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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 1 SC456418 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

The provider states in its statement of purpose that this home provides care for one child with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties that result in complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 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: SC456418 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2021 Full Good 16/04/2019 Full Good 30/05/2018 Full Good 31/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived at the home for several years. As a result, they have strong relationships with the staff team. The child said, ‘They [staff] don’t treat it as a job, they like to spend time with me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support the child with their interests and hobbies. The child attends different clubs and enjoys various activities and holidays with the staff. This means that they have fun and are able to socialise with their peers who have similar interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child appropriately and sensitively with their identity. Diversity is celebrated in the home, which helps the child’s understanding of others and allows them to experience different cultures and religions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are positive links with education provisions and the staff work closely with the child’s school to ensure that the child continues to be engaged. When there have been incidents at school, these have been resolved quickly. On occasions, when the child’s timetable is reduced, the staff team ensure that there are structured alternatives in place to help to continue the child’s learning and keep disruption to a minimum.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Time with family and other important people in the child’s life is supported and the staff have good relationships with them. One parent said, ‘I am always singing their [staff] praises.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is fully included in their care and is supported to have their voice heard. The child has an advocate who has helped them to submit a complaint to the local authority, and they know that the advocate is available to support them should they wish them to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is fully engaged in their independence programme and they are making good progress. However, the child does not yet have a pathway plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s physical health needs are met, and daily exercise is encouraged. The staff make appropriate referrals to services when additional support is required. However, the child has not yet received the identified therapy and support agreed in previous reviews and following more-recent assessments. This means that the child is left confused about his past and uncertain about his future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home feels welcoming. However, it is tired in parts and maintenance issues are not always rectified in good time. Although there has been progress made with improving the garden, it is not yet complete. Not all areas of the home are felt to be accessible to the child. For example, the child spoke of the ‘staff bathroom’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 4

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

Risk management plans are regularly reviewed and cover all known risks. However, these do not always include relevant historical information that is needed for staff to respond in agreed ways. Additionally, some strategies are recorded but would not be effective.

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

There have been no restraints, and incidents in the home are rare. Staff use de- escalation techniques well and the child receives appropriate support after incidents in order to repair relationships. Positive behaviour is rewarded and achievements are celebrated. This ensures that the child feels valued.

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

Incidents of self-harm are well managed and the staff ensure that the child receives appropriate medical and emotional support. When there is a need for room searches to be completed, these are done sensitively and with the child’s knowledge. This means that the child and staff can maintain their trusting relationships.

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

There has been one incident of the child being reported as missing. This was for a short period of time and the child was returned home by the staff. However, the child was not offered a return-home interview. This is a missed opportunity for staff to learn about and reduce the risk in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and is also the registered manager for another of the organisation’s homes. The manager is supported by a deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for the child and is a good advocate for them. Although the manager has routinely challenged situations, she has not escalated her concerns around the child’s care planning quickly enough. This has led to delays in required input and support for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff say that they feel well supported and that they receive regular supervision, which helps them to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and the child remains at the centre of discussions. The manager is a good role model for her staff team and ensures that they have attended training that is relevant to their role and the child’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the needs of the child and the staff team. Monitoring systems and feedback from others are used well. The manager also draws on the expertise of other professionals to improve outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes are followed, which means that those employed to work with the child are suitable to do so. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 5

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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, the 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the completion of the work on the garden and redecorating the home. This also relates to prompt action being taken to address any maintenance issues. 10 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (b)(c)) 10 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 6 This relates specifically to the child having access to the appropriate therapy and pathway planning required to reduce restrictions. This also relates to the manager using escalation processes when there are delays in effective care planning for the child.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, just as in a family home, children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return-home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps that the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC456418 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

Kerri Lynch-Mahoney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 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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