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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 1 SC456474 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 is a privately run children’s home that provides care for up to six children who may have complex emotional and social difficulties. The home aims to provide high levels of support in a structured environment.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 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 outstanding

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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: SC456474 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Full Good 25/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/09/2019 Full Good 15/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make varying levels of progress as they each encounter emotional challenges and events that impact on their development and outcomes. Living at this home has made a significant difference for some children as they learn to make choices that have a positive impact on their futures. The staff team is resilient and will adapt new ways of helping children to continue to try and affect positive change. One child is trying to change their previous lifestyle by refraining from drug misuse and attending school for the first time in four years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Several children have moved into and out of this home, and this can impact on children developing a sense of security. However, despite these movements, one child still identified to the inspector that the people in this home were his ‘care family’. When children have experienced premature moves, these have been for the protection of themselves or other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can experience barriers to education. The manager has appropriately challenged education professionals to help children gain fair opportunity and access to education. The development of education plans supports the children’s engagement in school, and there have been good educational outcomes for children. One parent expressed their delight that their child is talking positively about education for the first time in years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Substance misuse has been a problem for some children. The staff work closely with a specialist service to help the children to address their misuse of drugs. One child is currently motivated to try and stop their misuse of cannabis. If children are under the influence of illegal substances, the staff provide and source the necessary care and medical care to maintain the child’s safety. However, staff have identified their need for additional training to understand the changing landscape of drug trends. This training has not been sourced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Improvements continue to be made to the presentation and decoration of the home. The children are involved in decisions about their home and specifically about their bedrooms. The manager and staff are creating a welcoming home environment for the children.

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

Staff understand the children’s needs and the risks to their safety. They help the children to recognise and manage their own risks by helping them to make informed choices. Children’s risks do reduce as a result of the staff implementing clear boundaries and strategies.

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

Children’s relationships with trusted staff enable them to make disclosures. Children have been able to say when they have been harmed or if they have caused harm to Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 4 others. This means that action can be taken by staff to respond to serious and imminent risk while ensuring children receive the best care.

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

Staff have the skills and the relationships with the children to help prevent the escalation of behavioural incidents. There has been one physical restraint since the last inspection, and this was necessary and proportionate to prevent harm. Lessons are learned from incidents, and the effectiveness of strategies is reviewed and strategies may be changed. However, the recording of the manager’s debriefs with staff does not provide an individualised account to ensure clear oversight or transparency.

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

Children do go missing from this home. The police said that the staff are proactive in their approach and that they work well with all agencies to try to reduce this risk. The staff are guided by missing-from-home plans to enable a proportionate response for each individual child. However, on one occasion, staff did not follow these plans. This potentially increases risks to children’s safety.

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

On occasion, children’s actions and behaviours increase their risk of harm. These behaviours include leaving the home at night. The home has bedroom door alarms fitted to alert staff to the movement of children out of their bedrooms. The rationale for the use of this monitoring method is not routinely evaluated and evidenced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has the knowledge and experience to continually improve the home. The manager is highly motivated and understands the significance of her role and the difference that this makes to children’s lives. She is passionate about children’s rights and is a strong advocate for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are cared for by a consistent group of staff, who collectively have the knowledge, experience, and skills to provide a good standard of care. The manager understands the significance of staffing stability, and she has implemented measures to retain her team. The staff feel supported, and the manager ensures that the staff feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is striving to continue to improve the service and outcomes for children. She ensures that children are consulted with and that their wishes are heard and responded to. This means that children are involved in decisions about their care and how they spend their time in the home. To ensure the children’s needs are met, the manager is confident in challenging any shortfalls in practice of both internal and external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the positive impact that training and development have for her and for the staff team. The manager has applied knowledge gained from attending training about gang cultures and county lines. This training influenced the manager’s practice and the implementation of strategies that were fundamental to the protection of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 5 Feedback from professionals and families is very positive. They recognise that the children experience challenges, but that the staff are resilient, and together they strive to help each child. One professional said, ‘The manager never gives up on children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has internal monitoring tools to enable her to have oversight of this very busy home. Her critical oversight of incidents and care practices helps to ensure that staff deliver care in accordance with the children’s plans. The external monitoring of the home is undertaken regularly. However, the consultation in these reports can be limited, and this impacts on the independent person’s ability to provide a clear overview of the welfare of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)) 28 April 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home to ensure continuous improvement. The external monitoring reports should include consultation to aid the independent person to form their opinion about the welfare and protection of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, the sourcing of training for staff around illicit and illegal drugs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that following any restraint of a child, the completed staff debriefs are recorded as an individualised record. The records should assist the manager in identifying effective practice and responding promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any use of monitoring equipment in the form of bedroom door alarms is routinely reviewed. The evaluation of the use of door alarms should detail how this measure supports the safeguarding and well- being of those living and working in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16) Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 7

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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: SC456474 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 Drakes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Susan Fitzsimmons

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Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456474 9 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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Inspector

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