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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458028 1 SC458028 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 children’s home is owned by a large national organisation. The home cares for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 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

Date of last inspection: 19 October 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 for children’s home: SC458028 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/10/2021 Full Good 28/08/2019 Full Good 08/01/2019 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC458028 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, three children have moved to be near their families, one child moved to another provision and one child moved back in with their family. The manager works with each child, their family and external professionals to ensure that important information is shared.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of building relationships with children. Staff use praise and encouragement. When children have done well at school, they receive appropriate rewards. Staff organise activities that they know children will enjoy. Children and staff eat their meals together. This provides children with the opportunity to talk about their day. One child said, ‘It’s great living here, it really is. I like the staff.’ Children feel a sense of belonging and increase their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children with their hobbies and interests. One child is talented in writing songs about his life experiences. Staff bought him audio equipment, which he uses to create and upload his music online. Children are encouraged to attend community groups. Two children have joined the police cadets. One child organised a charity event to raise money for looked after children. These experiences help to create positive memories and enable children to develop a sense of self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to live healthy lifestyles. Staff help children to understand the risks of smoking and vaping. Healthy eating is encouraged. Children attend the gym and go swimming. Children’s plans include individualised health targets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with the clinical team to provide tailored support for children’s mental health and emotional well-being. Staff are skilled in talking with children about anything that worries them, including self-harm. A parent said, ‘The therapy that my child has had at the home has really helped her. It has given her coping skills.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with people who are important to them. Staff take children to see their families, despite the travel that is involved. Staff stay with children and their families as necessary. Children have access to mobile phones and social media to stay connected with their friends and family. This helps children to have a sense of belonging and maintain relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is a strong advocate for children’s education. All children are in education, and their attendance is good. One child had not engaged with education for three years before moving into the home. He now has good attendance and is making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet with children regularly to discuss their experiences of living at the home. Staff facilitate these meetings in a way that encourages children to participate. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458028 4 Despite this, two children told the inspector that they were unhappy with how some members of staff spoke to them. This was raised with the manager during the inspection, and they instigated an investigation. When asked, neither child knew how to make a complaint. This has limited their opportunities to raise concerns with the manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been one medication error since the last inspection. The child was unharmed. The registered manager arranged retraining for the staff and shared lessons with the whole staff team. Since this incident, there have been no further errors.

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

Children’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans are detailed and easy to follow. Staff ensure that these documents are regularly reviewed to highlight any new concerns. Staff have the information that they need to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety. Staff have helped one child to understand when he is being influenced to take risks by others.

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

Physical restraint has not been used since the last inspection. Staff know the children well and understand their vulnerabilities. The staff team is long standing, and the children have lived at the home for some time. Children have formed relationships based on understanding and communication, and therefore, behavioural incidents are low.

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

Children benefit from individual incentives and a restorative approach to help them to manage their own behaviour. One child said, ‘I understand why staff monitor my phone. They want me to be safe.’ The registered manager organises for the local police officer to talk with children to help them understand unhealthy choices. Children learn to manage their feelings and understand how their actions may affect other people.

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

When children have left the home without permission, staff have taken appropriate action. Staff follow children or look for them in the areas that they may go to. Staff work with other professionals to keep children safe. When children return to the home, they are welcomed and encouraged to talk about their experiences.

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

Staff understand their responsibility to report any safeguarding concerns. Social workers said that the communication from staff at the home is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified. Four team leaders support her. The responsible individual plays an active role in the day-to-day management of the home. Staff said that they feel supported by the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable, which provides children with consistency and continuity. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458028 5 The manager follows safer recruitment processes. New staff benefit from a detailed induction and training plan. Managers meet with new staff to discuss their development. Children are supported by staff who have been carefully considered for their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good-quality, reflective supervision that is child-focused. Safeguarding is discussed. Staff reflect on their knowledge and skills and the difference that they make to children’s lives. Staff have tailored personal development plans in addition to annual appraisals. This helps staff to feel valued and invested in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are either qualified or are working towards a relevant childcare qualification in the required timescales. Staff benefit from regular training that reflects children’s individual needs. This is reinforced by regular team meetings that are used as a learning opportunity. Staff are provided with the knowledge that they need to care for children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have positive relationships with other professionals. They share any concerns about children’s safety and provide regular updates. This means that social workers can easily track children’s progress and that school staff are made aware of any concerns. Feedback about the home from other professionals is overwhelmingly positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths of the home and areas for development. A detailed development plan is in place. The manager has effective monitoring systems to review and evaluate the care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met both recommendations from the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458028 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to children being informed of their right to complain if they choose to. 24 February 2023

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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: SC458028 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: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC458028 8 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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