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

Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 1 SC476303 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 accommodates up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated 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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 29 December 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager and her staff spend time listening and supporting the young people to progress in their lives.  The nurturing and homely environment is respectful of views and opinions of Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 2 those using the service. This enables positive communication to take place in order to develop individual confidence and self-esteem.  The organisation of the home‟s systems and plans enables the staff to spend more time with the young people on educational and social activities.  Monitoring and reviewing processes are excellent and have improved the overall quality of care.  The staff team is very aware of the expectations of the company and the registered manager. Attention to detail is what enhances the performance of the home.  The young people are effectively safeguarded. There are very few episodes of going missing from care and the young people learn to interact in a calm and

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Key findings from this inspection

positive manner. They are able to develop confidence and skills in order to become independent.  Training and supervision of staff are mindful of the current social changes in respect of radicalisation and extremism. Staff are fully aware of their role in developing a socially acceptable understanding of culture, especially respect for equality and diversity.

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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 home‟s management needs to be aware of the impact of outside spaces. The quality and upkeep of areas of relaxation and play can have a positive and negative impact upon those who reside in the home.  The provider needs to support the registered manager in the regulatory requirement framework in relation to timely submission of quality of care review reports.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/05/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1), (3) and (4)(a)) 31/08/2017

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Recommendations

 For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely environments. In particular, consideration and direct action should be taken to ensure that the garden area and outside spaces are well maintained and free from any danger. The rear outside space requires a caring touch that will provide the children and young people with a more welcoming environment in which to enjoy their time together with their peers and staff. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the young people are making progress at their individual pace and in accordance with their current stage of development. Two young people have moved on recently with very different outcomes, one young person was unable to reduce their going missing Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 4 behaviour and subsequently for his own safety was discharged from the home, given the significant distance away from his home area. The manager and staff spoke very fondly of this young person and communication is still ongoing at the time of inspection with his home area to ensure that his safe care is known. The transitional arrangements for the other young person were well managed and supported. He left following an end of placement party. He moved on successfully to semi-independence and maintains contact on his own terms with the home. The manager was able to maintain his placement past 18 years of age to enable the local authority to find an appropriate place for him. He

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

made fantastic progress during his time here and is spoken highly of by all the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On the first day of inspection, a placement was made for a young person and information presented to staff by the manager was highly positive. The detail provided focused on the young person‟s qualities and motivation to be at the home. It was reported that the young person was clearly impressed by her new surroundings. The ethos in the home is built upon the strength of relationships and the commitment to focus on positive aspects of care that can be provided. The young people are able to develop confidence in their surroundings that they are going to be provided with a supportive and non-judgemental response to their current status.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted daily, not just at school but during activities. One young person has a 100% attendance record since arrival at the home. There were a couple of incidents recorded relating to incidents of going missing but the young person has responded very well to staff guidance and supervision. Relationships are good and maintained through respect and trust. One member of staff said, „We create a homely environment. It is a struggle for some young people even coming to terms with the number of people round them. We incorporate activity planners and focus on fun and education. We ensure during the six-week holiday that activities are provided with education in mind.‟ Some activity examples are as follows: libraries, cathedrals, beaches, trampolining, outdoor activity centres, strawberry picking and cinema. This enables the young people to develop socially and raises their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has introduced a memories scrapbook for young people to capture their new experiences and opportunities that are provided during their time here. In addition, one young person confidently and with pride showed me a project that she is undertaking for the summer. This involves making „smoothies‟ and trying new fruits which are then documented in a „smoothie book‟. The record was beautifully put together with pride and care. The young person not only purchased the items but also made them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence skills development is promoted through the „survival guide‟. This is a semi-independent programme that the home has devised which enables young people to manage a budget. They then purchase food and plan menus as well as put money aside for travel and expenses that arise during a typical week. The young people have thrived on this process and one young person even took their completed programme with them when they left. The manager and staff support and empower the young people through this process that develops their confidence and independence, respecting their choices and decision making. Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 5 As well as development of practical skills, the staff encourage and support plans in relation to contact with family and friends. Relationships that the young people develop with staff are respectful and trusting, which enables positive work to be completed in

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

focused key-working sessions. These can take place formally or informally during one-to- one time in the home or out on an individual activity, for example during a walk together. One young person said, „Contact for me is starting this week, which I am excited about. The staff have supported me about everything.‟ Staff reported that as a result of a meeting that took place just prior to inspection, another young person‟s contact overnight had been increased. Everyone was very impressed by the young person‟s progress. The positivity was evident in how the staff shared this information during staff handovers, which were observed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home itself is well furnished and the young people are able to individualise their bedrooms and privacy is respected. The young people feel a part of the home.

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

The staff are very knowledgeable about the young people in their care. Information gathered and updated on a daily basis informs the individuality of young people‟s risk assessments and care plans. Missing from care protocols are followed and the home has a good relationship with the police. Key workers spend time with the young people on a regular basis covering a range of topics centred around risk and known behaviours. This process of communication is built upon respect and allows views and opinions to be explored. This activity provides opportunities for the young people and their carers to reflect and evaluate together, promoting the strength of relationships and trust in each other. A social worker said, „This is the longest placement she has had. Her behaviours, to be fair, improved the moment she arrived. [Name‟s] missing episodes were significant and quickly reduced. She has a very good relationship with her key worker.‟ The young

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

people feel safe and valued as individuals by coming here.

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

Not all the young people who have come to the home have seen a reduction in their going missing behaviour and the accessibility of local transport does not provide a barrier to prevent such behaviours from occurring. However, staff remain consistent in their approach by maintaining positive relationships with young people and the professional network to support change. Impact risk assessments for young people now consider locality. In particular, missing from care activity, given the distance that some young people live away from their home. One young person reflected and said, „I feel like I know the staff well now. When I first came, I blamed them and now I know they are only here for me.‟

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

The staff and young people attended a small theatre group production on aspects of sexual exploitation and in the home a member of the staff team is the home‟s champion for equality and diversity. This role supports the staff and young people to be more aware of the impact of socially unacceptable behaviours such as acts of terrorism and extremism. Exploring social belief systems that can be influenced by social media and its presentation enables young people to make informed choices by considering the holistic Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 6 view. Aspects of this work came about due to significant events reported on national television and the subsequent impact upon a young person developing a level of anxiety in attending a large outdoor event in the region. With education and support she was able to attend and enjoy the social event, enabling her and other young people to enjoy and experience feelings of well-being and positivity.

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

The staff team encourages positive change through small steps. At times, restrictions are put in place in relation to travelling independently and accessing money on a daily basis. One young person had a couple of incidents relating to going missing from school and as a result travel tickets were purchased for the young person and money was supervised. In this example, the young person was supported in accordance with her care plan, being accompanied to school via public transport with staff. This supported her safe care. Money was not given to the young person for a short time, which reduced the opportunity to leave the area without the knowledge of staff by accessing known transport routes. The staff worked with the young person by introducing small steps in the community in order to familiarise her with her environment. Any money that was spent was with the support of staff and relationships were strengthened. Key-working

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

sessions also supported the education aspect about maintaining her own safe care. The young people are supported in a nurturing and educational environment. The young person in question said, „They support you and respect you and I think that is great about them. They are like my family and I love it here.‟

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

One shortfall on inspection was in respect of the outside spaces at the home, which require some attention. Some space adjacent to the home is the responsibility of the local council and other aspects concern the local diocese and a perimeter wall. Both areas could be enhanced through some tender care and repair. This area is not at present allowing the young people to enjoy the outside space of the home either alone or with staff. Opportunities to share the outside space are being missed and therefore young people‟s well-being is not being maximised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is very experienced and is undertaking the recognised qualification required. She is highly motivated to ensure that organisational structures are robust and understood by her team. Systems for recording and filing of daily recording sheets linked intrinsically to the care needs for young people are of an excellent standard. One member of staff said, „Organised structure allows us to do more work with the young people, you can put your hand on anything and find it within seconds.‟ Daily recordings are collated into monthly reports detailing the individual progress of the young people. Each social worker is provided with records that also demonstrate in graphical format exactly what activities and events have taken place that week. It also records detail in relation to sleeping patterns among other aspects of their time. This level of information and detail enables reports relating to progress to be easily prepared and identifies

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

patterns and trends, all in all supporting the overall plans for the young people. One member of staff said, „The work we carry out is always about the young people. The planners that are in place are excellent, you know exactly what you are required to do.‟ Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 7 The home‟s external monitoring takes place through monthly visits by an independent person. In their reports, they express a clear view that the manager has good oversight of the home and manages the home with positivity. The manager‟s actions support staff in meeting young people‟s needs and aspirations in addition to maintaining young people‟s safe care effectively and promoting their welfare. Internal monitoring systems routinely access the views and opinions of the young people through young people‟s meetings and consultation feedback from stakeholders such as social workers and parents. One shortfall is the delay in submitting the completed „quality of care review

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

report‟, which reduces the regulator‟s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager completes shifts among her team and is supported in the care of the young people by a dedicated and consistent approach from the staff. The manager said, „Staff consistency is good and is identifiable in the low turnover. We never get cover from another home. This enables a consistent and familiar approach for the young people. The staff team goes from strength to strength.‟ Training and supervision of staff are delivered effectively either formally or informally. The staff team members are supportive of each other and reflect on the behaviour of the young people with regular team meetings as well as considering other areas of practice to improve upon. There is a wealth of knowledge which is empowered by the management and leadership team through providing staff with individual roles that enable them to be the home‟s champion on specific areas of practice. This encourages and develops confidence and growth from

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

within that is then an essential part of the care delivered to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home works well with professionals. This was observed on inspection as over the course of two days a number of key persons in the care teams for the young people attended and relationships were seen to be open and responsive. Health professionals and social workers came and went with the young people, ensuring that information was shared where appropriate and always focused on young people‟s needs and development. One health professional said, „I have observed the staff to be loving and supportive to young people. In comparison to other homes, I am very impressed. Communication is always professional and friendly.‟

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 8 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: SC476303 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: 4th Floor, Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Michael Dack: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC476303 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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