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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456532 1 SC456532

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Cambian Childcare Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a large private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home has a suitably qualified and experienced manager who has been registered with Ofsted since October 2012.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to concerns raised through notifications that the home was unable to meet the needs of the children in placement. Information from the independent person’s regulation 44 reports also raised concerns about the high turnover of staff and the impact of this on children. The visit was conducted off site. The home was last inspected in February 2020. At the time of this monitoring visit, two siblings were being cared for at the home. Neither of the children chose to talk to the inspector during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit found that the staff team has been unable to meet the needs of the two siblings together. This has resulted in the police being called on a number of occasions to manage the behaviours of one child. It has led to the registered manager serving notice on the local authority and one child having to move to another home, leading to the child experiencing further uncertainty and instability.

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This monitoring visit

Information gathered and assessments undertaken prior to admission supported the view that placing the two siblings together for the first time in a care setting would be beneficial to them both and in line with their wishes. In practice, the complex dynamics between the siblings, which was not anticipated, could not be addressed effectively by the staff at the home in a way which kept both children and staff safe. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456532 2 The staff team has not received training in relation to a genetic disorder of one of the children which has an impact on their day-to-day functioning and emotional regulation. Neither the registered manager nor the staff spoken to by the inspector demonstrated an awareness or understanding of the impact of this condition on the child’s behaviour and emotional needs. The registered manager and staff team have been persistent in their attempts to maintain the siblings together. This has,

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This monitoring visit

however, meant the children experiencing further emotional harm.

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This monitoring visit

The targeting of certain staff by children has led to a number of staff having to move to work in the organisation’s other homes. A small number of staff have chosen to leave the home all together. This has led to the children experiencing care from a larger number of adults than would normally be expected. The impact of this on the children has been reduced by staff from other homes, whom they are familiar with, caring for them when additional or different staff have been needed.

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This monitoring visit

A social worker told the inspector that she had been impressed with the resilience of the staff team and the care and patience they have demonstrated towards the children during some very difficult incidents. The registered manager has recognised the impact this has had on the staff team, and further training in resilience is planned in order to support them to undertake their work safely and effectively.

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This monitoring visit

It was a recommendation of the last inspection that staff received appraisals of their practice annually, informed by the views of children and relevant people external to the home. Annual appraisals have taken place; however, these are not yet incorporating the views of children or other key individuals. This recommendation is therefore not met. A new member of staff told the inspector that he had been well supported during his first few months in his role. He has been provided with regular supervision and training. The staff member was not able to recall undertaking training in relation to whistleblowing. As a result, he has not been able to demonstrate how he would progress any concerns he may have about practice in the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2020 Full Good 04/07/2018 Full Outstanding 29/08/2017 Full Good 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456532 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 care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(e) that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

(i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. 30 April 2021

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Recommendations

The registered person should ensure that all staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s internal whistleblowing procedures through the induction process. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home.

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Recommendations

This is with particular reference to training for all staff in respect of the health Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456532 4 needs of children they care for, specifically those with genetic disorders. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Childcare Ltd, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC456532 5 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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