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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires 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

The three young people who live in this home continue to make good progress towards goals that they have been central to creating. The manager, the staff and the young people all have a clear understanding of what daily goals are in place and how they can be achieved. These goals are clearly linked to achievements that will support the young people into later life. For example, one young person now attends school 100% of the time compared to 18% attendance at the point he arrived at this home. He has a made a friend for the first time in his life and he is starting to achieve educationally.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team provide good support to young people to help them to develop and sustain relationships with important people. Young people had successful visits to see their family in the build up to Christmas with significant support from the staff group. Personal relationships with girlfriends are supported and facilitated through clear and well-executed risk assessments. Steff understand these, they are updated regularly and implemented with sensitivity to the young person’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has a comprehensive plan for semi-independence that involves pictorial and written guides to develop his budgeting, shopping and cooking skills. He has good attendance at his college course and the staff are supporting him to understand safe use of the internet and social media. The creative use of rewards and incentives has enabled one young person to develop his talent in electronics and invention, by linking the completion of daily tasks to trips to purchase new equipment and supplies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last full inspection, five requirements and one recommendation were made. Three of the requirements were specifically related to shortfalls in the handling of safeguarding concerns by senior managers in the company. A thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding these incidents has resulted in swift and comprehensive action being taken at all levels of the organisation. The protection of children standard is now met, as leaders and managers have developed a system that maintains accountability and all incidents are reviewed by both the registered manager and responsible individual in a timely fashion. These reviews also act as a safeguard in terms of whether the incidents are notifiable to Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no notifications to the regulator since the last inspection, but there is clear evidence that all incidents are reviewed and have been correctly assessed as not reaching the threshold for such. The manager has also created a quick link to the Ofsted web page where notifications are made to make the process simpler for staff. In this regard, the requirement relating to the notification of a serious event has been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s action plan following the full inspection has extended the review of safeguarding practice to cover the whole staff team. All of the staff have completed refresher training in safeguarding and 80% of the team recently attended training in safeguarding children who have learning disabilities. There are clear process diagrams on display in the office with up-to-date contact details for relevant safeguarding professionals within and external to the company. These are understood by the staff team and discussed in both supervision and team meetings on a regular basis.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring and review of systems that are in place to safeguard young people are being undertaken more effectively and by several members of the senior leadership team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has advocated very strongly and effectively for one young person who had no clear pathway plan in place. She continues to do so during a period where his future at the home is under review. Similarly, securing the right school for another young person at the home required sustained pressure and negotiation on her part. A social worker spoken to during this inspection confirms that communication from the manager and staff is excellent. She finds the weekly reports informative and has seen clear progression in the health and education of the young person she is responsible for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The reports from an independent person who conducts monthly reviews of the home cover safeguarding and welfare in more detail than previously. However, the reports for December and January are largely descriptive and offer little in the way of challenge or suggestions for development. A senior leader in the company has responded to this by meeting with the provider of the service and agreeing that a different visitor will be engaged for the next two months to offer fresh insight. This response is encouraging, but a recommendation has been included in this report to support this improvement.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a large national provider that owns several other children’s homes in the region. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have a learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/10/2015 Full Outstanding 30/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendation

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

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Recommendation

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care.

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Recommendation

In particular, the reports should offer more challenge and identify areas for future development. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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, 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

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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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