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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC476286 1 SC476286 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 privately run home provides care for up to five young children who may be experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 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 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: SC476286 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/06/2021 Full Good 28/01/2020 Full Good 16/10/2018 Full Good 04/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC476286 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled. They have positive attachments with each other and the adults who care for them. They make progress and their emotional well-being noticeably improves because of the care and therapeutic support they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work hard to enable children to resume or maintain relationships with family members and significant others. Staff take children, at times quite a long distance, to see those important to them. This is part of the wider ethos of the home, which is commendable in aiming to reunify children with their birth families or, alternatively, for other children to move to live with foster carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive the therapeutic support they need in a timely manner. As several of the children are under 10 years of age, this is seen as crucial in their development and progress. Children have intensive support to work on their past experiences and the impact these have had on them. This specialist support has enabled several children to make successful transitions back to family or to foster carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have worked hard to identify suitable educational provision for children. Managers have found this challenging at times, particularly for some children who have had traumatic histories. Managers are strong advocates for children’s education. They have attended and requested meetings with placing authorities and the virtual school to progress plans. Children’s education is seen as important. Staff ensure there is an educational focus on activities in the home for those children who do not have a formal educational provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from parents and involved agencies is very positive. For example, one parent reported that their child is more confident and calmer; a social worker reported that a child is making fantastic progress, thriving and receiving nurturing care; and another parent said the staff team communicates well with her, and staff know her child well and have helped him to make progress.

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

Children present as happy and feel safe. They have good relationships with other children in the home and the adults who care for them. Staff understand and document children’s specific risks and needs.

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

There have been a high number of physical interventions since the last inspection. Staff try to de-escalate situations with children. Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort. The recording of such incidents is very detailed and includes debriefs with children and staff. This helps staff to learn valuable lessons from incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476286 4 Staff support children in relation to concerning or high-risk behaviour and their emotional well-being. Therapeutic support is provided on a very regular basis. Over time, this leads to children feeling better able to manage strong feelings in a safe manner.

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

Staff recruitment procedures have improved in response to a recommendation made at the last inspection. Recording reflects safe recruitment procedures being implemented and maintained for staff.

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

At the time of this inspection, water damage had occurred in the upstairs bathroom. This had been reported to the maintenance team but not repaired, rendering it unsafe. The manager confirmed that children would not use this bathroom until all repairs were completed. Other areas of the home need repair and improvement. For example, the downstairs shower room had a broken lock. The back garden still requires work to the lawn to rectify potential trip hazards. The internal areas of the home present as tired and in need of redecoration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is keen to make improvements and to develop the home. She understands the strengths and weaknesses because of her own quality assurance monitoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong and passionate advocate for children. She challenges involved agencies for any failings in providing services to children. She knows the children’s histories and is proud of the progress they have made since moving to this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and happy in their roles. They receive regular formal supervision. Staff have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities. The team is still relatively new, but it works together well. The needs of the children are their focus.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A previous recommendation was made in relation to staff training. This has been considered and addressed by managers. Staff have completed training on autism spectrum disorders and internet safety. As a result, children are safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management monitoring is robust. In addition to tracking by the registered manager, the organisation undertakes regular audits. These are completed by an internal quality assurance manager. This provides an extra layer of scrutiny and oversight. An independent visitor also completes monthly reports from their visits. These measures contribute to ensure effective scrutiny of the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records for children are extremely detailed. However, some records are not easy to read or follow. Some are handwritten, making them difficult to understand at times. There is duplication of some records. The records would not be easily understood by a child who may ask to see them now or in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: SC476286 5 Inspection report for children’s home: SC476286 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, 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 is in relation to the current damage to the upstairs bathroom and the lock to the downstairs shower room, and the state of decor in the home and garden area. 01 June 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the staff and manager ensure that all records are clear, legible and 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: SC476286 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

Tracy Murty, Social Care Inspector Julie Knight, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC476286 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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