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

Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 1 SC456409 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private company.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has made progress in all areas of their life during the time that they have lived at the home. Staff work hard and ensure that the young person has positive, enjoyable experiences. The young person’s activities and interests are set within realistic expectations. This provides the young person with the same opportunities as he would have in a family home environment.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff encourage the young person to express his views and wishes, and they ensure that these are central to the care planning arrangements. It is evident in the records kept in the home that the young person is listened to and his requests are acted upon.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has developed and sustained very positive relationships with his staff. He enjoys living in the home and has fun with the staff during lots of in-house and outside activities.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The organisation’s clinical psychologist is actively involved in the young person’s care. She provides specialist support to the staff and therapy sessions to the young person.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has been supported to explore and understand some of his attachment difficulties. This has provided him with alternative options when expressing his anger. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in the young person’s challenging behaviour.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person is transported to and from school. There is good liaison between school staff and home staff. This has enabled the young person to maintain his school attendance, even during times of disruption.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff are enthusiastic and motivate the young person to take part in the daily operation of the home. Festivities are celebrated through well-organised themed nights. This provides the young person with opportunities to improve their social skills, where he shops, cooks and has fun. Independence skills are incorporated into the young person’s daily plans.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Safeguarding practice enhances the young person’s safety. The staff are trained in all areas of safeguarding and they respond well to any child protection concerns.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff support the young person to understand his behaviour. This results in the young person’s ability to make positive choices about their actions and increases his awareness of the effect his behaviour may have on others. Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 3  Effective management arrangements ensure that there is a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. The management team has sustained the significant improvements identified at the last inspection.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The statement of purpose does not include the current staffing arrangements or their qualifications and experience.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Some plans for the young person need reviewing and updating. Particularly where improvements have been made. For example, where therapy has decreased as a result of the young person’s progress.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/11/2016 Full Good 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 4

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Statutory requirement

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers matters listed in Schedule 1. In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose includes the details of the experience and qualifications of the staff. (Regulation 16, Schedule 1 (19)) 31/08/2017

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Recommendation

 The relevant plan may include a strategy for a particular type of care, treatment or intervention (for example therapy relating to neglect or abuse). The care staff will need to understand the purpose of any such care and the way in which the past experiences of abuse or neglect may manifest itself in the day-to-day life of the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.5)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Over time, and considering the young person’s previous multiple moves, good progress has been made in all aspects of the young person’s life. The young person has experienced stability in the home and has built warm, trusting and helpful relationships with his staff. A parent commented positively on the progress that her son has made and the good work that is done to help him to achieve his goals and to develop positive behaviours. The parent said, ‘I am really pleased with the progress my son has made. I visit the home every week, have tea and find all of the staff very welcoming. They always keep me informed and I do hope he can stay at the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person contributed to the inspection and shared his views about his Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 5 experiences in the home. He was proud of the achievements he has made, all of which are captured within his ‘My time’ file and memory box, which he showed to the inspector. Observations were made of the interactions between the young person and his staff, all of which were positive, friendly and fun. The young person said, ‘This is my home, I am happy here, and all the staff are helping me. This is the longest place I have ever lived in and I am doing really well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has an excellent attendance record at school. He has maintained the stability of his education placement for some considerable time. Where issues have arisen in school, the management team has worked effectively with the school’s liaison officer. She says, ‘The home and school work well together, share information on a daily basis and work in partnership with each other to minimise the young person’s issues sometimes presented in school. I feel the staff are proactive and want the best for the young person.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is encouraged to share their views about the good quality of care that they receive. The management team and staff support the young person to participate in regular house meetings, engage in key worker sessions and have the opportunity to raise concerns. Consequently, the young person feels confident about raising any issues and is able to express their views and contribute to decisions that affect them. For example, the young person has a choice about the food that they eat, decides on the home’s decoration and selects the activities that they wish to do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person enjoys a broad range of activities. Enthusiastic staff actively seek out opportunities to engage him in wide-ranging social and leisure activities such as pop concerts, walks and trips to local shops, leisure facilities and premiership training grounds and stadium tours. These fulfilling activities enhance the young person’s sense of identity and provide him with opportunities to meet people of his own age.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person’s social worker has mixed views about the home. She feels that some of the activities that the young person enjoys are unrealistic and that staff give the young person too many rewards. She also feels that the stimulation is really good, as are the relationships that the young person has with his staff. Consequently, the placing authority feels that the young person’s needs will be better met within an alternative care provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home offers the young person stability with appropriate rules and boundaries to encourage their positive behaviour. The young person was seen to act in a responsible manner when staff tell him ‘no’ and provide clear explanations as to the reason why some of his requests are turned down. The young person and staff acknowledged that this is significant progress from the young person’s starting point in the home. The young person exercises greater self-control and has made considerable improvements in their behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have followed the therapist’s lead and supported the young person to understand and work through his attachment difficulties. The young person has made progress and this has resulted in a significant reduction in his aggressive behaviour. Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 6 However, the records and plans in relation to therapy do not reflect this. As a result, a recommendation is made. This is because therapy sessions have reduced, but the young person’s plan does not reflect this positive change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical health needs of the young person are met through appointments attended at local health services. Any psychological input is addressed by the organisation’s clinical psychologist. She confirmed to the inspector that she is available at a moment’s notice. This provides staff with clinical support and the young person with emotional support, as and when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is engaging well in his daily independence tasks in preparation for adulthood. This includes budgeting, having the responsibility for his own bank account, participating in well-organised themed nights, celebrating traditional and world festivities, shopping and cooking food.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are trained in safeguarding, online safety and radicalisation. They demonstrate well how to deal with allegations and report suspected abuse. There are no current issues with child sexual exploitation. The young person has been educated in relation to social media sites, extremism, protecting his personal information and the dangers that the internet can pose. The young person told the inspector that he is safe and feels safe in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff understand how the young person’s feelings and emotions can be communicated through difficult behaviour. Staff know the young person well, they anticipate issues and identify triggers that help him to understand and manage his behaviour. Risks associated with the young person are well known and understood by staff. The use of clear risk assessments and effective behaviour management strategies promote the safety of the young person and staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and amended. For example, improvements in behaviour have significantly reduced the risk that the young person posed in the kitchen. The one recommendation made at the last inspection is now met. The kitchen is no longer locked and the young person has access to all areas of the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Positive behaviour is encouraged, recognised and rewarded. The young person is provided with daily feedback and praised about behaviour. Agreed incentives result in additional activities, extra money towards clothing and purchasing a bicycle. Sanctions are rarely used, and the young person has not been restrained. They never go missing or absent themselves from the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use one-to-one time with the young person well to assist him to reflect on his behaviour. He is helped to develop better strategies to manage his behaviour and to consider the consequences of his actions and the effects that this may have on others.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Handovers between staff are effective and recorded. All relevant information is shared Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 7 and any appointments highlighted. Medication is checked as correct and signed for at each handover. These arrangements ensure that staff coming to work in the home are fully briefed and information is shared regarding any pertinent issues that the young person may have. This ensures that staff are fully informed and able to take a proactive approach in providing well-planned care.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home is decorated to a high standard. The young person takes pride in his bedroom and has the use of a fully functioning computer room. The home is personalised with pictures of the young person and his achievements made in the home. There are no health and safety concerns. Regular checks are carried out and recorded, including fire evacuation. Randomly selected recruitment files show that staff are selected and vetted carefully to ensure that young people are protected from unsuitable people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a registered manager. She has the appropriate experience and qualifications required for the role. She is currently undertaking the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. The registered manager is also registered for another two single-occupancy homes. She utilises her time between each home efficiently. Records are maintained showing how much time the registered manager spends in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although she is not fully able to be in day-to-day charge of the home, she has the support of a competent and experienced deputy manager. Together they have high aspirations for the young person and use supervision, team meetings and appraisals as a means to reflect on practice and develop the staff. These arrangements reliably inform the staff’s training needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is prioritised dependant on the needs of the home. Recent training has included ‘Prevent’, online safety and self-harm. Some staff are suitably qualified and those who require an appropriate qualification are being trained. There has been some delay in achieving the relevant qualification, which resulted from the organisation changing training providers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Improved changes have been made to documents and work is ongoing to sort out the office. Currently, there is outdated information and guidance stored which serves no purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are systems in place that ensure that there is regular scrutiny of the quality of care. Weekly reports are produced in relation to the young person’s progress or areas for development. The young person’s information and the home’s administration systems are audited for accuracy. Any recommendations that are made in the monthly reports by the independent person are responded to efficiently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Practice is effective and is guided by a clear statement of purpose, which provides an accurate description of the purpose of the home and how this is provided. Staff are clear of the home’s objectives and how to deliver these. However, details of staff, their Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 8 qualifications and experience are not written into the statement of purpose. As a result, a requirement is made. This is to ensure that Ofsted and placing commissioners, parents or carers are informed of the staffing structure in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team maintains effective partnerships with the placing authority, local police officers and other professional agencies. The registered manager is able to escalate concerns and holds others to account if they feel that support is lacking or decisions are not in the best interests of the young person. Consequently, the needs of the young person are prioritised effectively.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian, Waterfront, Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Mark Kersh: social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456409 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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