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

Inspection report children’s home: SC476286 1 SC476286 Registered provider: The Cambian Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for children who have suffered trauma in their lives. The aim is to work therapeutically with children so that they can either return home or live in a family environment.

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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

Date of last inspection: 5 February 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC476286 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2018 04/05/2017 Interim Full Improved effectiveness Good 19/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/06/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC476286 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home sets out to prepare children for a return to family settings. It is successful in its work. Many children have recently achieved a successful transition into a family environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Qualified therapists work directly with children and support staff to deliver therapeutic interventions. Staff and other professionals speak very highly of the therapeutic approach and the positive impact that it has on children. Care planning is well thought out, highly personalised and effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Because children are supported very well, their time in residential care is minimised. Their confidence increases, they start to settle and they feel happier because of the way that they are cared for. Children who live a long way from home are very well supported to understand their situation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Placement endings are very well managed. Children are able to look back on their time at the home with the knowledge that staff cared about them greatly. Children are given memory books, cards and messages from staff that they will be able to cherish and reflect on with pride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been several staffing changes in recent weeks and months. Some of the children have found this difficult. However, the impact on children has been minimised because the remaining staff have provided them with reassurance and additional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a happy, loving and nurturing feel. There are strong and positive bonds between staff and children. It is a homely place and the children feel proud of their environment. One child reported: ‘It’s warm. That’s how it feels.’ Children also have access to lots of activities. They have their friends around to play and there are regular trips and activities.

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

There have been a lot of restraints in the home, but this is not a reflection of poor practice. It reflects the children’s previous trauma and their need for protection. The child always has their say after they have been involved in a restraint. Each incident is meticulously reviewed by the manager. She develops effective strategies to reduce the frequency of restraints and the intensity of the child’s behaviour.

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

Children are safe and feel safe. Staff use their training well to make sure that all allegations and concerns are passed on swiftly and in line with agreed procedures. There is a healthy, open safeguarding culture in the team. Staff are expected to reflect on their own and each other’s performance. They confirm that they would have no hesitation in taking action if any safeguarding concerns arise. Inspection report children’s home: SC476286 4 Risk assessments are thorough. The documents are detailed and of a high quality. Staff use them well to protect the children. Staff assess the children’s safety daily, hourly and sometimes on a minute-by-minute basis. This process works well to protect children who present with complex and changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing changes have meant that the home has been through a period of instability. The manager has been absolutely committed to maintaining good-quality childcare during this time. She has never lost sight of the children’s needs. Everyone has pulled together well to minimise the impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children have had to say goodbye to a lot of staff, but the manager has made sure that the children can understand the context of this. For example, a baby shower was held for one member of staff who recently took maternity leave. The children were able to fully participate and understand the leaving process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has remained focused on recruitment. She has been recruiting carefully and has made sure that she recruits staff who are able to meet the children’s needs. This is paying off because the new staff have quickly settled into their roles and developed good relationships with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been able to train several new staff in a short space of time, while also making sure that the children receive a high quality of care. This is testament to her skill and ability. The manager always checks that staff understand their training and can use their newly acquired skills in practice. One staff member reported that some therapeutic training had been ‘absolutely amazing’ in helping them to understand a child’s behaviour. High-impact, experiential training helps staff to appreciate how each child might feel and what they have been through. As a result, staff are very committed to the children, empathetic, creative and resourceful.

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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: SC476286 5 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: SC476286 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian, Waterfront, Hammersmith Embankment, Chancellors Road, London, Middlesex W6 9RU

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Inspector(s)

Caroline Brailsford: social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC476286 7 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.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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