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

Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 1 SC456959 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is part of a large private organisation.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has benefited from care delivered by a stable and committed staff team.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Transitions are very well planned and efficiently managed.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has formed very close relationships with the staff team, relationships that are based on trust.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has made good progress in her education. Her attendance and attainment are greatly improved.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The experiences of the young person have been considerably enhanced by a wide range of activities and social opportunities that are made available to them.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The young person has made considerable progress in gaining skills for independence.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Risk management plans are comprehensive, and incidents of challenging behaviour are rare.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the young person has been helped to become increasingly safe.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Members of the staff team are qualified, feel well supported and have enhanced their skills and knowledge through structured training and development opportunities.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The new manager of the service has plans to introduce monitoring systems, and is aware of the strengths of the service and the areas for development.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Staff should have their performance appraised annually.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The manager should escalate concerns when responses from other professionals are inadequate and may hinder the progress of young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2017 Full Outstanding 13/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/08/2015 Full Good

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting this quality standard, the registered person must ensure that— if the registered person considers a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 29/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their fitness to perform their role appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 29/12/2017

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 4 One young person recently left the home after it was decided that she would benefit from living in a group environment. The young person made good progress while she was living at the home. Staff made great efforts to plan her transition effectively. They took her to visit her new home for a meal and arranged an overnight stay, which went well. As the new home was run by the same organisation, the managers of the homes discussed the possibility of allowing a staff member to move across temporarily to help the young person settle in. This is excellent practice and demonstrates the staff team’s commitment to ensuring that young people have the best possible experiences. Despite their best efforts, the young person did not transition to the new home successfully and returned to her family. At the time of the inspection, staff were preparing for the arrival

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person made significant progress in her educational outcomes. She was supported to sit her GCSEs, examinations that at one point were not thought possible. Staff helped her to successfully gain an apprenticeship in her chosen field of work, which is excellent progress. Staff have promoted and encouraged good physical and mental health, and have accessed specialist support when it was needed.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person was encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle by being physically active and eating balanced meals. This led to improved physical health and increased self- esteem.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views of the young person are at the heart of the service. She was consulted on a regular basis about her day-to-day care arrangements, and staff responded accordingly to her wishes and feelings. Staff offered advocacy support when appropriate, and the young person was reminded of this ongoing right. A children’s guide was provided when the young person moved into the home. The guide contains details of the routines and expectations, and information about how to complain. This demonstrates that the staff team understands the importance of providing clear information which empowers young people to influence matters that affect them.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are a wide range of positive activities on offer, both inside the home and in the community. Staff arranged pamper evenings for the young person to help build close and trusted bonds. The young person went on day trips and enjoyed eating out in local restaurants. Staff recognise the importance of social development, and arranged outings with other young people to encourage positive friendships. This increased the young person’s emotional well-being, and built confidence and social skills.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person was supported to gain skills for independence. Staff taught her to budget, cook and manage household chores. Staff worked positively with the family of the young person. They travelled considerable distances to make sure that contact was meaningful and took place regularly. One parent said, ‘They could not have done any more for her. They were brilliant with her and us.’

p.4

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

Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 5 There was one incident of the young person absconding from the placement. This occurred when she was due to move to another home. Staff made every effort to search the local area, kept in contact with appropriate agencies and informed Ofsted of this incident. Incidents of challenging behaviour were rare, and staff worked hard to educate the young person on the dangers of potential risk-taking behaviours associated with some adolescent behaviour, such as going missing from home, and self-harm. Staff spend time researching relevant topics, and use this literature, the internet, social media and TV documentaries to highlight the potential concerns that are faced by young people. This allows young people to gain some relevant and useful insight into the potential behaviours, which enables them to make safer and more informed choices. This support and encouragement, and the positive relationships staff shared with the

p.5

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

young person, enabled her to become increasingly safer as these risk-taking behaviours reduced considerably while she was living in this home.

p.5

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

Risk management plans are comprehensive and contain clear plans for staff to follow in order to reduce risk to the young person. On one occasion, in agreement with the placing authority, the young person was provided with a mobile phone. The staff ensured that she understood the boundaries, and what constituted acceptable use of the phone. They took steps to ensure that the young person understood how to use it safely, allowing her to take age-appropriate risks and to develop socially in a similar way to that of her peers. When the phone was used inappropriately on one occasion, staff removed it and only reintroduced it after further internet safety discussions had taken place, and in consultation with the placing authority. This approach to risk ensures that young people are safeguarded, but are also able to develop the skills they need to make safer choices in the future.

p.5

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

A number of systems and audits are in place to ensure that the physical safety of the home is maintained. Staff complete regular health and safety checks of the home, and undertake regular training so they can respond to any accidents or emergencies quickly and effectively. Safe recruitment and good systems support the newer members of staff, to ensure that only those adults who are safe and suitable, with the appropriate skills, work alongside young people.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previously registered manager left her position in June 2017. A new manager was appointed to manage three homes, but has since retracted her application due to a change in the provider’s practice. Another new manager has been appointed to take over the leadership of this home, and is due to commence her role in November 2017. Both interim managers were present during the inspection as a handover period was in progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders demonstrate a child-focused approach which ensures that young people receive a good standard of care that is focused around their individual needs. Leaders have a good understanding of young people’s needs, and speak fondly of the progress young Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 6 people make. Leaders and staff support young people to remain central to their care planning, and advocate for young people well. One young person’s plan was changed to reflect her own wishes and feelings. This became the subject of an unacceptable delay which created anxiety for the young person. While the manager challenged the social worker effectively, she could have escalated her concerns within the organisation to ensure that the plan was not subject to any further unnecessary delay. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirement and recommendation raised at the last inspection have been addressed sufficiently. The independent visitor now consults with young people more regularly during their assessment of the home. The manager and leaders ensure that any actions that are identified during these visits are addressed promptly to ensure that young people benefit from a positive experience and improved outcomes.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A real strength of this home is the quality of care that is consistently provided by the experienced, stable, and dedicated staff team. There are a suitable number of competent, experienced and qualified staff to ensure that the young person’s needs are appropriately met. Staff speak about young people with passion, and are committed to improving the experience and progress that young people make in this home. Staff clearly understand young people’s needs and plans, and support young people sensitively to ensure that young people can achieve their own individual goals.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are fully supported by the management team and their colleagues to deliver a consistent level of good quality care. They achieve this through good training opportunities, and are supported well through regular supervision. All members of staff apart from one have the required childcare qualifications, and consideration is being given to the equivalence of the remaining staff member. The manager accepts that there has been a shortfall in ensuring that staff receive their annual appraisal. The provider has missed an opportunity to assess the fitness of staff to perform their roles sufficiently. A requirement is made to rectify this matter.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the statement of purpose is updated regularly. This detailed document provides sufficient information regarding the support and services that are on offer at this home, and the staff consistently deliver their work in line with the commitments identified within the statement of purpose. This document highlights the scope of the home, and the admission and discharge process. This ensures that families and commissioners are aware of what to expect for children and young people who receive a service from this home. Feedback obtained from the placing authority and other professionals involved in the manager’s and independent visitor’s monitoring processes was very positive, which provides confidence that the service works collaboratively with other professionals and partners.

p.6

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 Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 7 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.

p.6

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: SC456959 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector(s)

Nicola Thomas, social care inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC456959 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector(s)

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector(s)

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector(s)

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9