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

Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 1 SC457012 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 home is one of a group of homes run by a large independent provider. It offers care for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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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Key findings from this inspection

 Children say that they feel safe at the home and know how to complain.  Children with histories of placement breakdown are now living in an environment in which they feel stable and secure. Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 2  The children’s achievements are recognised and praised.  Staff understand the importance of education and support the children to attend.  The dedicated staff team knows and understands the individual needs of the children.  Staff understand the importance of and facilitate contact for children with their friends and families.  Well-planned transitions into the home help new children to settle quickly.

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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

 Children do not comment and sign when a sanction is applied. This does not ensure that children understand the reasons for the sanction and/or help them to develop skills to reduce the likelihood of repeat incidents.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 3

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Recommendations

 Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11) This is with particular regard to ensuring that any sanction given due to poor behaviour is discussed with the child to support their understanding and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy, and positive about their experiences of living at this home. Children who have histories of placement breakdowns are now living in an environment in which they feel stable and secure. A social worker said, ‘Brilliant home. The progress has been very good. [Child’s name] can now maintain friendships, is doing very well and has said she wants to stay.’ Another social worker said, ‘He [child] is developing respectful relationships with staff. This is a massive progress and he is definitely happy in the placement.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A key strength of the home is the positive relationship that children have with the very committed and resilient staff, who know them well. Children learn to trust staff because of the calm, consistent and nurturing care that they provide. Staff encourage the children to find an interest, and they spend time supporting the children’s individual hobbies. A child said, ‘The activities are good. I get to go fishing all the time with my key worker. I also like to cook, and often cook for everyone.’ Throughout this inspection it was evident that the staff motivate and encourage by openly praising. This child was happy to hear that the opinion of all is that he is a very skilled cook. Acknowledgement and appreciation of their achievements raises the children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff see education as an important part of the children’s daily lives. When children struggle to engage and present with challenging behaviour in school, the home works with the education provider. A teaching professional said: ‘The manager is proactive and the support from staff is excellent. Recently, a staff member stayed outside in the car to be on hand to support if needed. They work with us in the hope of improving attendance. This enables us to build better relationships that ultimately will result in achievement and academic progress.’ This high level of support means that children have the opportunity to reach their educational potential. Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 4 Children know how to complain. They are encouraged to express their views in individual key-working sessions and through feedback questionnaires. ‘Grumble forms’ are on display in the games room for the children to complete. None of the children has made a

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

complaint, and those spoken with report that they always feel listened to and treated fairly. One child said, ‘I can talk to any of the staff if I have a problem. The staff are all alright and I trust them.’ Good levels of communication and consultation are empowering for children and make them feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Well-planned transitions into the home help new children to settle quickly. Prior to their arrival, the manager carefully considers all information available to her about a potential new child, alongside the needs of those children already living at the home. On arrival, new children receive a detailed children’s guide to help them to understand the daily routines. Careful planning and a warm welcome help children to settle and feel more secure in their new environment. When children move on, the manager and staff are committed to achieving a positive closure. Recently, when a placement came to an end without prior notice, the staff were eager to speak with the child to make sure that the child was happy and well. The child said, ‘They [staff] helped me lots and still keep in touch. It was a good experience. They kept me out of trouble with the police and taught me a lot.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of contact for both the children and their families. They support with transport and offer constant support to family members during their contact period. This enables family members to feel reassured that help is at hand when required. Staff are mindful that children require help to continue positive relationships with the other significant people in their lives. Some of the children have established good friendships with people whom they wish to see regularly. Staff work well with social workers and the parents of the children’s friends to make appropriate arrangements. This ensures that the children are able to maintain these positive friendships no matter how far they may now live apart.

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

Children report feeling safe. One child said, ‘I can talk to any of the staff if I have a problem. I feel safe here, and they have helped me.’ Another child who has recently returned to their parents’ care commented, ‘I was happy and safe at the home. The staff made it good.’ The positive relationships developed with staff provide children with a strong sense of safety and well-being.

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

The children have detailed, good-quality individual risk assessments. The manager reviews these regularly and updates them when needs or risks change. This ensures that staff are aware of any new behaviours and provide a consistent approach. The children have responded well to the cohesive staff team that knows them well. A social worker said, ‘[Child’s name] listens to staff and now seeks their guidance. [The child] was completely out of control but has had only three incidents since placed. Has been supported very well and is now able to open up to the staff.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 5 There have been no incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. Behaviour management systems are effective. Despite some children displaying very challenging behaviours, the de-escalation strategies work. The strategies implemented and good-quality care provided help the children to learn how to regulate their behaviour

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

Prior to admission, one of the children had a significant history of going missing. The proactive approach by the staff has led to a significant reduction in such incidents. Each child has an individualised missing-from-home protocol that the staff follow when the child goes missing from the home. Staff understand the children’s patterns of behaviour and are aware of the places that they may frequent. In addition, the staff constantly look for the children and phone them when they go missing. This ensures that children are promptly located and welcomed home. After an incident of a child going missing, staff request an independent return interview from placing authorities. A social worker said, ‘The stable and consistent staff are always very welcoming. [They] are proactive in their caring responsibilities, have built good trusting, nurturing relationships. They keep her [child] safe and she is happy. This is the best home that I ever used.’

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

Children receive rewards for positive behaviour and sanctions for negative behaviour. There have been 11 sanctions since the last inspection. These are fair and proportionate. The manager evaluates the records to ensure that each sanction is appropriate. However, the children do not comment and sign each entry. This does not ensure that the children understand the reasons for the sanction and/or help them to develop skills to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.

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

There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. Staff spoken with have a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and the whistle-blowing policy. The designated officer said, ‘This home refers appropriately. I have no concerns.’ The staff recognise their duties to safeguard the children and they have the skills to implement procedures effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced registered manager has been in post since September 2014. She is dedicated and hard-working, and leads by example. She has the skills to address any issues with a positive and can-do attitude. This inspires confidence in the team, and the staff hold her in high regard. One member of staff said, ‘I really appreciate her style of management. She is supportive, fair and straight to the point. [It is] an amazingly well- run home and I want to continue working here. It is a happy team, and we [staff] all feel valued.’ There have been relatively few changes to the staff team since the last inspection. Having a stable staff team ensures that children consistently receive good- quality care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has in-depth knowledge of the children. She understands that changes in behaviour patterns take time, and she provides a safe environment for the children to develop. The children’s complex needs have led to placement changes previously. However, the manager remains committed to providing stability throughout difficult times. A social worker said, ‘They [staff] know him [child] well, have taken time, and are Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 6 aware that one box doesn’t fit each child. [Child’s name] has had many placements and they usually give up because of the challenging behaviour. However, this home is managing well.’ The motivated staff share their manager’s passion and commitment to improving the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Investment in staff development is good. Staff either hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards this required professional qualification within the necessary timescales. Newly recruited staff benefit from a comprehensive induction, and all of the staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities. For example, a recently admitted child has a significant history of police involvement so the manager promptly arranged for all of the staff to receive appropriate-adult training. This ensures that the child has the correct support when/if interviewed by the police. Access to quality training helps the staff to develop their understanding of the specific needs of the children and enhances practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is very well established. This ensures consistency of care. A social worker commented, ‘Communication is excellent. I always receive weekly updates and I am contacted immediately if there is an issue.’ Another social worker said, ‘Communication is very, very good. [There is] excellent partnership working from a dedicated and caring team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the progress that the children make effectively. Weekly reports comprised from detailed daily records highlight each child’s progress. These weekly reports enable social workers to see what the children have achieved over time in all aspects of their development. Reports for statutory reviews are of a high quality and demonstrate the progress that children make. Alongside this, monthly audits of all records emphasise any changes or patterns in behaviour, and help to contribute further to care-planning arrangements. The monitoring systems enable the manager to demonstrate the impact and value that living in this home is having on the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Well-established external and internal quality assurance systems monitor the effectiveness of the service. This monitoring helps the manager to gain a good understanding of the strengths of the home, and she has developed clear plans for further development. Staff are knowledgeable about the home’s objectives and are equally committed to achieving continual progress.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 7 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: SC457012 8

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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 Group, 4th Floor Waterfront Building, Chancellors Road, Hammersmith Embankment, London W6 9RU

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 9 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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