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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 1 SC433290 Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company with placements contracted to a designated local authority. The home is registered to accommodate up to six young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

At the interim inspection on 12 September 2017, the home had declined in effectiveness. As a result, Ofsted issued a restriction notice and made 10 requirements, four of which are subject to compliance notices. On 4 October 2017, a monitoring visit took place to monitor the restriction notice and two of the compliance notices. Three other requirements were also monitored, as their completion date fell within the period of monitoring. Some progress was noted; however, the compliance notice in relation to regulation 12 had not been completely met and a further compliance notice was issued. On 7 November 2017, a monitoring visit took place to monitor the restriction notice and three compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

On 20 September 2017 Ofsted placed a restriction notice on the home. Since that date the manager has not admitted any young people and therefore the home is compliant with the restriction notice. There are currently four young people living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and manager have submitted action plans to Ofsted. They have made progress in addressing the identified shortfalls. At this monitoring visit Ofsted found that steps have been taken to meet the three compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

All young people now have a clear risk assessment in place, which is in their file within the home and most staff have signed to say that they have read the content. The manager has reviewed these risk assessments since the last monitoring visit and has included specific details of steps that staff must take to safeguard young people. The frequency of young people going missing has reduced.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not consistently follow written risk management plans in relation to actions Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 2 required by staff when young people are in possession of substances or appear to have taken substances. Staff recording is unclear on whether young people have smoked cannabis or have cannabis in their possession. They describe young people leaving the home at night and on returning being hungry and ‘offered medical assistance’. However, it is not always clearly documented that they believe young people are under the influence of cannabis. When they are clear, they do not follow the risk management plan to check on them every 10 minutes in their room until they are ‘safe and well’. Staff suspect young people have cannabis in their possession, but do not take robust action to remove this. This does not promote young people’s welfare or minimise the risks associated with substance misuse.

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This monitoring visit

Staff undertake direct work with young people and challenge bullying, however, despite this it continues. The manager is aware that young people are vulnerable and will ‘do anything they are told’ by other young people. Overt incidents appear to have reduced in frequency; however, more covert incidents, which involve some young people pressurising their peers, have continued. Staff recording of incidents is poor, which does not safeguard young people effectively. For example, it is unclear from the records where staff are when they are supervising young people and, therefore, whether young people are safeguarded from young people’s bullying. Young people continue to feel bullied and pressurised into acting on a young person’s instructions to buy illegal substances and to give them money.

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This monitoring visit

Young people understand that they should not enter one another’s rooms. Staff undertake direct work to support individual young people to understand how this safeguards them. When there is a risk from unsupervised peer interaction, staff recording is not always clear that they take actions to intervene. Young people regularly enter one another’s rooms and make some use of the alternative ‘make-up’ room and sofa on the landing provided for young people to relax, in sight of staff.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made progress in addressing shortfalls since the last monitoring visit. Steps have been taken to meet three compliance notices. They have secured copies of young people’s care and health plans to inform their care and taken steps to review behaviour management strategies. This has resulted in more detailed risk assessments and more specific rewards systems. Staff use monitoring systems to review patterns and trends. Staff liaise with external professionals to address risk-taking behaviour. They meet for regular care planning meetings with the placing authority to ensure that the home continues to meet young people’s needs. Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive training that is specifically relevant to meeting young people’s needs. They have completed behaviour management training, substance misuse awareness and internet safety training. The manager has enrolled seven staff on their level 3 diploma and six staff

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This monitoring visit

are completing a course to support their understanding and response to young people’s emotional needs.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no new admissions as a restriction notice is in place. However, leaders and managers engage in regular meetings with the contracting local authority to ensure that they are aware of the young people who may need Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 3 placements in the future and to review and improve the impact risk assessments. They have established a system whereby the manager will meet with social workers and other relevant professionals, when considering a potential placement to consider their suitability. The manager has reflected on the impact of three placements in a two-week period in August 2017 and plans to only accept further placements after a new admission has settled into the home. The manager has undertaken a review of the quality of care provided over the past six months. She has obtained the views of young people, parents and placing social workers. Her evaluation is clear and

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This monitoring visit

detailed, demonstrating that the provider has learned from experiences, in particular, in admitting three young people within a two-week period. The manager is developing detailed monitoring systems which she is training her staff to use.

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This monitoring visit

The manager ensures that she notifies Ofsted promptly of all serious incidents in the home. This allows the regulator to monitor patterns and trends as events occur. She has referred child protection concerns promptly to the local authority and is focused on the local authority fulfilling its duties. Staff work well in partnership with schools, sexual health nurses and substance misuse services to ensure that young people can access their education and have their health needs met. At times there have been delays, as young people are reluctant to engage with the professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Some young people are making progress against their plans. Other young people are making minimal progress. Feedback from professionals suggests that communication is not consistently good, although they feel that the senior management team is always knowledgeable about young people’s plans. Staff continue to face challenging behaviour from young people who are struggling to accept the increased enforcement of boundaries.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have positive relationships with young people. Some young people are able to discuss with staff any difficult relationships and their vulnerabilities, whereas others do not. Consequently, as individuals do not disclose their contacts in the community, staff are not always aware where some young people are, or who they are with, when they are away from the home. In addition, records do not consistently include the checks made on young people’s whereabouts when they are away from the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/09/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 31/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 5

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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

12: The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (a) that staff- (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)). In particular, ensuring that staff follow risk management plans and accurately record that they have done so. 08/12/2017

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s polices on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 6

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Children home’s details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children home’s details

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

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Inspector

Rebecca Quested, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC433290 7 to 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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