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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 1 SC389649

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Cambian Childcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a large private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2017. The manager is also registered to manage another of the organisation’s homes.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection in August 2019, Ofsted received an increasing number of notifications of significant events, which indicated that young people were at risk of harm. In addition, the police have contacted Ofsted about the safety and welfare of those living in the home and the home’s actions in response to the events in the home.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring inspection, inspectors identified that the registered manager and staff do not appropriately respond to presenting incidents of risk-taking behaviour by young people, or implement effective strategies to safeguard and protect those living in the home. Poor risk management and unsafe practice have placed young people at unnecessary risk.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents involving young people leaving the home unsupervised and driving the company vehicle have taken place without staff knowledge or intervention. On several occasions throughout September 2019, individuals from outside the home were found in young people’s bedrooms. Staff were unaware that this group had gained access to the building.

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This monitoring visit

Staff found evidence of sexual activity taking place in the home, and on one occasion a non-resident young person was found in the bath with a resident young person. One sexual interaction between young people was shared on social media, and one participant has raised questions about the level of consent for an episode of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 2 sexual activity. The provider’s responses to these incidents, and alleged incidents, do not adequately consider the associated risks or include necessary remedial action to prevent such incidents being repeated.

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This monitoring visit

Not all young people benefit from a clear compatibility risk assessment or a thorough appraisal of their needs on admission. Managers have offered placements to individuals without these measures being in place. The statement of purpose for the home states that young people who are victims of sexual and criminal exploitation should not be placed at the home. However, resident young people have been known to be victims of, and vulnerable to, criminal and sexual exploitation. It is unclear how the home planned to suitably care for young people with this level of need, or whether staff skills were sufficient to meet such need. Also, there is little evidence of how these placements would affect the young people already living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Repeated calls from the home for police support raise professional doubt regarding the ability of the home’s staff to manage the presenting behaviour and risks posed by young people.

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This monitoring visit

Recording in the home is poor. Records of incidents are unclear and fail to provide an accurate account of what has occurred. This inhibits the level of detail that can be shared with stakeholders after the event and prevents managers from suitably tracking any patterns and trends in behaviour and addressing the same.

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This monitoring visit

The safe-keeping and administration of medication in the home are unsafe. On one occasion, stocks of medication were removed and consumed by young people. Staff have failed to administer prescribed medication according to clinical instruction. This means that some young people do not receive the medication they need in line with their prescription to keep them healthy, and other young people have accessed medication without staff authorisation, posing risks to their health and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

The condition of the home is poor, and the home environment does not provide young people with a warm and welcoming space. First floor windows have been nailed shut and boarded up. Young people’s bedrooms contain damaged furniture, and there is evidence of lighters and broken gas canisters in these rooms.

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This monitoring visit

Fire safety measures in the home are not in line with the home’s fire safety risk assessment. For example, some smoke detectors are non-functioning and there is evidence of combustible material in young people’s bedrooms. This fails to keep young people, staff and visitors to the home safe.

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This monitoring visit

During the inspection, due to the identified safeguarding concerns, a case review was held. As a result of this review, a decision was taken to issue a suspension notice on the home. Ofsted will monitor the home’s action in relation to the notice of suspension. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/06/2018 Full Good 06/06/2017 Full Good 01/11/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 4

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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

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(a)) 12/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to 12/11/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 5 recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)) 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) and (vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)) 12/11/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 6 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d)) 12/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 12/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(f)) 12/11/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 7 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 12/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 12/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 12/11/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 8 In particular, this applies to the provision of functioning smoke detectors and operational fire door closure mechanisms. The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which- include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) ) 12/11/2019

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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: SC389649 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Drakes Road, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Dawn Parton, social care inspector Jessica Forshaw, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC389649 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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