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

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed 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’s provision is outstanding because:

 Staff have assisted the young person to make good relationships with them. They listen to her, encouraging and supporting her to develop her talents and interests.  Staff are committed to supporting the young person to maintain positive relationships with her family. Funding a trip to the seaside for all the family and affording her experiences and opportunities, such as attending a music festival.  Young people who arrive at the home with high levels of risk-taking behaviour, such as frequently going missing, have been supported by staff to manage these. These risks have diminished in a short period of time.  Clear boundaries and an effective reward system have assisted the young person in attending education and achieving success in her examinations. This has increased self-confidence and enabled her to consider future careers.  Staff are highly regarded by the young person and other agencies, such as

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The children’s home’s provision is outstanding because:

placing social workers and police officers. They commend the staff for the way that they have significantly minimised the risks to young people, such as child sexual exploitation.  The registered manager is highly effective in monitoring and reviewing the quality of care afforded to young people. Child-focused practice is embedded within the home’s principles. The home is efficient in meeting the aims and objectives as defined in its statement of purpose.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of a number owned and managed by a private organisation. 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 07/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/11/2015 Full Good 23/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/09/2014 Full Good

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Outstanding

The home is newly decorated and resembles a family home. Staff have encouraged the young person to participate in choosing colour schemes and the furniture. The young person has enjoyed shopping with staff for items to personalise her bedroom. Staff listen to the young person’s wishes and take into account her views, such as keeping posters and paperwork out of the living areas. This has resulted in the young person settling quickly into the home and developing a sense of belonging. The young person said, ‘I’ve never had this before. This is my home. I went shopping with the manager and we chose the sofas and I picked the colours for the walls. I have bought loads for my bedroom. I love my house.’

p.5

Outstanding

Staff value young people’s education. They explore the barriers to learning for young people and identify any triggers to behaviours. They use information from parents and consider a young person’s education history, collaborating with education professionals to ensure that the right level of learning is provided. Strategies are developed to help support young people to attend and engage in education provision that is appropriate for their specific needs. Consequently, the young person has successfully taken mathematics and English examinations, which has developed her appetite to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. A social worker said, ‘Staff have done a magnificent job in helping X make significant changes. It’s amazing how they have been successful in engaging her in education. I’m really pleased that she has got her exams.’

p.5

Outstanding

Young people have comprehensive health plans and are registered with health professionals, such as a doctor, dentist and an optician. Staff support young people that find comfort in regularly presenting themselves at hospitals to reduce this, for example they identify the reasons for this behaviour, talking to young people, giving reassurance and gradually decreasing this need. Young people who previously refused to attend medical appointments and take prescribed medication are assisted to understand why this is important for their health. Consequently young people have received necessary dental treatment, which will improve their health through to adulthood.

p.5

Outstanding

The young person enjoys positive relationships with staff, describing them as ‘great’. Staff care about the young person and take time to get to know her likes and dislikes, exploring her hobbies and interests, providing opportunities and experiences to nurture and develop these, such as sourcing singing lessons in a studio, writing songs and making a disc in a music studio. This has opened up further opportunities, such as being invited to sing in Piccadilly Gardens at an event about violence against women and on a local radio show. A social worker commented, ‘Staff have nurtured and helped develop her talents, and I can’t express how amazed and pleased I am. X has never experienced anything like this before. It’s a fabulous home.’

p.5

Outstanding

Staff are excellent role models for young people. They take a clear and fair approach in helping them to make good life choices. They provide a high level of support and encouragement, developing positive relationships, building up trust and self-worth. This supportive approach has assisted in building emotional resilience and has helped the young person to make positive choices in her daily life, such as not going missing from the home since admission. The young person commented, ‘Why would I want to run off when I like my home and staff. They are all fair and I can talk to them if I’m upset.’

p.6

Outstanding

Staff fully understand the young people in their care. They know how their past experiences are likely to influence their complex behaviours. Staff consult with young people, families and placing authorities to gather detailed information to inform care planning. Care practice is highly individualised and concentrates on young people’s specific needs. Strong links and a combined approach with a range of external professionals ensure that young people receive the individual care and support that they require to reach their full potential.

p.6

Outstanding

Staff place the well-being of the young people at the centre of their practice, despite the challenges they present. They promote young people’s culture and identity by supporting them to maintain contact with their families. Individual contact plans ensure that young people's time spent with their families and friends is safe and a positive experience for all involved. The young person said, ‘Staff paid for me and my family to go to Blackpool and for me and (family member) to go to V Festival, I can’t believe they did that for me. I saw Justin Bieber and Little Mix. I never dreamed I would ever see them.’

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Outstanding

Staff give young people’s safety the highest priority. Young people’s individual risk- taking behaviour, such as going missing and being exposed to child sexual exploitation, has not emerged since admission. Staff are highly skilled in identifying individual risks, and understand and manage these effectively. This means that young people are able to manage their free time safely and successfully. Staff support them to engage in activities designed to discourage them from negative influences in their lives. They take a multi-agency approach, working with police, the placing authority and the home’s local authority to ensure that young people are safe from harm. This proactive approach is highly successful. A police officer said, ‘The risks posed by X have diminished, which is amazing. I have every admiration for the manager and staff because this has never happened before.’

p.6

Outstanding

Clear, well-thought-out risk assessments and behaviour management plans are designed to assist young people to understand and manage their behaviours and anxieties in a safe environment. Approaches are regularly reviewed and monitored to ensure that they are effective. Staff talk to the young person about behavioural expectations and fully involve her in setting targets, goals and rewards. The effectiveness of this approach means that there have been no sanctions or physical restraints. The young person is taking an increased responsibility for her own behaviour and said, ‘I know that I have to keep in contact with staff when I’m at my friend’s house because they need to know that I’m safe.’

p.7

Outstanding

The home maintains links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and staff promote solid relationships with the community police, working in collaboration with a number of other agencies to ensure that the young person is safeguarded. Comprehensive risk assessments identify areas within the locality which may pose risks to vulnerable young people, such as child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. This additional information assists staff in ensuring that any potential risks to young people are minimised.

p.7

Outstanding

Staff encourage and support young people to develop positive relationships with their peers and to widen their friendships group outside of the home. They take a parent-like approach to ensure that these friendships are positive and safe. They work collectively with placing social workers and local police to educate and encourage young people to stay away from negative influences. This has resulted in the young person being able to manage time away from the home and in a safe environment. A police officer commented, ‘X is doing brilliantly, I visit regularly and have made a positive relationship with her. Risk-taking behaviour has significantly reduced and she has made some good friendships in the area.’

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Outstanding

Staff understand the triggers to behaviour and identify how individual frustrations and anxieties may have an impact on these. Staff work sensitively with young people to ensure that they have ample opportunities to discuss issues which may worry them. They pre-empt situations which could cause a change in behaviour and develop plans with young people to help manage these more effectively. A social worker said, ‘It’s a credit to staff how they manage very challenging and highly complex needs. Consistent responses, nurturing and firm boundaries have enabled X to make positive attachments with staff that she has never done before.’

p.7

Outstanding

The recommendation raised at the last inspection has been met. The manager is able to demonstrate that she has specified to the placing authority that it should either complete return home interviews or arrange for an independent visitor to do so for any missing episodes. Although there have been no incidents where the young person has gone missing from the home, the manager has implemented a buddy system. This will ensure that if young people are late home or leave the home without authorisation they will have the opportunity to speak to someone independent on their return to the home. Should this become necessary in the future, staff will contact a named manager from one of the other homes that this manager runs.

p.7

Outstanding

The manager is highly experienced, suitably qualified and holds the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She manages two other homes within the organisation. This has not proved detrimental to the running of this home because the homes are in close proximity to each other. The manager is supported by a deputy manager who is experienced in caring for young people in this home. Both managers are child-focused, confident and proactive and have excellent oversight of the running of the home. They ensure that the home is consistently run in the best interests of the young person who lives there.

p.8

Outstanding

The staff team is stable and highly competent in delivering sound quality care to young people and their families. Staff have a good relationship with their managers and receive regular supervision and appraisal, which focuses on their professional development and the progress that young people make. Compulsory training is up to date and staff have completed training in relation to child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. This assists them to identify associated risks and to take appropriate action to ensure that young people receive the necessary support they need to keep them safe.

p.8

Outstanding

The manager is highly regarded by her staff and other professionals. She maintains positive professional relationships with a number of external services and promotes a multi-disciplinary approach to meeting young people’s needs. Along with placing authorities, independent reviewing officers and the designated officer, staff work with the organisation’s clinical team, using their advice and input whenever necessary to secure positive outcomes for young people. As well as providing direct support, these links are also used to provide staff with information, training and support, which enhances their skills in meeting young people’s needs. This has proved effective in helping young people to make positive progress in terms of their individual goals, including keeping themselves safe from harm. A social worker commented, ‘Staff share information. They are excellent. Great communication and very clear. On the whole, it’s a fantastic placement.’

p.8

Outstanding

Care planning is of a high standard and is designed to meet the individual needs of young people. The manager regularly monitors and reviews the young person’s progress, enabling her to identify any developing patterns or trends. Consequently, she can take action to address swiftly any areas of concern that are identified. All significant events concerning the welfare of young people are notified to the appropriate authorities promptly, to ensure that appropriate action is taken to protect young people whenever necessary. The manager compiles clear evaluative reports and participates in meetings with the young person, supporting them to participate to ensure that individual plans are effective, achievable and so that their views and opinions are considered. The young person said, ‘I have told the people in my review meeting that I want to stay in this area. I’m happy here’.

p.9

Outstanding

The home is well managed and successful in meeting the aims and objectives as outlined in its statement of purpose. Child-focused practice is rooted within the home's values. Consequently, the young person is achieving positive outcomes in all aspects of her life. A staff member said, ‘We continue to support X in maintaining the progress she has made in such a short time.’

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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 children looked after 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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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