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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457074 1 SC457074 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 a privately operated children’s home. It provides care for up to four children up to the age of 18 who have a variety of complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2020 and is currently working towards completing her level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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 SCCIF 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 outstanding

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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: SC457074 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2019 Full Good 09/10/2018 Full Good 15/11/2017 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC457074 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child currently lives in this home and has done so for about four months. Another child very recently moved out and her progress and experiences are captured in this report. Another child moved out at the end of last year successfully to semi-supported accommodation. This was in line with her wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children flourish as a result of the nurture and care they receive from a consistent and caring staff team. An independent reviewing officer told the inspector, ‘I have been very impressed by the consistent boundaries and routines provided by staff; they are essential for [the child]. The structure and routines have made her feel safe and secure. Coupled with the positive relationships she has formed with staff [the child] has just thrived. [The child] has made good progress in all areas socially, emotionally and independently’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make academic progress as a result of staffs’ good partnership working. For example, it was identified that one child finds lunch time very challenging and as a result she would walk away from school. Staff now go and give additional support to the child at this time. Staff take a home-cooked lunch and go for a walk with her. This gives the child the opportunity to share any concerns or worries she may have. The headteacher told the inspector that, the child ‘is more settled as a result and is making progress academically’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Fun, laughter and singing fills this home. Children and staff share appropriate jokes, enjoy holidays and plan for the future together. When it is a child’s birthday ,staff make beautiful home-made cakes, as chosen by the child. Staff make these so that they are big enough to share within the home but also so that they can be shared by the child with loved ones during their time together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a happy and calm atmosphere in a well-furnished home. It is spacious and allows for areas to relax but also to be creative in. The current child has really made this home her own, her artwork can be seen in every room. Kindness and positive thinking is an important message that staff send to children in this home. The current child has been working on creating a ‘wall of kindness’ which the child was proud to show the inspector. This demonstrates a range of positive words that helps the child in her positive thinking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Consultation with children is creative and child centred. Children’s meetings are used as a good opportunity to check in with the child and to discuss wider events such as the current conflict in Ukraine. This broadened the child’s understanding of world events and also aided in the child helping to collect some much-needed items to support a local appeal.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm and supportive relationships with staff that continue even after they move out of the home. For example, one child who has left the home is now Inspection report for children’s home: SC457074 4 successfully living independently. She remains in regular contact with staff due to the close relationship they have developed.

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

Due to the excellent relationships and care from staff, children’s risks reduce over time. For example, children have arrived at the home with a high rate of going missing from care. However, due to staff support and partnership working this drastically reduces over time. There are clear procedures put in place to help to find children and to return them safely to the home. Children feel able to speak to staff about the reasons they went missing and excellent support is put in place to help to try and prevent this from happening again.

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

The local police officer told the inspector that the partnership working with staff at this home was ‘the best’. She reflected that staff are excellent at chasing up any issues, in sharing information and making sure that professionals are invited to the right meetings. This has resulted in ‘great outcomes’ for the children.

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

Staff have the moto that it is okay to make a mistake but it is about learning from it that is important. This helps children to feel safe and secure and able to come to staff with any concerns. Furthermore, children are included in deciding and agreeing strategies to help to keep them safe. This not only helps children to understand the risks but also to feel included in any decisions. For example, a child wanted to go ice skating. The child completed a risk assessment with staff around this which helped to keep them safe.

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

Physical interventions are rare and are only used when absolutely necessary. Staff focus on rewarding positive behaviours. When children are distressed, staff are clear that they are there for the child no matter what. When the child is calm, staff hold reflective discussions so that the child and staff can fully understand how and why the child is feeling as they are. This helps staff and children to agree on how best to manage their emotions and choices. This approach has been successful in reducing incidents.

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

Staff use research to inform the conversations held with children, this helps children to get the right support at the right time. Children are able to raise complaints. These have been fully investigated and shared with other professionals.

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

Although recordings are normally well written by staff, there have been a few occasions where some words or phrases used are very general and may not be helpful for the child to understand. This is an issue that the registered manager is aware of.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is passionate, motivational and driven to provide a high standard of care. She knows each child well and holds high aspirations for them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457074 5 This investment ensures that children in the home are well prepared for the next stage in their life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Care planning is excellent. Children’s plans are individualised. These plans contain links to small, easy to understand animated clips. These clips help children to understand the care they can expect and the research that underpins this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research-based practice runs through everything that happens in this home. It informs care and practice. Staff are able to clearly talk about this and the positive impact it has on children. In addition, the clinical lead works with staff to help upskill them in areas that benefit children. This means that staff are clear on the expectations in the home and the impact of their work. As a result, children benefit from well-informed care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale is exceptionally high. Staff are motivated and driven because of the leadership they receive. A member of staff told the inspector ‘[the registered manager’s] leadership and management skills are exemplary. She has inspired and encouraged me to believe in my own abilities and is extremely supportive to myself and all other members of the team. We have benefited from a consistent core leadership team who get on and work really well together. We have grown together and respect each other.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works collaboratively with partner agencies and is held in high regard by staff and other professionals. Social workers, teachers and police have provided excellent feedback and identify the manager as being proactive and a good advocate for children. A social worker told the inspector ‘the home and staff are really child focussed and nothing is a barrier. The child is at the heart of all decision making, and this is evident’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The stability of the staff team is a contributing factor to achieving positive outcomes for the children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have been flexible with their working patterns to cover shortfalls in the rota. This means that children experience consistency and have the opportunity to form meaningful relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457074 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, 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 for children’s home: SC457074 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, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457074 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under

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Inspector

the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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