Children's home run by Cambian Asperger Syndrome Services Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress while living at the home. Staff are providing good-quality care and support, which is enabling young people to develop positive life, personal and social skills. They are supported by staff to learn positive ways to manage and self-regulate their behaviour and emotions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people attend and engage in education, with each making achievements within their individual capabilities. Staff support transitions between care and education and provide a consistency of approach which young people benefit from.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people to address their physical and emotional health needs. They refer to other services and agencies to gain support, when needed. The home provides a multidisciplinary approach to care. Young people access psychology services and a variety of therapies which promote their emotional well-being. Young people are exploring their emotions and behaviours while developing positive strategies to self-regulate and manage their anxieties, feelings and behaviours. Care plans are holistic, and explore all aspects of need and risk. All staff have input into the formulation of care plans, which reinforces the consistent approach taken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are encouraged to develop and pursue their chosen hobbies and interests. Staff support young people to learn positive social skills and develop their life skills. The refurbishment work completed in home areas has created regular opportunities for young people to cook and prepare basic meals to share as a home group.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regular one-to-one sessions provide the opportunity to develop positive relationships between staff and young people. These are used to explore issues, behaviours, achievements, progress and areas to improve. Staff provide education about topics including the impact of risk-taking behaviours and life skills. Staff have not utilised all opportunities with young people to provide education about risk- taking behaviours, ‘keep safe’ strategies, relationships and healthy lifestyles. The young people’s voice is apparent in the home. Young people attend weekly house meetings. Through these, they make or contribute to decisions about menus, bedroom decoration and activities. The weekly house meetings provide an opportunity for young people to share their views, and to explore issues and conflicts affecting the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use a variety of reward systems with young people. An imaginative example is a board game-style route in which young people earn points towards the bigger goal of a planned off-site activity. Young people are engage well with this, because they are motivated by their chosen reward/activity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are detailed and cover all known risks, and state what is required to minimise risk. It was noted that one risk management plan had been updated, but not shared with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have detailed plans to follow if a young person presents a risk of self-harm. These clearly state the required action and responses needed to keep the young person safe. Plans do not detail how a young person will be educated about the impact of their risk-taking behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have improved the protocols for staff to follow, should a young person be missing from care. Staff follow clear individualised plans. They use a robust, well-coordinated approach to seeking and reporting young people missing. After an event, young people have been welcomed back to the home on their return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

It was noted that in one house a kitchen area was locked, restricting access to all the young people who reside there. There was no clear plan or assessments to evidence what purpose this served, and it appeared disproportionate to the risks that were evident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers respond to allegations against staff in a timely manner, with reporting and recording in line with the home’s policy and procedure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have responded to complaints in line with their policy and procedure. Records evidence that complainants have been provided with an outcome to their complaint. One complaint from a young person about his bedroom was upheld, and the improvement to his environment was swiftly arranged.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are trained in the home’s preferred method of behaviour management. They record incidents and physical interventions in a log book. This provides a basic outline of the incident. Incident reports provide detail about the incident, and the de-escalation strategies and interventions used. Staff record if they have been offered a debriefing, but the records do not detail young people’s debriefings. Records lack evidence to show that staff engage with young people to review their behaviour and incidents. One-to-one sessions have been utilised to explore and review behaviour. However, this has not occurred consistently, following all incidents. Staff use night-time sensors in home areas. They do not routinely review and assess if they are required. Staff do not have the required consent from placing authorities regarding their use.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders complete pre-admission risk assessments. These have been started prior to an admission to the home. In one case, leaders did not ensure that they had all of the required information and detail about a young person’s needs before admission. They complete impact risk assessments which explore and consider the risks young people present. They do not explore what the impact of the new admission is on other young people who currently reside at the home. Leaders do not clearly state or evidence the reason why they have accepted an admission.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers review placements within their assessment period. A recent new admission was terminated when it was identified that the setting could not meet the child’s needs. Managers have learned lessons and amended admissions processes following this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have acted on and implemented work to meet the previous requirements and recommendations set at the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive regular effective supervision in line with the home’s policy and procedure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have implemented a variety of new reward schemes and incentives to reward good practice and promote the retention of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have identified that notifications following serious incidents have been delayed. They have created new systems, strategies and contingency plans to avoid this happing again.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for 53 young people with a learning disability. Young people are accommodated across six houses on the site. The home is privately owned by a large organisation which specialises in providing education and care. All young people access the school, which is located on the site. Care is provided to children and young people with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder, usually Asperger’s syndrome or high-functioning autism.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/07/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/10/2015 Full Requires improvement

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

To meet this standard, the registered person is required to: Ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6(2)(c)(ii)) 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

To meet this standard, the registered person is required to help children to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10(1)(c)) 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

To meet this standard, the registered person is required to ensure that staff help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(ii)) 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned or other children, and the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(a)(b)) 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, within five days of the use of any measure of control, discipline or restraint, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)) 01/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 The registered person should accept placements for children only when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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 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 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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