Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited 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:

 Children and young people make progress from their starting points. Staff focus on individualised care that supports children and young people to fulfil their potential. Relationships are positive and respectful. Children and young people feel that they are listened to, and that their views and wishes are taken into account.  Staff and placing social workers are actively pursuing appropriate education placements for newly accommodated children and young people. In the meantime, staff are fully supporting them to achieve good learning outcomes and to develop new life skills.  Children’s and young people’s health needs are met. They have access to the services that they need, and staff support healthy living and healthy lifestyles. Activities are varied and meaningful. Children and young people know how to complain and they feel that they can talk to the staff if they are worried or upset  Children and young people are safe. The staff are good role models and they

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The children's home provision is good because:

manage behaviour positively. Restraints are rarely used. However, children’s and young people’s behaviour management plans do not set out the child’s or young person’s views or the most appropriate restraint to use.  Leaders and managers prioritise the needs and wishes of children and young people. Communication and partnership working with other professionals is good. The registered manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Monitoring is effective.  There has been a relatively high turnover of staff. Consequently, not all staff are fully trained to meet the needs of children and young people. Staffing levels are appropriate, but there are not always enough staff available to cover unplanned absences.

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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, when considering whether a restraint is warranted, the following information is included in the child's behaviour management plan: the child's previously sought views on strategies that they consider might de-escalate or calm a situation, and the method of restraint that would be appropriate or preferred. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources, including high- quality training, to support their training needs in line with the children's needs and the statement of purpose outcomes. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered persons plan staffing levels that can respond to unexpected events or opportunities, in particular, to cover short-notice sickness and absence. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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Information about this children's home

This privately operated children’s home provides care and accommodation for two children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

The children and young people are progressing from their starting points. Being newly accommodated, they are beginning to settle into their home and their new surroundings. The staff are working with them to forge positive, trusting relationships that are caring and nurturing. A young person said, ‘I like the staff and I can talk to them. They are there for you.’ A social worker said, ‘The staff are very approachable and [Name] is developing good relationships.’ The staff work closely with placing social workers and other professionals to gather as much information as possible about each child and young person. This is especially important when children and young people have moved from other parts of the country. This good overview of children and young people informs their individual care and support. It also gives the staff information about the children’s and young people’s preferences, their families and their backgrounds. A social

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Good

worker said, ‘The home are very good at communicating with me. They will ask if they need anything. They weren’t sure about some of my child’s cultural needs so they asked, and we were able to quickly sort this out. I feel this was very proactive.’ Children’s and young people’s health needs are met. They have access to the health services that they need and they live healthy lifestyles. Meals are nutritious, and there are healthy snacks available. The young people have lots of exercise and fresh air and take part in outdoor activities. This enables their healthy growth and development. The home is very welcoming and has a relaxed atmosphere. Staff have worked hard to make the environment homely and comfortable. A social worker said, ‘This is my first visit. My child has only been here for a very short time. When I walked in and saw a photograph of him, I thought this was excellent.’ The children and young people contribute to their home. They are involved in

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Good

household tasks, such as choosing meals, shopping and cooking, and they are currently involved in a garden project by building a ‘bug hotel’. A child said, ‘We are collecting stuff to build a bug house and a place for hedgehogs. Then we can watch them at night.’ Including children and young people in this way helps them to feel valued and builds their self-confidence. Staff encourage children and young people to express their wishes and views. They are consulted about all aspects of their lives from their daily living activities to important, potentially life-changing decisions. This empowers children and young people. A social worker said, ‘Since moving here, it’s the first time [Name] has attended his review and [taken] part. He looks so well and I have never seen him smile so much as he did today.’ Activities play a big part in children’s and young people’s lives. The staff advocate a range of activities and pastimes, to give children and young people positive and

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Good

meaningful experiences. This gives them something enjoyable to focus on and helps them to fulfil their aspirations. Individual hobbies are supported, and the children and young people enjoy doing activities that contribute to their local community. For example, the staff and children and young people are clearing a piece of land on which to grow fresh produce that they will share with the local church. This teaches children and young people about community living. The children and young people are not currently in full-time education, but their social workers and staff at the home are actively pursuing suitable school placements. Alternative learning is preparing the children and young people to make the transition back into school. Home study, under staff supervision, and education-based activities are giving the children and young people a routine ‘school day’. As a result, they are experiencing positive educational achievements.

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Good

Children and young people are safe and they live in a safe and secure environment. They know how to complain and know about advocacy. This gives them a voice and access to a person who is independent of the home. A young person said, ‘I would tell staff if I was unhappy, or I would ring my social worker.’ Staff receive child protection training and know what to do if they are worried or concerned about a child or young person. The registered manager oversees all practice in the home, to ensure that staff respect children’s and young people’s rights. All staff understand and promote children’s and young people’s equality and diversity. This way of working fully promotes children’s and young people’s safety and welfare. Risk management is good. Children and young people have written individual risk assessments that reduce known risks and therefore keep them safe. Regular health and safety and fire safety checks maintain a safe environment. Staff check and vet

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Good

all visitors to the home. This protects children and young people from unsuitable adults. A child said, ‘I think it’s safe. I feel safe.’ Since the last inspection, there have been occurrences when children and young people have gone missing. Staff have responded appropriately and worked with other safeguarding agencies and the police, to keep children and young people safe. There are no children and young people who are at risk from exploitation. Staff manage behaviour positively and they are very good role models. Rewards and praise encourage good behaviour, and sanctions are very rarely used. This positive, proactive approach helps children and young people to develop good social and socialisation skills. Restraints are very rarely used, and only as a last resort. Staff work alongside children and young people to help them to understand their sometimes challenging behaviours, and how these impact on those around them. This helps children and

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Good

young people to develop empathy skills. Children and young people have individual behaviour management plans. These are, in the main, well written and effective, but they are missing some important information. Namely, the plans do not include children’s and young people’s views on what they feel would calm them and they do not record children’s and young people’s preferred or appropriate restraint techniques.

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Good

The registered manager has been in post since October 2015 and she registered with Ofsted, as a person fit to manage a children’s home, in June 2016. She is an experienced practitioner, having worked in a number of children’s homes. She has a level 3 children and young people’s diploma, and is working towards completing a level 5 award. The registered manager prioritises children’s and young people’s needs. She is actively involved in the care of the children and young people by working shifts and doing sleep-in duties. This enables her to develop close bonds with the children and young people, and gives her the opportunity to directly observe staff’s day-to- day practice. A staff member said, ‘The manager works with us and the young people. Not many managers do this. She is all about the young people.’ The home is organised and managed effectively. Monitoring is good, and the registered manager is aware of the home’s strengths and areas to develop. There

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Good

are development plans in place to improve the home’s performance and outcomes for children and young people. Since the last inspection, there has been a high turnover of staff, which caused a period of instability. The registered manager and provider have worked hard to recruit new staff who have positive values and a good work ethos in caring for vulnerable children and young people. The majority of new starters did not have a level 3 qualification in working with children and young people, and have not had other relevant training, such as attachment training. While these staff have since enrolled on a diploma training course, there are still some gaps in their theoretical knowledge. This potentially impacts on their day-to-day practice. Staffing levels meet the needs of children and young people, and there are two experienced, qualified staff members who deputise in the absence of the manager. Regular staff cover planned absence, such as annual leave, to ensure that children

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Good

and young people have consistent care delivered by staff they know. However, the current staffing complement is not sufficient to cover unplanned absence. When this happens, the home relies on staff cover from other children’s homes operated by the same provider. This arrangement is not ideal and is unsettling for children and young people. Staff feel valued and supported. They speak very highly of the registered manager and say that she is approachable. A staff member said, ‘There are clear lines of authority. The manager leads the team, but she is also easy to talk to. I feel valued and supported.’ Regular supervision provides staff with good support, and team meetings provide a forum for staff to share their ideas and good practice. This inclusive way of working has created a united, consistent staff team. Relationships with placing social workers and other professionals enhance children’s and young people’s care. They also give all parties a good understanding

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Good

of children’s and young people’s needs, their progress and their outcomes. A social worker said, ‘Communication is good, and I get regular updates about [Name]. I feel the staff are very committed and they persevere with [Name] because they genuinely care about her.’

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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 that 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 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 whom 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, 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

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

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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