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

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The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds 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 provision is outstanding because:

 The children make exceptional progress and their risk-taking behaviours significantly reduce.  The stable staff team works cohesively. The staff are skilled in providing a high level of care for children with complex needs.  The registered manager is innovative and dedicated and provides excellent support to the staff and the children. The provision is extremely well led.  Education is a key focus, ensuring that the children make consistent progress towards their individual targets. Their future life chances improve significantly.  There are clear therapeutic practises in place that stem from research. There is an increase in staff knowledge and skills through training. In addition, there is consultation support from a therapeutic professional.  The children are safe and secure. Staff work closely with the children to help them to understand the risks and to explore how they can keep themselves

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

safe.  Children’s views are listened to and highly valued. The staff demonstrate this in their work with the children on a day-to-day basis.  The children are a fundamental part of the community. There are positive relationships with the neighbours, which enable the children to feel that they are welcomed and valued.  There is significant support in place for children who have moved on. There is ongoing communication and liaison with the children, parents and carers after they have moved on.  There are highly positive and nurturing relationships between the staff and the children.  The children respond well to the staff’s consistent approaches to sanctions and boundaries. Risk-taking behaviours have reduced.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private company. It provides accommodation for up to three young people, who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home accepts planned or emergency admissions.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2015 Full Outstanding 03/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/06/2014 Full Good

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people living in the home are

The children make excellent progress. Several children have successfully moved on after several years of living in the home. Initially, the children presented with a wide range of behaviours that placed them at risk and affected their day-to-day lives. Over time and with intensive support from the staff they are thriving. A social worker said, ‘The home is absolutely brilliant. They [the staff] have done a fantastic job in turning him around. He has done so well.’

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people living in the home are

From the initial stages of the placement, children’s history and information regarding their journey is fully evident in their personal file. This provides the staff with clear information on their needs and the potential risks. Research-based assessment tools are systematically utilised to address the concerns. This has been successful. The behaviours that have a negative impact on the children’s progress have reduced significantly, so much so, that the assessment tool no longer defines them.

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people living in the home are

The consistent stable staff team are highly skilled at meeting children’s complex needs. They are proactive in adapting their service to individuals and they seek advice from external professionals.

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people living in the home are

The children who were not engaging in education, are now making excellent progress. They benefit from individual education plans. The tailored plans incorporate work experience. One child is engaging with a tutor on a regular basis with support. One child completed his GCSEs and attended the National Citizenship Service Award.

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people living in the home are

The children have extremely positive relationships with the staff. They engage with the staff very well during key-work sessions. The staff routinely spend quality time with the children discovering their interests and enabling them to participate. The staff use a ‘you said we did’ system, which ensures that the views of the children are heard. The children know how to complain if they wish and have access to an independent advocate.

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people living in the home are

The staff promote and support the children’s health needs. The staff ensure that the children attend all of their health appointments. There are established links with the local health professionals and advice is immediately sought if there are concerns in relation to a child’s health.

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people living in the home are

The staff’s well-developed skills support the children with their independence. This includes working through a specific three-stage work book. This focuses on support and advice, including budgeting, independent travel, cooking and opening a bank account. There are links with the youth worker. Significant work has taken place to secure employment options for the children who are moving on. The staff have continued links with the children who have moved on, as well as ongoing liaison with the children’s families and carers.

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people living in the home are

A parent spoke positively about their child’s progress and their transition to semi- independent living. The parent said, ‘They gave him the tools and stepped back to let him get on with it. He now has more patience and more confidence in himself.’ They described his experiences as, ‘Really good there. I had no problems at all with them. They were easy to talk to and they would always get hold of me.’

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people are helped and protected

Staff are extremely successful in reducing risks for the children. The children have a number of high-risk behaviours when they arrive at the home, such as substance misuse and fire setting. Over time these behaviours have dramatically reduced. Each child has a comprehensive risk assessment and behaviour plan. These are thorough and reviewed regularly by the manager and the staff. These plans are effective and consistent, clearly identifying behaviour triggers, warning signs and management strategies. This helps the children to reduce these behaviours.

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people are helped and protected

When children are missing from the home, staff take action quickly and are committed to finding the child as soon as possible. Children carry cards with them and have silver dog tags containing the contact details for the home. The staff use ‘grab bags’ with essential items when children are missing from the home. When the children return home, the staff engage with them and actively consider if there are any emerging risks in relation to child sexual exploitation.

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people are helped and protected

The dedicated staff team works closely with the children to enable them to change their behaviours and become a valued part of the community. The children are welcomed into the local community, undertaking part-time jobs for neighbours and forming positive safe relationships. This gives the children a sense of belonging.

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people are helped and protected

Direct work with the children is completed in key-working sessions. Staff are proactive and resourceful. They complete direct motivational work with the children. Staff utilise these sessions to prevent future incidents.

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people are helped and protected

Consequences following behavioural incidents are thoughtful and link well to behaviours. Positive consequences and negative sanctions help the children to reflect on their actions. The manager systematically monitors these to ensure that they are proportionate.

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people are helped and protected

There are strong links with the fire service and substance misuse agencies to support children with their personal safety. A substance misuse worker visits one child at the home weekly to provide support. The fire service visits the home to provide advice on fire safety. This is intrinsic to the children’s progress and development. Risky behaviours are stabilised and have reduced significantly.

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people are helped and protected

The staff team is diverse. The staff have a number of skills to help the children as well as providing excellent role models. They spend time with the children, helping them to self-regulate and develop self-control. The children feel protected and secure and have good relationships with staff.

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people are helped and protected

The significant change in children’s behaviours has enabled them to go on holidays abroad with the staff. These huge achievements improve the children’s self-belief and self-esteem.

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people are helped and protected

Staff have an excellent knowledge of safeguarding and work cohesively as a team. They deliver accurate information at handovers, identifying any risky behaviours on shift and the actions required to manage them. This safeguarding knowledge is used effectively to protect and support the children in their day-to-day routines.

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people are helped and protected

Managers complete robust impact assessments for children moving into the home. Therefore, the potential impact of risky behaviours on the children already living in the home is fully considered.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager has worked at this home for six years, obtaining management responsibility in 2013. She is currently undertaking the level 4 qualification in care and is working towards level 5. She is qualified and experienced for this role and is committed to the development of the home and her staff team. The staff are suitably qualified. Most have their level 3 diploma and those who do not are fully engaging with the comprehensive training programme. The staff say that the manager is inspirational and incredibly supportive. The manager is a driving force in the home, encouraging the staff to develop professionally.

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leaders and managers

The clear commitment to the children is reflected in the development programme, which drives progress. Research-based training is actioned and the provision of this training is guided by the needs of the children. This ensures that purposeful plans are in place to meet the children’s needs comprehensively.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager encourages the staff to be reflective in their practice. The staff team shapes and develops the strengths of the service prior to new admissions. Consistent staff meetings are structured and informative. Supervision is of good quality, with discussions in relation to workload issues, personal issues and training needs. This ensures that the staff are fully supported to carry out their roles.

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leaders and managers

There is a creative emphasis on therapeutic intervention through specialist training and the support of a clinical psychologist. All aspects of care are embedded within a therapeutic framework with solution-focused work and motivational interviewing. This forward thinking approach enables the children to thrive in their environment and to begin to form secure attachments.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager challenges and contributes to the children’s plans, actively following up issues with the social worker. She is fully involved in the transition process and her role is key. A social worker said, ‘She [the manager] was involved in the transition as much as I was. She provided the information that we needed to avoid delay.’ This demonstrates a meticulous approach to securing good outcomes for children.

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leaders and managers

The manager rigorously monitors the progress made by children through monthly audits and monitoring visits. The manager seeks feedback and information from professionals and family members. This drives improvement and ensures that the children are receiving a service that meets their needs and keeps them safe. Communication with staff is exceptional. The manager fully values and recognises the hard work of the staff team. One staff member said, ‘She is the best manager I have ever had.’ This approach has resulted in a cohesive team with high morale.

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leaders and managers

The ethos of the home is for all of the children to feel valued in a safe environment, allowing them to develop and progress. The statement of purpose reflects the services available and is subject to regular reviews.

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leaders and managers

There are positive links with the local community. The manager and children organise charity events and celebrations at the home and invite the neighbours to attend. The children are encouraged to fully engage with this, supporting their social skills and confidence levels. Children flourish in this inclusive family-type environment.

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leaders and managers

Children’s family involvement is a top priority and relationships are embraced and actively encouraged. Family inclusion and the promotion of contact is exceptional, adding to the positive experience for the children. Staff are proactive and speak to family members regularly, ensuring that contact schedules are in place. This enables the children to build on the foundations for these relationships now and in the future. As a result, children transition to placements nearer their family members.

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leaders and managers

There are regular visitors to the home and an enthusiastic and genuine welcome is provided . A regular visitor to the home said, ‘The home is welcoming and calm, they make me feel at home. They are all supportive of me without exception.’ This provides a good example to the children and supports the ethos of treating everyone with dignity and respect.

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leaders and managers

The independent visitor’s reports are robust and consider how well the staff safeguard the children. The registered manager thoroughly and quickly addresses any arising actions. This ensures that the children are receiving a high-quality service that meets their needs and keeps them safe.

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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 looked after children 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

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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