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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 1 SC456416 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 is one of several children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for no more than one child who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since July 2021. A new manager has been appointed to the post and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCIFF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2019 Full Good 15/05/2018 Full Good 09/05/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This single-occupancy home provides care for one child. The child living in the home is currently working towards a transition to semi-independent living. The child reported, ‘I have a moving date now and I’m looking forward to it.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has developed close relationships with staff and sustains his positive attachments. The child benefits from continuity of care and has stability and consistency in his life. The child benefits from well-planned, individualised care that promotes his needs effectively. The child said, ‘I enjoy it here. I love it. In a one-bed home I prefer it. It’s literally, like your own house.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with the health services they need to be healthy. He is supported to attend his routine health appointments, and staff promote his positive health. Staff advise the child about key health issues and encourage him to lead a healthy lifestyle. Medical consent is in place, and staff are clear about the types of health decisions and responsibilities that are delegated to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The arrangements for the storage and safe keeping of the child’s medication need to be improved. Medication is currently kept in a locked room, but the medication cabinet has a broken lock and is not safe and secure. A requirement is made in respect of this issue.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to keep in contact with his family, so he sustains his close relationships with the people that are most important to him. The child benefits from positive activities at home and in the wider community. He enjoys gaming, cooking, visiting parks, walking, music concerts and attending the gym.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has developed practical skills in cooking, cleaning and shopping in preparation for his move to independence. His personal advisor said, ‘It’s been a pretty good placement. The placement has done well and managed his risks. We need to look at his integration into society. We have a move date, a placement and a support package.’

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

The child is kept safe and feels safe. He has developed a strong sense of personal safety. Risks associated with the child are well known and understood by staff. Staff work closely with the police, youth offending service, the child’s social worker and other safeguarding agencies to promote the child’s safety and well-being.

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

The child is subject to strict supervisory arrangements. However, some of the restrictions have been recently eased in line with the child’s progress. For example, staffing levels have been reduced and the child is now supported on a one-to-one Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 4 basis. The child is now also allowed unsupervised free time, so he can take reasonable risks to promote his growth and natural development.

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

Risk management plans are in place, and there is a team around the child approach to ensure that decisions are agreed between the home and all other professional agencies. The child has abided by his restrictions with no significant incidents or safeguarding concerns.

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

There have been no missing-from-care episodes since the child’s admission. There are no issues with offending, anti-social behaviour, drugs and alcohol, or other forms of risk-taking behaviour.

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

There have been no incidents of restraint, and the child demonstrates positive behaviour in the home. The use of consequences to address negative behaviour are rare but fair, when used. The child said, ‘It would have benefited me more coming here earlier. Staff are very easy to talk to. They have helped me with my anger and they’re very straightforward. Staff tell you it straight and everyone in care should have that.’

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

The use of clear risk management plans and effective safe working practices keep the child safe from harm. However, the child’s risk management plan for online gaming does not contain clear control measures to manage this risk. As a result, a requirement is made in respect of this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous manager left the home in July 2021. A new manager has been in post since August 2021. An application for their registration has been made to Ofsted. The manager demonstrates strong and effective leadership of the operations of the home. The manager is appropriately qualified and has previous leadership and management experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported. They are professionally managed and led. The manager undertakes regular staff supervision and has assessed their capabilities and competencies. The manager has implemented development plans for individual staff to enhance their performance and practice. Staff said, ‘The manager is new to the home but, during that time, there has already been some great improvements. Staff seem to be learning and developing more about their job roles and benefiting from the change.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet the aims and objectives as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. The manager has met and addressed the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities. She has a good knowledge and understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses, and she has implemented a development plan to secure the home’s continuing improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 5 The accommodation provided for the child is reasonably well maintained. The home has recently had a new bathroom fitted and is in the process of having its fascias, soffits and guttering replaced. However, plans to replace the kitchen are outstanding. The kitchen is now looking tired and would benefit from a full refurbishment. Staff said, ‘The kitchen renovation needs to be done as soon as possible, as it lets the home down.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although there are no restrictions on the child’s movements within the home, doors to communal areas have mortice locks fitted. This detracts from the homely environment of the house and could be used to restrict the child’s access to areas of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 6

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the safe and secure storage of children’s medication. 31 March 2022

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the recording of control measures in risk assessments for managing online safety, specifically gaming online. 31 March 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the environment meets the needs of the child. This relates to the removal of mortice locks to communal areas and the installation of a new fitted kitchen. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 7

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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 for children’s home: SC456416 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 Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456416 9 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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