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

Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 1 SC464958 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 owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for six children aged from 11 to 17 who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2014 and holds a level 4 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2019 Full Good 09/10/2018 Full Good 03/07/2018 Full Inadequate 13/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress physically, emotionally, socially and educationally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have been able to attend school throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to the school being on the same grounds. One child who had previously not attended school is now attending school 92% of the time. All children are working towards qualifications and have aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with nurturing care. They write positive and reflective comments in children’s daily records. As a result, every little success is captured and celebrated. When staff are away from the home for any period, they write letters that are then left for children to read. This respect shows how staff value the individuality and uniqueness of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children have taken part in projects to support the local community, including making blankets for premature babies. One child found a frog, and the staff helped the child to build a pond for it to live in. Children have also benefited from the home’s hair and nail stations, where they have enjoyed being pampered. This level of participation helps children to build positive childhood memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from having a pet cat. The cat has been a key feature in helping one child to settle at night. The cat helps the children to laugh and allows them to experience the love and affection that comes from having a pet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children write poems and letters to staff to express their feelings and also to thank them for the support they receive. One child wrote, ‘Thank you for helping me be the girl I’ve always wanted to be.’ Another child wrote, ‘I just want to say I’m really happy.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills at a pace that suits them. They cook for each other and staff. When they are ready, children develop the skills for washing their own clothes.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risks decrease. They rarely go missing from home as they feel supported and well cared for. A police officer told the inspector that communication is good and that they believe staff take all the necessary actions to help keep children safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond to children’s challenging needs in a positive way. Consequently, the use of restraint is minimal. Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 4 Staff receive safeguarding training. They are clear about their responsibilities to raise practice concerns about colleagues or about allegations raised by children. However, when concerns have been raised, these have not always been shared promptly with the necessary professionals.

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improvement to be good

When children raise complaints, their concerns are listened to and addressed. Children are kept updated with the actions being taken. However, the letters written to children to share this information are not always written in a child-friendly manner.

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improvement to be good

Overall, the home environment is welcoming and well furnished. There are positive written messages to children around the home and children have personalised their bedrooms. However, on the day of the inspection, one child’s bed had a spring poking out of the mattress. This has the potential to compromise the child’s safety.

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improvement to be good

When it was necessary to use an agency member of staff to work at the home, the level of checks carried out was not sufficient to ensure that the person’s suitability to work with children was confirmed. This has the potential to place children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child focused and, with the support of the responsible individual, is keen to develop the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands the complex relationships between children’s needs and staff responsibilities to provide safe and effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager creates an environment for learning that enables and supports staff’s professional development. One member of staff commented that they feel supported in their role. A new member of staff reflected on how he has been supported in his role through a thorough induction, good-quality training, good supervision and help from a supportive team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At times, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on staff availability. Managers have worked hard to ensure that children have continued to experience consistent care. Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 5

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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 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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the condition of a child’s mattress. 25 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to when an agency worker has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, verification so far as reasonably practicable of the reason why the employment or position ended has been checked. 25 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34 (2)(b)) 25 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 6 This specifically relates to the provider making a prompt referral of a safeguarding concern and/or allegations to the designated officer.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 6, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 7

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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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Inspector

Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC464958 8 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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