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 outstanding at the 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

Staff continue to provide excellent care. Since the last inspection, children have continued to make outstanding progress. The same inspiring registered manager and her highly skilled and motivated staff team care for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each child enjoys an excellent relationship with every member of staff. This means that every day counts towards children’s progress, regardless of who is working them. One child said, ‘I like all of the adults.’ Social workers and independent reviewing officers who visit the home remark consistently on the friendly, warm and homely atmosphere that staff create. One social worker told the home’s monthly visitor, ‘The staff have built up really supportive and fun relationships with the children, who appear happy to be with them.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager makes sure that all staff remain inspired and energetic to meet each child’s needs consistently well. This means that staff deliver the ‘highest possible level of care’, mirroring the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff constantly strive to provide exactly the right support that each child needs. All staff talk and listen to each child and to one another at every opportunity. Each member of staff sensitively redirects children, using language and tones that help children to respond, calm down and learn. For example, staff give children reassurance about the normal feelings that puberty brings and help them to understand how to cope with these feelings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff also use the approach of giving children a mission so that they engage with something and learn for themselves, while also ‘helping’ staff or others. The manager successfully used this approach with a child who was reluctant to engage in life-story work. The manager asked the child to find out the answers to specific questions ‘for her’. The child did this and is now freely engaging with his life-story sessions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make creative use of toys, notes, photographs, pets, hobbies and games to help children to engage and learn. For example, children have a ‘worry monster’ soft toy in their room. They write their worries onto a piece of paper, put it into the monster’s zip-up mouth and wait for the monster (aided by staff) to ‘eat up’ the worry, thus making it go away. Children also have pet guinea pigs and a rabbit to look after, and staff help them to handle the animals. Having pets is helping children to self-soothe, as well as learning how to look after something that is vulnerable, just like them. One child who struggles to concentrate for very long is overcoming this by reading his storybook aloud to the rabbit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each child is achieving success, having fun and visibly gaining confidence. Children are making up ground in their education and are starting to make friends outside the home. They are physically healthier and fitter than they used to be, and some of them no longer need medication. Children are succeeding in sports and hobbies such as karting, model trains, horse riding, skating, gymnastics and golf.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children quickly develop insight into, and control over, their behaviour. This is thanks to staff members’ skilful support. Children do not run away, even when this was something that they often did in the past. They do not run away because they feel safe and secure here. Similarly, children very rarely resort to seriously harmful behaviour that necessitates physical intervention. Staff are attentive and understanding, so that children do not become excessively distressed or out of control. Rewards for doing the right things are constant, and if a child’s behaviour does need addressing, staff help them to find a way to make up for what they have done.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager retains an excellent track record of outstanding provision. She is an inspirational role model. Staff do not complete records or do filing when the children are at home. Staff have all meals, lunch boxes, snacks and school uniforms organised in advance. They clean and tidy bedrooms, bathrooms and organise laundry while the children are at school. Staff ensure that any remaining house jobs are completed alongside children and in ways that benefit children. Children’s clubs, activities and appointments with therapists, life-story workers and health professionals are diarised and well planned.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager engages extremely well with the wider system. She knows children’s views about things and advocates in their best interests. A number of local authority stakeholders choose her home, because the children whom they place here achieve so much. The manager is meticulous in her decision making about new placements and the timing of children’s moves. She makes a significant and personal contribution to care planning by visiting local authorities to discuss children’s plans. She is aware that her verbal presentation skills are stronger than her report writing, so she takes every opportunity to talk in person to stakeholders. However, the manager’s written reports lack impact, because they are not written clearly or succinctly enough.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private organisation, and offers care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/10/2016 Full Outstanding 06/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/11/2015 Full Outstanding 26/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Improve further the manager’s effective working relationships with each child’s placing authority and with other relevant services, for instance health. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)

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Recommendations

This is with particular respect to ensuring that all written reports to stakeholders are clear, succinct and well organised.

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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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