.  The manager regularly identifies any potential risks relating to the home’s location and strategies for managing these. The manager has included risks in relation to sexual exploitation, and is keen to improve this further by evaluating the risks related to radicalisation.  The manager has high aspirations for her staff team and is committed to promoting the best possible results for the young person. She is highly motivated and has a strong focus on driving improvement to ensure that the young person receives exceptional individual care and support.  A shared approach is taken to meeting young people’s needs, including education and healthcare professionals. These links are used effectively, to

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

ensure that the young person is afforded the correct level of care and support to meet his universal needs.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Planning and decision making for the young person’s future is excellent. The manager evaluates the progress that the young person is making effectively, and is proud of his attainments. There is considerable understanding of his future needs and how consistent care is fundamental to a successful transition to adulthood.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The review of the home's premises should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location, with particular reference to radicalisation and strategies for managing these (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1).

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Information about this children's home

This service is a privately run children's home. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person with behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Outstanding

The young person living in the home has made substantial progress since his admission. Staff have established positive relationships with him. This has resulted in a notable reduction in anti-social behaviour.

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Outstanding

Staff provide the young person with highly individualised care. They have a thorough knowledge of his diverse needs through consultation with placing social worker and his family. They are highly creative in gaining his views on preferences and care experiences. For example, staff support him to participate in completing quiz books to help them to identify specific targets, such as the skills needed in preparing for adulthood. This technique has helped him to accomplish a variety of skills, such as cooking and learning how to budget.

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Outstanding

Staff quickly identify and utilise the young person’s interests and abilities, providing support and encouragement in helping him to engage in a car mechanics course at a local college. Staff show an active interest in his educational progress, speaking regularly to education staff, attending parent’s evenings and meetings, and providing a personal adviser. This collaborative approach has been highly successful in increasing the young person’s confidence, stamina and skills to support a positive future. He has gained GCSEs in English and Mathematics, and has developed his knowledge of car mechanics, which has given him aspirations for future jobs. The young person said, ‘I am thinking about car sales, now. I may be good at that’.

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Outstanding

The young person was observed to be happy in his home. He has plenty of conversations and interactions with the manager and staff. Staff genuinely care about him and are confident in their delivery of extremely good care. They work hard to develop and sustain trusting and supportive relationships with the young person. They value and respect him and ensure that he is safe. When issues or concerns are identified outside of the home, staff work proactively and effectively to address these to eradicate stigma within the community. For example, following an incident of anti-social behaviour, staff encouraged discussions intended to raise his awareness of how these negative behaviours may impact on others and how he is viewed by society. They facilitate and attend meetings with a number of agencies to help to promote positive relationships within the community. Consequently, the young person is making better choices and has improved

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Outstanding

relationships outside of the home. A youth offending worker said, ‘Staff have worked extremely hard in helping him make excellent progress.’

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Outstanding

Staff are committed to ensuring that the young person’s individual cultural and religious needs are fully met. They speak with family and utilise staff of the same culture and religious beliefs. These people have the knowledge to support the young person and help him to understand and maintain his identity, for example discussing the forthcoming Ramadan and Eid celebrations, what they mean and what to expect. This means that the young person is able to make an informed choice as to whether he participates in these events. A member of staff said, ‘He is given the choice to join in prayer time. I have begun to tell him about Ramadan and Eid, and the times we can eat. I have told him what to expect if he goes to the mosque, and I will take him and wait for him. It is entirely up to him. He has all the information so that he can make his own decision.’ Staff know the young person well and have a full understanding of how his

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Outstanding

experiences and frustrations can be communicated through his behaviour. They work consistently, following his individual plans, to help him to devise strategies to manage these behaviours in a positive and safe way. This consistent and stable approach has resulted in the young person developing resilience and being more able to manage his anxieties in a calmer way. In addition to this, he has shown maturity, increased self-confidence and self-esteem. This enables him to participate in review meetings, sharing his views and opinions on decisions about his future. A social worker said, ‘He’s come a long way and has matured because of the input from staff. They have adapted to what he needs and have identified what they need to do to make the placement successful.’

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Outstanding

Staff facilitate and support carefully assessed contact between young people, their families and people who are important to them. They have supported and assisted the young person to build positive relationships with his family, gradually building up the time he spends with them. They engage and support young people’s families to ensure that relationships are positive, for example supplying food and keeping in contact to provide support and advice when needed. A member of staff said, ‘X will regularly ask staff for advice. If he’s worried that his family may not have enough food we take a food parcel. We often help them to have a treat night and buy them a takeaway.’ Judgement grade

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Outstanding

Staff give young people’s safety top priority. Individual risks are clearly identified, understood and well managed. Interventions are thorough, and are supported by clear individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans. Staff are vigilant to indications of risk and are able to identify signs when young people are at risk of sexual exploitation and radicalisation, for example. They take swift action to safeguard young people by supporting them to engage in activities designed to discourage them from negative influences in their lives. They take a multi-agency approach, working with police, placing authority and the home’s authority to ensure that young people are safe from harm. A social worker said, ‘I’m more than happy with this placement. It suits X and he is safe.’

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Outstanding

Staff support the young person to understand and manage his behaviour and feelings in a safe environment, with clear, consistent boundaries. Behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are effective and take into account the views and experiences of young people. As a result, there have been no incidents of going missing, physical interventions, complaints or sanctions. One incident of anti-social behaviour was dealt with effectively. Staff work closely with specialist agencies, such as the youth offending team and police, to ensure that the young person has the correct level of guidance and support. Consequently, he has a better understanding of the importance of making the right choices, considering the consequences of his actions, and how these will impact on his care and future life. A probation worker said, ‘I have a great relationship with the staff and we work together, which has helped to significantly reduce his anti-

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Outstanding

social behaviour, and his free time has been increased.’

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Outstanding

The home has developed highly effective links with specialist agencies in respect of risk assessment and young people. The manager regularly reviews the home’s area risk assessment. She identifies risks within the community and strategies for managing these. The manager has considered the risks in relation to sexual exploitation. She is eager to develop this by evaluating the risks associated with radicalisation within the home’s locality. This improvement will provide staff with a knowledge and understanding of the potential risks within the area, and clear strategies to follow to ensure that young people are safeguarded. Staff employed at the home are subject to organisational vetting procedures and do not start work with young people until all appropriate checks are complete. All fire, gas and electrical equipment is routinely serviced to ensure that it is in good working order. These ensure that the environment is safe and that young people

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Outstanding

are protected from persons who may present a risk to them.

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Outstanding

The manager was registered in January 2009. She has a vast amount of management experience, and the necessary skills and qualifications to provide clear leadership and management to a highly motivated and committed staff team. The manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Both managers hold the required management qualification, as set out in the children’s homes regulations 2015. Both are highly child focused, confident and proactive. They have an excellent understanding of the individual needs of vulnerable young people.

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Outstanding

Care planning is of a high standard and is individually tailored to meet the specific needs of young people. The manager regularly monitors the young person’s progress and development, enabling her to identify any developing patterns or trends. This allows her to take action quickly to address any areas of concern that she identifies. All significant events concerning the welfare of young people are reported to the appropriate authorities swiftly, to ensure that appropriate action is taken to protect them.

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Outstanding

The manager and staff have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the young person in their care. They know how his past experiences are highly likely to contribute to his negative behaviours. Staff consult with the young person, their families and placing authorities to gather historical information. This gives them solid information in which to devise unique behaviour management plans and risk assessments. Care practice is highly effective and focuses on the young person’s specific needs. Strong links and a holistic approach with a range of external professionals means that the young person receives individual care and the support that he requires to reach his full potential. A parent commented, ‘If X was anywhere else he wouldn’t get the help like the staff give him here.’

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Outstanding

Staff are highly valued and supported by their managers, and receive regular supervision and support from them. Staff development is ongoing, through training and regular team meetings. All staff have completed mandatory safeguarding training and additional guidance which focuses on the needs of the young people, such as sexual exploitation and radicalisation. The small staff team is solid and consistent. All staff are either appropriately qualified or are working towards the required qualifications within timescales. They are highly committed to supporting and assisting the young person to achieve good outcomes in preparation for adulthood. A member of staff said, ‘We are a dedicated team and want him to do well. He’s progressed so much since he’s been here, it’s really good to see.’ The manager is highly creative and strives to improve the service to young people. She has made a number of developments within the home. A subscription to

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Outstanding

Netflix is being considered and will be used for young people to access movies, with staff supervision. This technology is security protected for children under the age of 18 years. The manager has designed a document to help with the young person’s monthly report. This will include the participation of the young person. It will identify what has gone well, what has not and what needs to happen to improve these areas. The home’s feedback form has been translated into languages such as Urdu, so that parents and others are fully able to understand what they are being asked to comment on. Staff now use a checklist which can be modified to accommodate any situation. This enables staff easily to identify their daily tasks and the issues to consider when planning trips out of the home, for example making sure there are enough staff, whether a vehicle will be needed and confirming that the trip is in line with the young person’s current plans.

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Outstanding

The home is consistently managed and effective in meeting the aims and objectives outlined in its statement of purpose. Child-focused practice is embedded within the home's philosophy and has resulted in the young person achieving positive outcomes in many aspects of his life. A child-friendly statement of purpose has been created, which is also used as a welcome booklet. This gives ‘pen pictures’ and photographs of the home and staff, intended to give new admissions a summary of the home and the people who will be caring for them. A staff member said, ‘He’s made a lot of progress since he came. He’s grown in confidence and has stayed with college, which is a big achievement for him.’

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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’.

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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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘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 0300 123 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, work- based 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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