Children's home in Hammersmith and Fulham

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people receive a good standard of individualised care. They are happy and settled, and make good progress, given their starting points. This is because they are cared for by a committed and caring staff team.  There have been a number of staff changes since the last inspection, resulting in staffing shortages which have been covered by the existing team members and agency staff. It is testament to staff that there is no evidence of any negative impact on the care provided to young people or being able to retain a judgement of good.  Admission practices are very good, which helps young people to settle easily.  Young people benefit from nurturing and trusting relationships with staff. This helps them to feel safe and gives them confidence.  Young people’s safety improves significantly, given their starting points. This includes a reduction in risk-taking and aggressive behaviours. These improvements are because staff are skilled in managing young people’s

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The children’s home provision is good because:

behaviour.  All young people attend the on-site school. Their attendance and engagement improve within a relatively short time of admission to the home.  Young people receive very good emotional and practical support with maintaining contact with their families, friends and people who are important to them.  Young people are central to decision making, which helps them to become more confident and build up trust in adults.  This is a well-managed home and staff receive good support from the registered manager and the deputy manager. The commitment to improving young people’s lives was evident throughout this inspection.  One requirement has been made regarding providing supervision training for staff who undertake supervisory responsibilities.

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to providing supervision training to staff who undertake supervisory responsibilities. 31/12/2016

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a residential special school operated by a large private care organisation. The service is registered to accommodate six children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home offers planned long- term placements. The school is registered with the Department for Education.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/07/2015 Full Good 12/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/10/2014 Full Adequate

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Good

A judgement of good is given, because young people receive a good standard of individualised care and make good progress, given their starting points.

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Good

Young people are happy and settled, and some young people have chosen to remain at the home until they are 18-years-old. They benefit from positive, nurturing relationships with staff who have an in-depth knowledge of their needs and understand them. A young person told the inspector that staff are good and that they know that staff care about them. The same young person’s social worker made the following comment: ‘Staff have developed very positive relationships with the young person and it is clear that he trusts the staff whom he works with.’

p.6

Good

Admission practices are very good. The registered manager is very clear about admitting young people only on a planned basis, ensuring that staff can meet their needs and that they are compatible with the existing group. Transition plans are based on individuals’ needs and take place at the young person’s own pace, as much as possible. Young people benefit from having an induction and regular key- work sessions during this settling-in period. These practices help to ensure a smooth transition for young people at what can be a very difficult time for them.

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Good

Care plans, risk assessments and associated care records are very detailed and are regularly reviewed. Staff actively encourage young people to read and sign all their care records, which ensures that they have the opportunity to contribute to their plans.

p.6

Good

The value of education and training is embedded in the ethos of the home and staff practice. All young people attend the on-site school. They have timetables based on individualised needs, which means that they can learn about things that they are interested in while having fun. Care and education staff and the therapy team work closely together, which helps young people to make good progress in their learning. Their attendance and engagement in education improve significantly, given their starting points, resulting in better educational outcomes. A social worker made the following comment: ‘The young person’s engagement with education has improved dramatically since he has lived at the home.’ This means that their future life chances improve, as well as their confidence and self-esteem.

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Good

Young people’s physical and emotional health improves. This is because their risk- taking behaviours reduce, they access routine health appointments and eat healthily. Staff work tenaciously with those young people who have phobias about attending medical appointments. For example, a young person refused to attend the dentist on numerous occasions, but staff worked with him and he is now receiving dental treatment and regular check-ups. This is real progress for the young person and demonstrates that staff do not give up on young people. Young people and staff also have access to the organisation’s therapeutic team. A range of different therapists are able to provide individual support for young people and give advice to staff. This helps to improve their emotional well-being and manage relationships better.

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Good

Young people are encouraged from ‘day one’ to increase their independence skills, based on their individualised needs and previous experiences. They all make good progress. For example, a young person is now travelling unaccompanied by train to stay with his family, and another young person has learned how to use a washing machine. A young person told the inspector that he travels independently to a local town to meet up with his friends.

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Good

Staff provide very good practical and emotional support to young people and their families to enable them to remain in contact, and in some, instances, rebuild their relationships. Staff also support young people to make friends and develop positive links within the wider community. As a result, young people’s relationships with their families improve, and young people gain a range social skills and confidence.

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Good

Empowerment of young people is a key strength. They are central to decision making about their futures and the running of the home. They have regular key- work sessions based on their individualised needs, as well as weekly house meetings known as ‘chit chats’. Consequently, young people feel listened to, which helps them to feel valued and improves their self-esteem.

p.7

Good

Staff are committed to ensuring that young people can pursue their individual interests and hobbies, as well as try new activities. Some young people have joined local sports clubs and have been able to make friends in the local community. Young people have enjoyed a caravan holiday this summer, as well as a number of trips to different leisure parks. Young people have a great deal of fun while at the same time developing social skills, which helps to increase their confidence.

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Good

Improvements have been made to the environment, making it more comfortable and pleasant for young people. They are involved in choosing the decor and furniture. Their bedrooms are personalised, reflecting their personalities and interests. Judgement grade

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Good

Safeguarding young people is embedded in staff practice. Staff understand their responsibilities to report any safeguarding concerns. They work well with the local authority designated officer, when appropriate.

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Good

Young people become safer within a relatively short space of time. This is because staff are well trained and work closely with a range of professionals to try to improve young people’s safety. As a result, young people’s risk-taking behaviours reduce, and staff help them to take assessed risks in a supportive and nurturing environment. This helps them to learn to take responsibility for their actions and prepare for adulthood. A young person told the inspector that they feel safe and that they have really benefited from living at the home. They said their behaviour had improved, which means they have more free time and do not have to be supervised by staff all the time. This has led to him acquiring more independence skills and having the opportunity to make friends outside the home.

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Good

Staff are very good at managing young people’s behaviour, and the emphasis is on recognising and rewarding positive behaviours. Most young people make very good progress in changing their risk-taking and negative behaviours. This is because staff set clear and consistent boundaries so that young people know what is expected of them. A young person commented that staff have really helped him to change his behaviours, which means that he is safer. A social worker said: ‘This is an area where the home excels. Staff are very consistent in the messages that are given to the young person and this has enabled him to feel secure and settled, as he knows the rules and boundaries well.’ Young people’s safety improves, because the number of incidents of them going missing reduce significantly from their starting points. Each young person has an individual protocol which gives clear details of actions for staff to take in the event

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Good

of them going missing. Young people now receive a ‘return’ interview after an incident of going missing which addresses the recommendation made at the last inspection. Staff work very closely with the police missing person coordinator, who also attends staff meetings and reviews young people’s ‘missing’ protocols.

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Good

Young people know how to make a complaint. Staff have produced new complaints forms in a range of different formats since the last inspection, which makes them easier to access for all young people with differing needs. Records demonstrate that the registered manager deals with complaints promptly and appropriately.

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Good

Recruitment practices are robust and help to ensure that the staff recruited are suitable for working with young people. Visitors to the home are vetted and given two leaflets about safeguarding and health and safety rules. This is very good practice.

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Good

A new manager was appointed in January 2016 and was registered with Ofsted in April 2016. She has over 10 years’ experience of working with children and young people in residential settings. She has a relevant management qualification.

p.9

Good

Since the last inspection, the home has gone through a difficult period in terms of staffing. A number of staff have left, and staff shortages have been covered by the existing staff team and agency staff. The registered manager has been off sick from work for two months and has recently started back on a phased return. It is testament to the deputy manager and the existing staff team that they have continued to provide a good standard of care. The inspector did not find any evidence that young people’s progress had been affected.

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Good

Even though the registered manager has been absent for a period of time, the improvements that she and her deputy have implemented since she took up post are clearly evident. Improvements have been made to the recording systems which make it easier to monitor and review young people’s progress and identify any concerns. In order to encourage greater involvement of young people in decision making, the weekly house meetings are now less formal and called weekly ‘chit chats’. These have proved to be more productive in obtaining young people’s views and suggestions.

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Good

The management team has addressed the requirement and the three recommendations made at the last inspection. They ensure that Ofsted is notified when there is a serious incident relating to a young person. This helps the regulator to monitor young people’s safety and staff practice.

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Good

The home has a detailed statement of purpose which informs young people, carers and key stakeholders about the services provided. The registered manager now reviews the statement when necessary and sends a copy to Ofsted. This addresses the recommendation made at the last inspection. Practice is in line with the statement of purpose.

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Good

Young people receive a good standard of individualised care from a nurturing and skilled staff team. Staff work consistently as a team, as well as working closely with a range of professionals and agencies. This helps to ensure that young people receive the care and support that they need. Feedback from professionals confirms that staff work well with them, and keep them updated about the care and well- being of each young person. Staff receive a range of training to enable them to meet young people’s diverse needs. Five staff have a level 3 qualification in working with children and young people, and seven staff are currently undertaking the course.

p.9

Good

Staff feel well supported and valued by the management team. They told the inspector that the registered manager is very approachable. They receive regular supervision. However, not all staff with supervisory responsibilities have received supervision training, which has been a requirement. Staff communication systems are good, which helps to ensure consistency of care and that young people are receiving care based on their current needs.

p.10

Good

Management monitoring systems have been improved since the last inspection, which has addressed the recommendation made. They are now much more effective in identifying shortfalls, which helps to ensure that young people receive care based on their individualised needs. The monthly visits by the independent visitor are robust and complement internal monitoring systems.

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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’. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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 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 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

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

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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