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 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

One young person continues to live at the home, where he has made limited progress since the previous inspection. He has developed positive relationships with staff and received a level of consistency and continuity of care that in turn is contributing to a good sense of self-worth and belonging. The young person says that he feels safe and is happy in the placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although there have been some setbacks associated with episodes of going missing and involvement in criminal activity, resulting recently in a youth offending order for the young person, the young person remains settled in the placement. Through a process of planned and ad hoc key worker sessions, staff work hard to keep the young person safe and secure in placement. They facilitate good engagement with the young person, who is slowly learning to take responsibility for his own actions, with better insight and awareness of the dangers associated with these behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff invest a lot of time in supporting and encouraging the young person to make better and safer decisions by giving the young person the time and space to reflect on his actions in order to consider the wider risks and potential consequences of these action on his health and well-being so that they can modify these unsafe behaviours. Through the use of incentive schemes, the young person is set small goals and targets in order to keep his behaviour on track and conform to the boundaries set, such as coming in on time and attending school. This is working well overall, and resulting in increased confidence and self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the event of the young person going missing, the manager and staff are quick to communicate their concerns to the police, placing local authorities and other specialist services to ensure that additional support and services are accessed promptly, for example the Catch 22 team. Missing from care protocols and procedures are consistently followed, with return home interviews consistently taking place that allow discussions to occur regarding the reasons for going missing and subsequent actions to be taken to minimise repeat incidents. The social worker has provided positive feedback, in that the home’s staff keep him informed of safeguarding incidents involving the young person and the actions taken to address known risks, along with his progress. Staff have recognised the need to support the young person in helping him express his emotions in a safe environment about the loss of family members close to him

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

in the past. With the input of the company’s psychologist, staff have completed direct work sessions with the young person, allowing him the space to express his feelings in writing. Indications are that he is responding well to this and hence learning the importance of controlling his emotions without necessarily having to resort to aggressive behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educationally, the young person has only made limited progress, particularly over the last term, with a reported decline in his behaviour and erratic school attendance. This will have a negative impact on his life chances should this pattern continue. Although the young person is reported to be capable of producing good work, he is known to be easily distracted and struggles to focus on task. The home is working closely with the school and looking at how the staff can best meet the young person’s educational needs in addition to the established incentives and reward schemes in place. Of note is that the young person received a ‘student of the week’ award in January 2017, with a certificate proudly displayed on the wall at the home, which indicates that he is capable of achieving. Staff continue to prioritise and give the young person all the right messages and support, driving the need for him to improve academically, which will in turn lead to greater self-esteem

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and confidence. Staff recently supported the young person in attending an initial interview at a local college relating to his interest in undertaking a mechanics course in September 2017. This indicates that the young person is willing to learn and follow a chosen career path.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person continues to be supported to maintain regular contact with family members important to him. Family speak positively about the placement and are highly satisfied with the level of care and support that the young person is receiving. Although they have expressed concern about a recent dip in his behaviour, they believe that the young person is best placed and surrounded by staff who are dedicated to his care and needs, with his safety being the priority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person continues to be fit and well, maintaining a varied and healthy diet, and attending all his health-related appointments. His current smoking habit, however, is an issue of concern and continues to be addressed by staff, who through key work sessions discourage him from smoking and heighten the young person’s awareness of the health and safety risks involved. The registered manager has also initiated a visit from the nurse responsible for looked after children, who will also provide input in an attempt to tackle this issue.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is provided with a good range of activities in order to ensure that his free time is appropriately structured. Staff regularly consult with the young person about his needs and interests, formulating a weekly timetable on this basis. The young person has shown positive engagement, for instance, in gardening- related activity that involved him planting seeds and flowers in the garden. The ‘positive memories’ book that is being compiled illustrates some of the activities that the young person has experienced while he has been in placement, including making pancakes, trips to the museum and funfair. This has been a good means of boosting the young person’s overall self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person also attends community-based activities such as the Peace centre, thus benefiting from improved social relationships and confidence. In addition, such activities support the young person in maintaining a good standard of physical well-being, alongside providing him with further opportunities to build new and positive peer relationships within the local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, eight requirements were set. The registered manager and staff team have taken the necessary action to ensure that they are compliant with the regulations. The registered manager has undertaken a training exercise in consultation with the company’s human resources department to develop his understanding of the vetting of individuals in the workplace, including verification of references. This has led to a raised awareness of his role and responsibility in making sure that robust checks are carried out for all perspective employees, resulting in safer recruitment practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Complaints received verbally have been formally addressed and resolved, and this is now reflected in the home’s records. The complaints procedure has also been revisited at a staff meeting, thus enhancing lines of communication and responsibility. The registered manager and staff team endeavour to meet the needs of the young person in line with the updated health plan, including separate e-cigarette policy and placement plan, which now contain all relevant information in sequence order. The placement plan is specifically aligned with the young person’s risk management plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s impact risk assessment now takes into account all information available to them at the point of referral, including any presenting risks such as fire setting. Staff are now more knowledgeable about the young person’s background, and take action in line with the young person’s risk assessment to minimise the risk through key working and via obtaining support and input from external agencies. The locality risk assessment has also been updated, taking into account all known risks, and for any new referrals, the registered manager gives assurance that the main road, for example, will form part of any future matching and admission process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have benefited from some guidance on bereavement and loss provided by the company’s psychologist in order to equip them with the skills to manage the young person’s feelings and emotions more effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership and management arrangements remain consistent, although the registered manager is expected to step down due to personal circumstances, to be replaced by another experienced manager already employed within the company. Despite the impending change the manager ensures that there is a suitable number of qualified staff to meet the young person’s individual and changing needs. Staff are dedicated and committed to providing a good standard of care to the young person. Staff speak well of the young person, understand his needs and vulnerabilities well, and work appropriately within the constraints of the young person’s care plans and risk assessments.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has demonstrated a good commitment to improving the experiences and services that he and the staff team provide to the young person. The manager has enhanced the use of internal and improved external monitoring systems to continue to develop and review his systems and processes in the home, including an evaluation of trends and patterns. He has therefore a better awareness of the home’s strengths and areas for continued development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements have been raised at this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 07/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/12/2015 CH – Full (aligned) Good 03/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph, 15.2)

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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 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 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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