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

Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 1 SC458027 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 privately owned by a national social care provider. The home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2013.

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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

Date of last inspection: 2 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2021 Full Good 25/09/2019 Full Outstanding 14/11/2018 Full Outstanding 29/11/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Staff know the children well and build positive relationships with them. Staff spend time with children talking about important issues in their lives. Staff show an interest in children. The culture in the home is child focused. Staff prioritise building relationships with children who have experienced trauma. One child said, ‘I like the staff, not just as staff but as people.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience meaningful and well-planned care when they move into the home. The staff work with social workers and families to create detailed plans that help staff to work consistently with children, who they know well. When there are changes to children’s plans, staff work with the child and others who are important to them to agree strategies and updates. One child requested a change to her legal status. The staff worked with the child and the placing local authority and sourced an advocate for her so that her plans could be changed legally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff review plans to ensure that the impact of children living together is considered. Children’s moving-on plans are detailed and focused on the child’s well-being. Children receive support from staff who have the knowledge and skills to provide tailored care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time with children doing activities that the children enjoy. These include trips to theme parks, driving experiences, pampering sessions and clothes shopping. Staff take one child to football sessions twice a week. They encourage him to develop his interest in this hobby and have organised for him to attend a football summer camp. One child is a keen musician. Staff have organised music lessons and help her to attend. Staff celebrate achievements with children through rewards and certificates. Children make progress in hobbies that they enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. Staff provide anonymous feedback forms and pre-paid envelopes to make it easy for children to give feedback to managers. Children are encouraged to share their views, wishes and feelings with staff. When staff cannot make changes children would like, they explain why through planned meetings. One child raised concerns about the internet and mobile phone signal in the home. As a result, staff have made changes to the internet and mobile data.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to attend education. They provide routines and encourage children to attend. Attendance for both children has reduced recently. Staff understand that mental ill health and past trauma affect children’s ability to participate fully. Staff talk with children about what is worrying them and help them to understand the importance of going to school. When children are not in school, staff provide learning opportunities. These include cooking and activities in the local community, such as shopping and budgeting. Staff have good relationships with Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 4 education colleagues, and they plan together how best to support children back into education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to spend time with people who are important to them and to build positive relationships with family and friends. Staff have helped one child to use public transport independently so that he can visit his friends and family unaccompanied.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to maintain healthy lifestyles. Staff make referrals to specialist support services, such as mental health and sexual health clinics. They spend time talking with children about their mental health. One child said, ‘The staff are alright. I can talk to them about things, they talk with me and listen to me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have health plans which detail how the staff can help them to manage their own health needs. One child manages his own medication with a detailed risk assessment in place. Staff spend time with the child and talk about his medical needs and how to manage his condition effectively. Children are helped to develop skills to look after themselves well.

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

Staff have the skills to recognise when friendships are unhealthy for children. They help children to understand when others may have a negative impact on them. One child faces significant risks posed by meeting strangers. Staff monitor her social media activity. They intervene when risks are too high and they talk with her about the dangers that others may pose. Children who have experienced rejection or trauma are helped by staff to understand how to build and maintain healthy attachments to others.

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

Staff understand the identified risks for each child and how to reduce harm. Assessments are reviewed as risk changes, which helps staff to provide consistent boundaries for children who do not recognise harmful behaviour themselves. Staff help children to take measured risks and enable them to recognise when they are in dangerous situations.

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

One child’s incidents of missing from the home have increased significantly. Staff are responsive and proactive. They follow the child, talk with them and use reassurance as a strategy for the child to return home. Staff work closely with the police, social worker and family to identify locations that the child may go. Staff make certain that the child receives return home interviews. They talk with the child about risks and the child’s experiences of going missing from care. Staff organise for external professional help if they feel that children have been exploited or harmed. The manager recognises when risks are increasing beyond the skill set of the staff and a child’s needs can no longer be met safely at the home.

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

Staff and children have good relationships. Staff provide boundaries, time, reassurance and space for children. As a result, there have not been any restraints since the last inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 5 Staff understand the benefits and risks that the internet and mobile phones pose for children. Staff have worked with one child to limit the risks of exposure to online abuse and exploitation. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe online. For example, they are taught not to share information about themselves. Staff use controls on the internet to manage risks when children do not have the capacity to understand the dangers.

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

Staff are sensitive to children’s right to privacy when they search their bedrooms or personal belongings. Staff record what they have found, what has been removed and where this is stored. They share information with the police and placing local authority when they have concerns about a child’s well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has suitable qualifications and experience to manage the home. She is supported well in her role by a responsible individual who spends time at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment and retention of staff are good. The small staff team is longstanding. The manager supports staff with their professional development. Staff either hold a relevant level 3 qualification or are working towards it. New staff benefit from a detailed induction. The team is well trained to meet children’s complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision by qualified managers. Supervision is supportive and reflective. Safeguarding children is discussed and recorded clearly. Staff are encouraged to talk about the emotional impact that the work has on their well- being. The home’s therapist provides practical and emotional support to staff. Staff feel valued and supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works closely with families and professionals, which has helped to build established relationships. The manager communicates effectively with other professionals. An assistant headteacher said, ‘Communication with the home is outstanding. The school has a brilliant relationship with them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When a child is not settling into the home, the manager advocates for change with the placing local authority. The manager challenges her social care colleagues to make certain that children are placed safely. The manager has been consistent in working with others to keep a child safe and seek a more suitable placement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed location risk assessment. A building site close to the home has been thoroughly assessed for risks to children. This helps staff to understand dangers to children in the local area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement. She uses a range of audit tools to monitor the service and make changes as required. As a result, progress that children have made from their starting points can be easily identified. The manager uses external monitoring reports as part of her oversight of the home. However, the independent person does not meet with Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 6 children regularly or gather feedback from families and professionals. Consequently, the independent person is not taking account of all required information to form a view of the care that children receive. Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 7

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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

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the independent person seeking feedback from children, parents and social workers to form a view about the quality of care. 31 May 2022

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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: SC458027 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 EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458027 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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