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 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 social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager’s fitness to manage the home was assessed on 6 November 2019 and registration was confirmed on 8 November 2019.

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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: 23 October 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: SC457012 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/10/2018 Full Good 09/10/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 3

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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 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; and

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children get out of bed at a reasonable time on school days so that they develop an appropriate routine. 31/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)) 31/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by 30/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 4 way of reparation. (Regulation 19 (1)(2)(f))

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who historically had behavioural difficulties have formed strong and resilient relationships with the staff and one another. A child said, ‘I don’t want to be in care, but if I can’t go home then I want to live here, nowhere else.’ The children relate and respond to staff positively because of the special relationships forged. The children feel empowered and able to communicate with the staff and to express their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the children’s family dynamics and build relationships with families. The staff help the children to see their families and to develop and maintain these important relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work very hard to establish trusting relationships with children. This is achieved through patience, consistent responses and a genuine warmth. As a result, children experience fewer incidents of distress and they learn to manage their emotions in more positive ways. This enables children to access community-based activities. These activities include sky diving, quad biking, going to Alton Towers and a recent trip to Thorpe Park’s Fright Night to celebrate Halloween.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care and support planning are well organised, detailed and helpful. Records contain good information and provide a unique picture of each child. The staff understand the children well and use their knowledge carefully to think about what events and behaviours mean to help children to progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been recently redecorated. The staff try hard to provide the children with a welcoming and homely environment. The manager ensures that any damage and repairs are addressed in good time. Home improvements continue to take place and staff continue to encourage and support the children to take pride in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children do not access full-time education. Two of the children only receive 30 minutes of education each day, during the afternoon. This has a negative impact on their daily routines as they often stay in bed until their tutor arrives. The tutor discussed, with the inspector, the children’s education and said that the staff constantly speak to relevant Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 5 professionals and virtual schools to access full education packages for the children. Staff were observed during the inspection attempting to motivate the children and booking educational activities to the zoo. However, these attempts did not always come to fruition. A lack of suitable education prevents children from reaching their full potential.

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

The children spoke about their safety with confidence and understanding. They learn how to understand risks and how their behaviour can increase or reduce risks. One of the children said that although they do not always agree with the procedures that the staff have put in place to protect them, they understand that these risk assessments and arrangements are to keep them safe. One child gave examples of their previous and current behaviours and reflected on how they have reduced their risk-taking behaviour.

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

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding practice. They are fully aware of their responsibility to protect the children from abuse and they confidently described reporting procedures and the organisation’s whistle-blowing policy. The staff understand the roles of external agencies. This knowledge helps to ensure that any safeguarding concerns are reported and dealt with promptly. Safeguarding issues are promptly investigated, recorded and resolved in a timely manner.

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

The manager and staff regularly review behaviour management strategies to reflect on the children’s triggers and behaviours. Some children positively engage in this process. The staff know how to manage the children’s behaviours. The staff and children fully appreciate the impact of physical interventions. There has been a reduction in the number of restraints, with just two since the last inspection.

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

A social worker spoken to during inspection said, ‘[The child] would be missing for between three and six days before coming to live at this home. He has only been missing once since living here. I am really impressed.’ Staff use timely debriefings with children following incidents of children going missing. However, despite staff’s requests to social workers, the children do not consistently have an independent return home interview.

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

Staff’s early intervention and de-escalation skills help to restore calm when situations arise. However, staff use inconsistent and, at times, excessive measures to sanction children. For example, the staff imposed a large fine on a child even though he had been arrested and charged for the damage he caused to a vehicle and the expense is being claimed back through the home’s insurance. Inconsistent sanctions can cause confusion for the children and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good insight into the children’s strengths, vulnerabilities and progress. He offers good support to the staff through his daily presence at the home and leads the staff team effectively. The manager is accessible and approachable and, when necessary, offers practical support in the care of the children. Regular team meetings ensure that Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 6 the children are discussed in detail and that they remain the focus of activities at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Frequent supervision meetings enable the staff to review and develop their childcare practice. The staff said that they value supervision and find this to be a supportive forum. Since the last full inspection, there has been a large turnover of staff. A significant number of new staff have started at the home, some of whom are currently going through their induction. Although the team is relatively new, the team members are energetic, enthusiastic and eager to learn and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from training in core areas, which includes safeguarding, physical intervention and first aid. They also access more specific or targeted training through consultation with the manager or during supervision. Specific training has included understanding child criminal exploitation and county lines. This training ensures that the staff have the skills that they need to meet the children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Case records for the children reflect the work that the staff undertake to support them. Regular audits and reviews ensure that the plans and assessments detail the current and changing needs of each child. The staff clearly have high aspirations for the children and work collaboratively to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals were complimentary about the communication with the home and the good level of care that the children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s monthly monitoring reports give a good overview of the home, the staff and the children who live there.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met all five requirements and three of the four recommendations raised at the last inspection. A recommendation is restated due to independent return home visits not being consistently provided after some missing from care episodes.

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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 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC457012 7 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: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Road, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Cathy Russell: 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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