Children's home run by London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 1 SC443337 Registered provider: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care for up to seven children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides care for children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home provides a mix of permanent placements, shared care placements and some short-break placements.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2012. The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2020.

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 23 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 2 Date of last inspection: 17 September 2019

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.2

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/06/2019 Full Inadequate 09/07/2018 Full Good 19/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good overall progress from their starting points. Their communication and social skills improve, they learn to socialise, make friendship groups, and they build trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. As a result, they require reduced supervision levels, they become more physically active and achieve a healthy weight. The registered manager is developing an improved bespoke children’s targets system.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s transition plans are detailed, and children are admitted to the home at the right time and at their own pace. Leaders and managers prepare well for children moving into the home to ensure that their needs are met well. For example, any adapted specialist bedroom furniture is sought in advance, photos of children’s key workers are shared with the children and children visit the home for evening meals and activities prior to moving in. This helps children to settle into the home quickly.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff embrace appropriate use of technology to help facilitate children’s family time where direct contact has not been possible due to COVID-19-related restrictions. Children are supported during face-to-face family time and a child recently enjoyed a meal with their family for the first time in two years. A family member reported that ‘the staff team has been amazing’.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to become more independent. For example, they learn to rinse their plates, prepare some of their own meals and bring their laundry downstairs to the laundry room. They also learn to attend to their personal care, including brushing their teeth. This helps to build children’s confidence and independence.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education. Children either attend school or have tuition in the home while they are awaiting a school place. When children do not have a school place, managers actively chase educational professionals to request a school place to ensure that children’s educational needs are met.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s identified cultural and identity needs are met well. Children are helped to learn the alphabet of their heritage language and are encouraged to engage in their preferred religious practices. Dietary needs are well met, with children being provided with their particular food preferences, such as mashed food, and safe eating utensils are used.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a wide range of activities in the community and in the home. At the weekends and holiday times, children enjoy supervised community activities, such as bowling, companion cycling and trips to the local shops and parks. There have, however, been some limitations on children’s access to community activities as a result of the change to prepaid payment cards for activities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 5 Furthermore, one child has engaged in community activities despite not having an up-to-date risk assessment for this.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted regularly and are able to share wishes and feelings about the care they receive. Staff’s extensive use of social stories helps children to understand their daily plans, activities and other important events. It is evident that staff listen to children and respond to their views, wishes and feelings. For example, one child requested ‘more pizza-making time’; another child requested to ‘go out on public transport more’ and this was built into the home’s activity planner and children’s weekly planners.

p.5

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

Safeguarding practice is good and helps to keep children safe. Staff understand and know how to respond to safeguarding concerns. Professional feedback confirms that there is very effective joint working between the home and other agencies, including schools, the occupational therapist, and speech and language therapists.

p.5

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

Sadly, since the last inspection, a child living in the home passed away. The local authority educational psychologist provided grief and bereavement counselling to staff and provided advice and guidance about how they should support the other children in the home. This helped staff to support the children to safely attend the child’s memorial service.

p.5

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

Children have been affected by a number of COVID-19 outbreaks in the home requiring periods of isolation. Managers and staff made good use of social stories to discuss and explain COVID-19 to children. In addition, children’s mental health was well supported during periods of isolation and COVID-19-related restrictions, including mindfulness activities and yoga sessions.

p.5

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

There has been one allegation made against two members of staff since the last inspection. The allegation was appropriately referred to the local authority designated officer and the staff and child were supported well during the investigation process.

p.5

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

One child has been reported missing from the home. Following this incident, leaders and managers undertook a review of the home’s security arrangements to reduce the risk of other children being able to leave the home without staff’s knowledge.

p.5

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

Leaders, managers and staff are supported by the local authority positive behaviour support team on a regular basis. This provides a coordinated approach to managing children’s challenging, complex or new behaviours. Restraint is used in response to children’s complex behaviour when necessary to keep the child and others safe from harm. The registered manager reviews and evaluates all incidents of physical intervention to identify and monitor any themes, patterns and areas for learning and development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 6 There have been a number of medication errors in recent months. However, the registered manager identified these and took swift action to address them. In consultation with the local authority designated officer, the registered manager secured additional staff training, ensured that staff completed competency questionnaires, and implemented nightly and weekly medication audits as well as

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified manager who has clear ambitions to deliver a highly effective and quality service to children. Staff and managers express a shared vision, with children being at the centre of their work. A professional commented that a key strength of the service was ‘the strong and consistent leadership’.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work hard to create an ‘enabling’ ethos in the home that goes beyond personal care. Practice in the home was reviewed recently, leading to a restructure. Inspectors found that the changes that have taken place as a result have had an impact on all staff, some of whom have felt particularly challenged. Leaders and managers are aware of this. A recent three-day staff workshop provided an opportunity to explore these challenges and identify positive ways of working within the new structure.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported to make good progress and be successful. There is a strong focus on interacting with children using a range of communication methods, setting clear targets and measuring their progress. One social worker said: ‘I believe the manager works very hard to get things right and has clear enthusiasm and drive for this. This is also supported by parents.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are either suitably qualified for their role or are working towards achieving the required qualification. Recruitment practice needs to be strengthened. Recruitment records demonstrate gaps in safer recruitment checks. For example, one recruitment file viewed did not include evidence to demonstrate the verification of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) information for the member of staff.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have benefited from a comprehensive induction and training programme. They are provided with specialist bespoke training and learning opportunities. The local authority has provided bespoke training to staff about creating a safer caring culture and keeping safeguarding at the forefront of practice for everyone. More of this training is planned.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is proactive in seeking the views of others to improve practice. There is good involvement of children and families to ensure that the appraisal experience for staff is robust. Analysis of consultation with staff and children enables managers to better understand the needs of key stakeholders. The quality of the monthly independent monitoring reports is good and the six-monthly quality of care review highlights improvement priorities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 7 Some improvement has been made to the home environment, including a new fully fitted kitchen. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and suitably adapted, as required, to help to keep children safe. Hallways are now more homely, with children’s artwork, a birthday board and Easter board displayed in the communal areas. There has been some delay in the maintenance and repairs required at the home due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. However, there is a plan in

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

place to address this. There has been a number of water leaks in recent months causing damage to floors and walls. In addition, inspectors found that some food stored in a fridge was unsafe and unhygienic. Some opened food was not labelled, and milk had leaked inside the fridge. This does not meet the home’s food storage policy and procedures.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records of staff supervision demonstrate that staff have the opportunity to discuss individual children and issues relating to their role. Supervision records identify clear outcomes and actions for staff and managers. Staff spoken to value supervision. One staff member reported that they were supported to resolve a matter raised during their supervision and the member of staff felt that this helped them to provide better care to children. However, there continue to be shortfalls in the progress and consistency of staff supervision. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 8

p.7

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.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, recruitment files should include evidence to demonstrate the verification of the DBS information for staff. 17 May 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.8

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records relating to children’s engagement in activities are up to date and demonstrate that any risk has been suitably assessed. 17 May2022

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any maintenance and repairs in the home are completed in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that food is stored in the fridge is suitably labelled in line with the home’s policies and procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that shortfalls in the progress and consistency of staff supervision are addressed so that all staff receive regular supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 9 professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.8

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: SC443337 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 145 King Street, London W6 9XY

p.10

Inspectors

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Colin Bent, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 11 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.

p.10

Inspectors

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 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 .

p.11

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11