Children's home in Hammersmith and Fulham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged to require improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, good progress has been made in many areas. This includes improved stability among the management and staff team, that has benefited children and young people, who are making good progress in many areas of their lives. Recently, notice has been given on the placement of one young person, whose complex needs could not be met. The manager has reflected well on this experience and is determined to ensure that lessons learned from this inform better decision-making in the future, in relation to the assessment and admission of new children and young people. Clear leadership arrangements are in place and are being embedded. The current manager is growing in confidence and, during this inspection, demonstrated her commitment to be an effective manager. She is supported by a deputy manager and a newly appointed responsible individual. There has been a good response to the requirements made at the full inspection. The manager has recently attended a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

suitable person’s interview with Ofsted and is awaiting a decision. There is an improved sense of children and young people being at the centre of decisions that staff make. For example, children and young people are receiving personalised care, including support with developing their independence and enjoying a wide range of community-based activities outside of the school environment. Their relationships with their families, including opportunities to stay in touch and meet regularly, are well supported. One-to-one key working time has improved, along with opportunities for young people to lead their own meetings and to have their say about living in the home. A more consistent approach is taken to decision-making in child protection concerns. The manager has demonstrated that, when necessary, she has escalated concerns with a placing authority. She has also introduced a management tool that evidences actions taken, including sign off, when matters have been resolved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

These measures have improved the protection of children. Following a requirement at the full inspection, the manager is finalising formal arrangements for children and young people to have independent interviews on their return home from being missing. She is aware of how to escalate this matter, if necessary. Behaviour of children and young people is improving. Staff are becoming confident and skilled in managing behaviour more positively. They have benefited from new training in de-escalation. As a result, the number of physical restraints is reducing. When physical restraint has occurred, better attention has been given to the quality of the reports that staff write and to reflecting on the practice to seek ways to make further improvements to benefit children and young people. The manager has also introduced a new incident report, which provides her with better opportunities to really examine what happened and whether any improvements can

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

be made. The manager is giving good attention to developing and empowering the staff team. Regular team meetings are held, which are intended to be constructive and reflective. Staff handovers have improved, and further improvements are planned to ensure that information is effectively shared between school and home. Senior staff are receiving additional training to enable them to fulfil their roles, for example training in supervision skills. All staff are benefiting from regular training in areas such as understanding attachment and child development. Better attention is also being given to ensuring that staff achieve professional qualifications. The manager is mentoring one member of staff who needs additional support. This longstanding member of staff is now making progress and feels confident that they can achieve the required qualification. The management of complaints has improved. Lessons have been learned from a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

previous experience, when a young person’s written complaint was lost. The procedure has been tightened up, and staff are fully aware of their responsibilities, should a complaint be brought to their attention. Better arrangements are also in place in respect of staff recruitment. An additional member of staff has been appointed to organise staff recruitment records, and a more formal process has been introduced, whereby the manager oversees and signs to say that satisfactory safer recruitment procedures have been followed.

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a large private provider of healthcare, social care and education. It provides care and accommodation for up to 14 children and young people who have a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the local authority provides opportunity for children and young people to have independent return home interviews when they have been missing. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. If such independent return home interviews are not provided, the registered person should escalate their concerns to the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraphs 9.23- 9.30)

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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 the ‘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 whom 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

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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