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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have left the home since the last inspection have done so in a well-planned and positive way. Transition planning is good and there are clear plans for some young people to move on in the not too distant future. One young person’s key worker has undertaken a creative, well thought out and planned piece of direct work with them, to enable the young person to have a meaningful keepsake of their time at the home. Additionally, this work is designed to help the young person move forward and understand their plans for the future. The young person’s social worker reports, ‘He is moving in a planned way at the end of the month. His key worker has prepared a pictorial life story of his time at the home and why he is moving. In addition, he is visiting the new placement with him. He is very child focussed and has a good relationship with the young person. I am very impressed with his key worker who is helping with his transition to his new

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

placement. The new home were also very impressed by him too.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations from the last inspection. Additionally, there have been no placement breakdowns, disruptions or failures. Young people enjoy good relationships with staff and they sustain their positive attachments. They benefit from continuity of care so they have stability and consistency in their lives. Young people are actively encouraged to attend school on a regular basis, with good support and encouragement from staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s needs are prioritised by staff. They benefit from well-planned, highly individualised care that promotes their needs effectively. However, recent admissions to the home have changed the group dynamic and brought a level of instability to the home. There is no evidence of staff completing an appropriate risk assessment for the most recent admission to assess the potential impact on other young people. As a result, not all young people are appropriately placed and matched.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing levels are stretched because all three young people are staffed on a one- to-one basis. This means that staff are not able to perform their other duties effectively. For example, it was noted that staff are struggling to keep up with the home’s paperwork and record-keeping. Additionally, the acting manager is also struggling to delegate responsibilities to the team leaders, as they also have reduced capacity due to the demands placed on their time by the young people. Despite these challenges, staff continue to work enthusiastically to meet the needs of the young people. While staff members’ commitment, drive and dedication are commendable, current practice and staffing levels are not sustainable. There is no flexibility built in to staff shift-working patterns to ensure they have sufficient time to complete their other duties to the high standards expected of them. As a result, a recommendation is made in respect of this issue.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no issues with young people going missing from care since the last inspection. The use of restraint is rare and restraint is only ever used as a last resort to protect young people from harm, accident or injury. Staff consistently place the safety of young people at the centre of their practice and ensure they feel safe and are protected from harm. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities to promote the safety and well-being of the young people. Young people report, ‘The staff are nice. This home is a brilliant home … It’s brilliant, trustworthy and safe. I feel safe here, any day. They give me a lot of emotional support. They don’t rush you and they give you lots of chances. They don’t call the police and they’re not here to criminalise you.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the young people and proactively discourage all forms of unacceptable behaviour. They anticipate issues and are proactive in their approach in tackling all forms of bullying behaviour. Risks associated with the young people are well known and managed safely by staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know how to make a complaint and their rights are promoted effectively. On the day of this inspection the home was visited by two neighbours who were unhappy about a disturbance that happened at the home the previous evening when a bedroom window was broken. The acting manager has given the neighbours a complaints form and is currently in the process of addressing their concerns. Temporary repairs have been made to two broken windows and the manager has requested full replacements. The rest of the accommodation provided for the young people is physically safe, warm, comfortable and homely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are effective arrangements for monitoring the activities of the home to improve the standard and quality of young people’s care. The home is visited each month by an independent person who scrutinises the conduct and performance of the home. This enables the acting manager, team leaders and staff to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Consequently, they can take appropriate action to secure improvement for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of this inspection, there are four recommendations made for the registered person to address. These relate to sufficient staffing of the home, proper consideration to placement matching and compatibility, completing outstanding repairs and maintaining good relationships with the neighbours and the wider community.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities. The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the home is well maintained and homely; specifically, in relation to repairing the two broken windows in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home’s statement of purpose and its capacity and support systems mean that it has the capability to care for children admitted at very short notice while continuing to offer high- quality care to children already living in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.6)  Ensure that sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff (including someone in a management role) are on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home and that those staff are able to respond to emergency placements, where

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Recommendations

accepted. The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)  Ensure that children are encouraged to develop positive relationships with others both in and outside the home as set out in the positive relationships standard. However, staff should be alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from such relationships. This relates specifically to working with the wider community, to improve the home’s relationships with its immediate neighbours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)

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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 ‘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 that 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

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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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