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

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home cares for up to seven children who may have learning and/or physical disabilities. The home provides children with permanent care, shared care and short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2012. The registered manager post is currently vacant. The responsible individual was present for the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children and one young person over the age of 18 were living at the home.

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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: SC443337 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Full Good 17/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/06/2019 Full Inadequate 09/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC443337 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make measurable progress in their emotional and social development. Children benefit from living in an environment that is highly supportive, caring and nurturing. One child with limited verbal communication said, ‘I like it here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with dignity and respect. They receive care that is responsive to their individual needs and identity. Children’s religious beliefs are promoted and staff support them to attend places of worship regularly. Furthermore, children are supported to communicate in their preferred language, including sign language. Children receive care that is personalised to their specific needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s school attendance is excellent. Staff have high aspirations for the children and they work collaboratively with schools to maximise children’s educational achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide opportunities for children to participate in activities and hobbies that they enjoy, including bicycle rides in local parks and swimming. These community- based activities assist children with their social development and confidence- building.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to personalise their rooms, which makes them feel more comfortable, relaxed and secure at the home. However, the outside play area’s flooring is lifting in some areas, causing a potential trip hazard. The computer room has water marks on a small section of the ceiling caused by a bathroom leak that happened over a year ago. These home maintenance shortfalls are undermining the homely ethos that the manager and staff have worked hard to achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled at preparing children for adulthood. They provide children with opportunities to gain practical skills appropriate to their age and abilities. Three young people have successfully moved on since the last inspection.

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

Children feel safe and happy at this home. All professionals and family members reported that they are extremely pleased with the team’s communication and care. One parent said, ‘My child is very safe and well cared for.’

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

Pre-admission assessments are thorough and include visits to children in their family home and school by the designated assessment officer. Additionally, children are invited to have tea at the home before they come and stay. The carefully planned introductions to the home help children to settle.

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

Behaviour management strategies are effective and well understood by staff. Children benefit from consistent routines and boundaries, as well as constant praise Inspection report for children's home: SC443337 4 and rewards. Restraint is only used as a safeguarding measure and when used, restorative work is undertaken to help staff and children maintain trusting relationships.

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

Safeguarding concerns about staff are appropriately shared with the local authority designated officer. This allows the most appropriate professional to respond to incidents. Some shortfalls in medication administration have resulted in medication errors. Leaders and managers have taken steps to address these shortcomings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has not had a registered manager since September 2022. The recently appointed manager is working on registering with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from solution-focused leaders and managers who are committed to providing a child-centred home. This is complemented by a capable staff team which is dedicated to improving the lives of children. The warm, friendly and trusting relationships between the children and staff are a key strength of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers value their staff and place a strong emphasis on nurturing and developing a stable staff team. Exceptional staff practice is recognised and rewarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are managed and supported well. They benefit from regular team meetings, annual performance reviews and practice-related supervision. This allows the staff to reflect on their work and continuously assess the children’s needs and development. However, not all staff have received the necessary refresher training in fire marshalling and safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that children receive appropriate help and support, and they maintain strong working relationships with all professionals. Inspection report for children's home: SC443337 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, 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

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) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to repairing the elevated edges in the outside play area and the water leak marks on the ceiling in the computer room. 6 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c)) 6 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC443337 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. In particular, the provider must ensure that all staff training is consistently recorded, and staff undertake refresher training in fire marshalling and safeguarding. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC443337 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, 145 King Street, London W6 9XY

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Inspector

Maud Pipim-Addo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC443337 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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