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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a period of change for young people following the last inspection of this home. One young person has left and one young person has joined the home. The manager and staff work hard with the placing local authorities and young people to ensure that transitions into the home are smooth and planned. Adequate impact assessments and transition planning, including visits to the home and overnight stays, ensure that young people are fully involved in the transition process and support a positive move.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the manager’s best efforts and attempts to match and plan for young people joining the home, this process, and the compatibility of the young people at the home, is now questionable. The staff identify that the young people’s behaviours are becoming more difficult to manage and that there has been a steady increase in the number of significant incidents following the arrival of one young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a consequence of inconsistent staffing arrangements, young people’s plans are not being consistently implemented by the whole staff team. Staff shortages within the home have resulted in young people receiving inconsistent care. These staff shortages have made it difficult for the management team to ensure that young people are provided with a good level of continuity, and consistent care and support, by qualified, experienced and trained staff. The managers have made attempts to bridge these shortfalls through recruitment and by using staff from their bank of workers, alongside staff from the other children’s homes. However, these inconsistencies in the care arrangements for young people have quickly been identified by the young people themselves and have subsequently resulted in an increase in risk-taking behaviours during this time. Young people have displayed risk-taking behaviours such as going missing from the home, cannabis use, physical

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and verbal assaults on staff and criminal damage in and around the home. These behaviours have resulted in the instigation of criminal investigations in relation to both young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Due to the changes within the staff group, there have been limited opportunities for young people to build secure and trusting relationships with the adults who are providing daily care and support to them. This, and the reluctance of young people to engage in services and support, has resulted in the number of significant incidents increasing and escalating in severity over recent months. Consequently, young people’s health, safety and well-being have been compromised, which has had a detrimental impact on the progress that young people make.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Progress has been extremely limited for the young people in the home. Despite the initial signs of some slow progress being made for one new young person, these improvements have now taken a downward turn and progress is minimal for both young people who live in the home. This is because each young person’s negative behaviour and attitude is having a detrimental impact on the other young person. This in turn is creating further difficulties for the staff team, as young people are resistant to the offers of help and support which could assist them to modify and change these risk-taking behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have a range of educational options available to them to meet their individual needs. However, young people’s attendance at their education provisions is very poor as they choose not to access the education that is available to them. Although one young person was initially engaging in school, they are now refusing to attend. Furthermore, the staff have been unsuccessful in their attempts to support one young person to re-engage with their identified full-time education provision so that they can complete their final school year. That said, the staff have worked closely with the young person and their school to identify a suitable part- time alternative and there are promising initial signs that the young person is re- engaging. Nonetheless, the lack of planned activities, along with young people’s continued resistance to engaging in education full time, is having a detrimental effect on young people now and will impact on their later life chances. This is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

because young people are currently limiting their future educational and employment opportunities and increasing their anti-social and criminal behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s behaviour management systems are ineffective in supporting young people to modify their violent, aggressive and criminal behaviours. Staff do use incentive schemes to promote socially acceptable behaviour and occasionally use age-appropriate sanctions and consequences to address behaviours that are of concern. However, although these strategies are intended to address risk-taking behaviour such as smoking cannabis, they are not systematically used and, when they are used, their effectiveness is minimal. This is because the transient staff team does not routinely follow and implement the actions specified in behaviour management plans and risk assessments, such as undertaking room searches when young people are suspected of smoking cannabis in the home. In addition, staff do not routinely carry out planned one-to-one sessions with young people, as stated within these plans. Subsequently, cannabis use and other risk-taking behaviours at

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

times appear to go unchallenged and therefore these risk-taking behaviours continue.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although young people’s risk assessments are detailed and are updated regularly, they do not include young people’s known and emerging risks, for example with regard to travel arrangements. This compromised the safety of young people and others when both young people were taken out together by a bank member of staff, despite an earlier incident involving the home’s car. Ofsted had not been made aware of this significant incident. Furthermore, the inspector was unable to evaluate how the manager had addressed this with the member of staff or the young people, as there was no documentation regarding the incident available during this inspection. This incident was shared with the regional manager during the inspection and it is now being investigated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff have missed opportunities to build and develop positive and effective relationships with young people. Such relationships would enable young people to discuss their worries, concerns and resultant behaviours appropriately. Activities that young people engage in with staff are not routinely planned. Additionally, the staff do not systematically spend time with the young people discussing and considering the risks that are associated with their risk-taking behaviour following significant events. As a result, young people are not offered opportunities to fully consider, learn from and reflect on their behaviours, all of which would assist them to change and improve these behaviours. Consequently, young people continue to engage in a number of high-risk behaviours which compromise the safety and well-being of themselves and others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made suitable attempts to address the one recommendation and one of the two requirements that were raised at the last inspection. The manager ensured that the window restrictors were repaired and is making certain that suitable action is taken to quickly repair any damage that is done to the home. The manager also now ensures that the permanent staff team is suitably supported and that staff members are given regular supervision. Although the manager is now reviewing and evaluating more promptly the sanctions that are used in the home, the present system will not ensure that this action is completed within the prescribed timeframe; therefore, this requirement has been reissued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The senior management team has acknowledged the increase in risk-taking behaviours that compromise the safety and well-being of the young people and staff and the shortfalls which have been identified as a result of this inspection. The senior management team has been prompt in contacting the placing local authorities to share these concerns and risks. The senior management team has identified and is now implementing an action plan to secure improvements and address the shortfalls that were identified during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a large, national private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/09/2016 Full Good 24/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/10/2015 Full Good 26/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

12.— The protection of children standard (1) In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that children are protected from harm. (2) In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure that— (b) the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular regard to ensuring that the risk management plans clearly identify young people’s individual known and emerging risks, such as travelling in the car, and how the staff will support, manage, supervise and monitor young people during these times. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13.— The leadership and management standard (1) In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that— (c) staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (e) the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

14.— The care planning standard (1) In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure that children receive well-planned care from the home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that— (c) each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular regard to ensuring that all staff consistently 31/03/2017 implement young people’s behaviour and risk management plans. The registered manager must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control or discipline in relation to the child in the home, a record is made which includes the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child who the registered person considers to be serious, or there is any other incident relating to the child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person should ensure that young people are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support young people to take part in clubs and leisure activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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Recommendations

 Staff should support young people to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help young people to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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Recommendations

This is in particular regard to ensuring that the staff complete meaningful direct work with young people which enables them to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm.

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Recommendations

 Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature in order to help young people recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other young people, the staff who are caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for young people to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the young people to understand this and carry this out. (‘Guide to the Children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Recommendations

This is in particular regard to ensuring that the staff consistently implement the behaviour management plans and address any socially inappropriate and dangerous behaviours with young people, so that they understand how to protect themselves and so that they feel protected and are protected from significant harm.

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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 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 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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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