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

Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 1 SC456418 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a privately run children’s home. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person who may have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 July to 1 August 2017

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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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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The management team and staff are good at helping troubled young people who previously experienced poor emotional and physical health or have few social skills. As a result, the young person has made significant progress from the time he started living in the home.  The young person commented positively on the care and support that he receives in the home. Relationships between the young person and staff are very good.  The young person values his positive experiences that improve the quality of his day-to-day routine. This includes a wide range of activities that keeps him active.  The young person is supported to keep in touch with people who are important to him, even though they may be at some distance from the home.  The young person is supported successfully to follow his independence programme. This helps him to develop his life skills in preparation for the transition to adulthood.  Having completed his exams, the young person has been supported by the staff

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Key findings from this inspection

to secure a college placement.  When safeguarding concerns arise, the management team works effectively in partnership with external professionals to ensure that the young person is safe. All safeguarding concerns are thoroughly investigated.  Staff set consistent boundaries and challenge unwanted behaviours. This approach has enabled the young person to reflect on behaviours and change his ways. These arrangements have contributed to a home that is very settled.  The registered manager, deputy, team leaders and staff are committed to the home. Development plans are in place that identify areas of improvement set against realistic timescales.  Staff demonstrate confidence in their roles. They feel supported by the management team and value their training and development opportunities. The staff receive good-quality supervision and annual appraisals.  Partnership working with other professionals ensures that the young person

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Key findings from this inspection

receives the services, support and guidance, specific to his individual needs.

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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

 While planning and supporting the young person to move on is good, there is no pathway plan in place. As a result, key roles and responsibilities are not defined.  Some records of formal and informal discussions with the young person lack clarity and focus. Some do not evidence decision-making or show progress that Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 3 the young person is making.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/07/2016 Full Good 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 4

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Recommendations

 As the home will have a day-to-day understanding of young people’s capabilities and needs, children’s homes staff will have a valuable contribution to make to the pathway planning process. They should actively seek to make the fullest contribution, working with other relevant persons. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.28)

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, staff should record in detail the impact of their direct work on young people’s understanding and development. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.14)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is making good progress as a result of living in the home. His individual needs are known and are being met. The staff team is committed to ensuring that the young person achieves the best possible outcomes. Because of previous experiences, the young person’s behaviour regresses, and his mood often reflects his emerging issues. However, staff recognise this and provide effective support to help him manage his emotional difficulties. This is supplemented by access to external professionals who provide the young person and staff with the services, support and guidance specific to his individual need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person told the inspector that he is settled and happy, and enjoys living in a home that is calm and relaxed. He confirmed that he has good relationships with the staff caring for him. This was evident throughout the inspection when observations were made of the interactions between the young person and his staff. A visiting professional told the inspector that staff ‘are very caring and committed to the young person. From my visits, it is clear how much support the young person is receiving in the home. This has helped him to make significant progress and will benefit him in his future’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has his own child-friendly care plan, and he engages with his staff in the monthly updates of his plans. This information is always accessible in his file kept in the lounge of the home. There is a lot of useful information kept in this file, which informs the young person of the services he can expect to receive in the home and the services available to him in the local community. Information about complaints is also clear and easily accessible to the young person. Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 5 The young person’s opinions and aspirations for the future are included in his placement plan. He told the inspector that he feels part of the home and that his staff involve him in all aspects of his daily routines and agreed planners. The young person confirmed that the staff listen and respond to his requests. The records for consultation are mostly good. There is a lot of evidence to show that specific requests made by the young

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

person have been met. For example, the young person requested a new bed and a bicycle, which have been purchased. Key worker sessions and young person’s weekly meetings show his involvement in menu planning, activities and reflection on unwanted behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, some records are less than clear, particularly feedback questionnaires, such as ‘Your say is important to us’. These fail to show that staff record in detail the impact of their direct work on the young person’s understanding and development. Some records are process driven rather than outcome based. As a result, a recommendation is made. This is to ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the young person to engage in a range of activities. The staff use these positive experiences to develop their relationship with the young person and incentivise good behaviours. One of the young person’s favourite activities is to go out with staff to the local golf range. He also engages in trips to the seaside, sunset drives with his staff and the cinema, and he has recently enjoyed his prom night at school. The young person’s enthusiasm for these activities motivates him to make positive choices about his behaviour, social interactions and improvements in education and attainment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person has completed his GCSE examinations and has been accepted onto his preferred health and social care course at college. These arrangements, supported by staff, are part of the young person’s preparation for leaving the home and returning to his placing authority. The young person is engaging in his independence programme and is fully aware of his plans for the future. He told the inspector:

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

 ‘I am able to manage my money and shop for food. The staff are really supportive and I get on with everyone. I have changed so much and this is doing me good.’  ‘I have had lots of experiences in different care settings and I want to work in children’s homes and help other young people, just like the staff have helped me.’  ‘Being in this home has given me a very good experience. Not all homes do this. I am much more able now than I have ever been before.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While it is clear that good work is being undertaken to prepare the young person for his move out of the home, there is no pathway plan in place. As a result, a recommendation is made. This is to ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined in order to support the young person’s transition from the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 6 The staff support the young person to attend routine and specialist health appointments. They have the skills and commitment to ensure that the young person, who has previously resisted, engages with health professionals. This ensures that his physical and psychological health needs are met. As a result, progress has been made in improving his self-care skills and social interactions, and improving his diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are agreed arrangements in place to ensure that the young person keeps in touch with his family. Staff are able to transport the young person to and from contact, which is a considerable distance from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have not been any new admissions into the home following the last full inspection. The current young person has enjoyed a significant period of stability and the home is settled.

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

The management team has developed a safeguarding culture in which the staff and the young person are able to report any concerns. This includes clear expectations of professional boundaries and relationships based on mutual trust and respect. The staff are able to challenge the practice of colleagues because the prevailing culture empowers them to do so. This practice protects the young person. The young person told the inspector that he feels safe in the home.

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

The staff have undertaken mandatory safeguarding training and regularly complete refresher training. Staff demonstrated throughout the inspection their knowledge in relation to safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. They understand that they have a duty to safeguard the young person and to work in line with the home’s safeguarding policy.

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

Managers and staff have a thorough understanding of the needs, vulnerabilities and associated risks relating to the young person. This includes new staff, who quickly familiarise themselves with the young person’s risk assessments in order to minimise any potential of his coming to harm.

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

Detailed and well-informed risk assessments support staff to keep the young person as safe as possible. Regular reviews ensure updates to these documents. The information helps staff to understand triggers for risky behaviours and gives strategies for managing and avoiding potential incidents. In addition, the home has received helpful background information from the young person’s placing authority that helps staff to understand how previous trauma and experiences have influenced current behaviours. This knowledge has enabled the young person to change his way, make progress and manage his behaviour.

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

The atmosphere in the home is a warm and positive one. The young person understands the reward system and the sanctions that he may receive. Sanctions are not used excessively and the young person said that they are fair. The young person’s behaviour support plan is sufficiently detailed and outlines the things that can trigger his negative Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 7 behaviour. The plan includes clear guidance for staff and the approaches that help reduce risk; these are regularly updated. Staff knowing the young person well and using agreed strategies to change his overall mood enable them to manage incidents appropriately. Restraint is not used in this home.

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

Staff are aware of the procedures to follow in the event of the young person going missing from the home. These include following individual protocols that identify the particular vulnerabilities of the young person. Very good communication between staff, the young person and parents of a friend ensures that appropriate action is taken to locate the young person quickly and to ensure his safe return to the home. Missing from home incidents are rare and not a concern for the staff about the current young person.

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

A new staff member confirmed that her recruitment process was thorough. Staff files show that all the necessary checks are in place to prevent unsuitable people from working at the home. All visitors are required to produce their identity and sign in and out of the home. Records show that all environmental risk factors, including fire alarm tests and evacuations, are carried out regularly and recorded. These arrangements help to protect the young person, staff and visitors in the home.

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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. Staff are sufficient in number and most have the required level 3 qualification. Currently, two staff are completing this qualification. Rotas are allocated sufficient time for shift handovers, when the young person’s needs, appointments and moods are always discussed. Medication and finances are checked and signed for during each handover.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision, attend team meetings and have annual appraisals, which they said are supportive. They feel that good arrangements are in place and these contribute significantly to their professional development and their growth in confidence. The staff strongly feel and have the attitude, ‘If it’s not good enough for our own children, then it’s not good enough for our young person’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a thorough quality assurance process. Managers audit the administration records and the young person’s files. The independent person visits the home each month, reports on her findings and provides Ofsted with her report each month. The independent person speaks to staff and the young person and scrutinises documents in the home. The registered manager also completes her own quality of care reviews, and these inform the home’s development plans. The management team is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and responds positively to external Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 8 scrutiny and suggestions made during inspections. This helps to improve the standards of care in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose accurately describes how the home operates and how a young person is cared for. The registered manager has taken note from an inspection completed at one of her other homes. She now ensures that the qualifications and experiences of staff are available. This makes it possible for parents, social workers and Ofsted to have a clear understanding of services available and of who will be providing these services.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team and staff continue to work in partnership with other agencies and advocate well for the young person’s rights. There are established local and community networks, such as the local designated officer, the community police team, and drug and alcohol and youth offending services. These networks support and assist the young person to stay safe and be more socially responsible. The registered manager is not afraid to make challenges to professionals where she feels services are not supporting the young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inclusion and a respect for equality and diversity underpin the ethos of the home. The young person has his specific needs recognised and met. Any unacceptable behaviour or comments are addressed immediately and followed through during key worker sessions. The registered manager has designated a member of staff to bring diversity and culture into the home. The young person’s understanding and tolerance of difference are encouraged through well-organised theme nights and activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The two recommendations made at the last inspection have now been met. The home has been completely redecorated, and new carpets have been fitted. The home itself is welcoming and homely. There are no obvious health and safety concerns, and any repairs needed are responded to quickly. This ensures that the property remains well presented and homely for the young person, and a home in which he says he is proud to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The young person’s progress has meant that the kitchen is no longer kept locked at night. He now has access to all areas of the home.

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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 difference 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. Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 9 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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC456418 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Group, 4th Floor Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456418 11 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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