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

Assurance visit report: SC451174 1 SC451174

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since May 2020. A new manager has been appointed. He has not yet applied to be registered by Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 20 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Sustained effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC451174 2

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The care of children

Young people are well cared for. Staff understand the needs of each young person and work hard to build relationships and establish trust.

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The care of children

Both young people are living a considerable distance from their families and communities. This presents additional difficulties for maintaining and strengthening family relationships. This has been further impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Staff work with young people and their families to ensure that the impact of these restrictions is minimised.

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The care of children

During school closures, the young people were provided with educational activities to complete at home. More recently, both young people have secured places in educational provision in the local area. They are yet to start in their respective provision. Both young people have clear aspirations for their future careers. This provides them with an impetus to engage and achieve in their chosen courses.

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The care of children

Both young people have come to live in the home during national lockdown. This has impacted on the availability of local activities. Young people have benefited from walks and outdoor activities with staff as well as social activities in the home.

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The care of children

Pre-admission assessments do not contain the views of the young people. Both young people told the inspector they were not asked if they wanted to come to the home. One young person is very clear in his view that he does not want to be living so far away from his family and friends. The lack of consultation with young people, therefore, has an impact on their commitment to the home and to the plans for their care.

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The safety of children

Risks are well understood by staff. Risk assessments are clear. There are good risk management plans in place. Young people say they feel safe in the home and can share their feelings and views with staff. As a result of this, young people are being cared for in a safe environment. Staff are alert to any safeguarding issues and can respond in a timely manner to prevent or reduce harm.

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The safety of children

During the reporting period, there has been one whistle-blowing complaint made by a member of staff. The organisation is taking the appropriate steps to address the shortfalls in practice identified. However, the interim manager did not notify the young people’s families or any external agencies about this complaint. As a result, there has been no opportunity for timely external scrutiny of this incident.

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The safety of children

There has been one incident of bullying reported by a young person. This was responded to by the interim manager. The young person told the inspector he received a letter explaining to him what actions had been taken and he was satisfied with this response. This helps builds confidence for young people that the adults who care for them can be trusted to keep them safe in the home. Assurance visit report: SC451174 3 Staff told the inspector they have good access to the organisation’s clinical psychologist. This allows staff to receive specialist support and guidance to deliver care which is sensitive to each young people’s developing understanding of gender and their own identity.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager’s post has been vacant for seven months after the previous experienced manager left in May 2020. A permanent manager has been appointed. The interim manager has no previous experience as a registered manager. He has also been appointed to manage one of the organisation’s other homes. The interim manager’s ability to provide leadership and management of two homes with no previous experience in this role is not yet fully tested.

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Leaders and managers

Staff work together well as a close team. There is a consistency of approach amongst the team while also respecting the individual contribution that each member of staff makes to the care of young people. A member of staff spoken to by the inspector was passionate and knowledgeable about her role. Young people benefit from a small, stable staff team. This helps them build secure relationships with the adults who are caring for them.

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Leaders and managers

The interim manager has begun to establish new systems to support effective managerial oversight of the home and improve communication amongst the staff team. Regular and detailed reports from the independent person provide good support and challenge to the home. These have continued during lockdown albeit remotely. As a result, the home is well placed to learn from this internal and external oversight of performance.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision from the management team. There is also the opportunity for staff to ask for additional meetings to discuss particular issues of concern. Staff have continued to access online training during the ongoing period of lockdown. The staff are being supported effectively to undertake their roles within the current constraints. Assurance visit report: SC451174 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) (e)) 31 January 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home works in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6) Specifically, that young people’s wishes, and feelings should be taken into account in pre-admission assessments. Assurance visit report: SC451174 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caretech Limited, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Tracy Mese, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC451174 6 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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Inspectors

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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: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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