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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 1 SC456413

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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 is a privately run children’s home which is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person. A child has lived at the home for nearly two years. The manager is not yet registered.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was completed as the home has not been inspected for over a year, and in that time has had several changes in management. The child living in the home has recently shown more signs of being at risk of criminal exploitation. All inspection activity took place remotely, using technology. This included a virtual tour around the home, speaking to staff, professionals and parents. The child chose not to speak to the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

As there is only one child living at the home, there is a small team in place. Staffing difficulties have been increased by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Staff have been required to isolate in the home on three occasions and have shown exceptional commitment and support to the child.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have made efforts to ensure that consistent bank staff are used when needed. This has been recognised as particularly important to the child placed, who struggles with new faces. However, rotas do not always reflect actual hours worked or full names of bank staff.

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This monitoring visit

The manager in post is currently submitting her application to register with Ofsted. She has made efforts to build relationships with the child’s parents, that were previously strained due to a lack of communication. Parents said, ‘The care they provide is second to none; they are brilliant. Staff are so professional and always try to turn a negative into a positive.’ Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 2 Managers have seen a reduction in damage caused to the home since they have involved the child in choosing items to make rooms more homely. During the virtual tour of the home it appeared tidy, comfortable and free of damage.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans relating to going missing from home are detailed and updated when necessary. Staff follow the plans in place to try to keep the child safe, including searching known areas and making extensive efforts to locate and contact him. The social worker said, ‘They work hard with [name of child] over his free time and reminding him of the house rules and boundaries.’ As a result of their consistent approach, he is not missing from home for lengthy periods of time.

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This monitoring visit

Independent interviews are completed when the child returns from being missing. However, the information discussed is not currently shared or used to inform risk management plans.

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This monitoring visit

The child has access to a mobile phone and the internet. Although staff do try to encourage him to discuss who he contacts, nothing is in place for staff to regularly monitor his use and ensure that he is safe.

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This monitoring visit

There have been concerns relating to youths in the area and antisocial behaviour. Staff have also noted changes in the child’s behaviour, including going out of the area and being caught in possession of illegal substances. This suggest that he is at increased risk of exploitation. Staff have not yet completed a risk management plan relating to the risk around criminal exploitation or made a referral to the exploitation team.

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This monitoring visit

The home has previously been targeted by youths in the community. External surveillance is now in place. On one occasion, youths attempted to put a lit firework through the letterbox. Although managers blocked off the letterbox to prevent this happening again, they did not inform the police or Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans relating to substance misuse are detailed and include clear steps for staff to take, including seeking medical advice. The plans allow for analysis of trends and changes in behaviour. Managers have recently made a referral to the substance misuse support team to ensure that the child receives early intervention and guidance.

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This monitoring visit

Staff communicate closely with school and support the child in school. Efforts have been made to encourage him to engage in education and he has been supported with remote learning. The headteacher said, ‘Staff are very good at listening to [name of child’s] views and are supportive to get him back in school.’ A transition plan is currently in place to increase the number of days he is in school each week, meeting a previous recommendation. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/09/2019 Full Good 06/08/2018 Full Good 15/06/2017 Full Good 16/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 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, the 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 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

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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that children’s use of the internet and phone is monitored when necessary.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to staff assessing risk and making relevant referrals to exploitation teams when there are increasing signs of concern and that concerns of antisocial behaviour and threats are reported to the police. 31 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 5 Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to staff rotas evidencing hours worked, including those worked by the manager, and recording staff’s full names. 31 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)–(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should ensure that they take account of information provided by independent return to home interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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.

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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 Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leanne Woodings Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 6 Registered manager: Post vacant

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Inspector

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456413 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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