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

Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 1 SC457074 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 operated children’s home. It provides care for up to four children with complex needs.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: SC457074 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2022 Full Good 03/06/2019 Full Good 09/10/2018 Full Good 15/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there was only one child living in the home. This child told the inspector that she likes spending time with staff. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home, and their experiences were considered during this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the home is welcoming and well maintained. Children are encouraged and supported to make changes and personalise the decoration of the home. The child currently living in the home is particularly proud of her bedroom door, which she had covered with her favourite posters. This child-centred approach means that the children feel proud of where they live.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home is waiting to start her new school after a considerable period of being out of formal education. Staff have worked with teachers to create a transition plan that suits her needs and supports a slow introduction. However, managers have not ensured that there is a clear plan of educational support and activities while the child has not been attending school. Consequently, this has limited the child’s opportunity to learn and readiness to start a new school routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a range of activities. This includes horse riding, cinema trips and attending the local gym. One child particularly enjoys collecting antique reading books. As a result, children have fun and develop their interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have been effective in improving children’s physical and emotional health. Children are registered with local health services and attend routine appointments. In addition, specialist mental health services are sought when required. This means that children are in good health. Children are not currently prescribed any medication. However, previously, when children have refused their prescribed medication, staff have failed to seek advice and guidance from health professionals to review their prescriptions and any impact on their health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child who has recently moved out only lived in the home for a month as the manager felt that they could not safely meet her needs. The child’s planning and assessments when she moved into the home did not consider pertinent information about her needs and how staff should respond to presenting risks, and this contributed to her placement ending earlier than was planned.

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

The child living in the home told the inspector she felt safely cared for by staff. Staff understand children’s known risks and what actions they are expected to take to keep children safe. However, written documents do not always include clear Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 4 guidance for staff. This has not impacted safety; however, the lack of clarity could lead to inconsistencies in staff practice.

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

Physical intervention is used appropriately to keep children or others safe. However, records of restraint are not completed as required by regulation. The records do not always include an evaluation of effectiveness or a staff debrief. In addition, one record failed to identify that more than one intervention was used. This prevents managers from understanding and improving practice. In addition, following one incident where physical intervention was used, a child made an allegation against a member of staff. While this was dealt with appropriately, the manager failed to notify Ofsted of the allegation. This prevents Ofsted from having full oversight of the children’s care as a quality-assurance mechanism.

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

When children go missing, the registered manager and staff are proactive. Children experience a thorough and coordinated response. Staff look for children when they are missing and seek additional support when required. On return, staff are caring and support the child to discuss their time spent away to prevent reoccurrence. As a result, children are reassured that staff care about them and want them to be safe.

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

Children have key workers who complete regular direct work with them. This work focuses on subjects pertinent to children’s needs, for example children’s mental health and emotional well-being. For one child, the staff have developed a self- soothe box of things to help her relax and feel safe. This practice empowers the child to recognise her own feelings and develop strategies to manage her emotions.

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good

The manager does not use monitoring and reviewing systems effectively, which has led to a number of shortfalls in records. The manager and responsible individual acknowledged the weaknesses identified during this inspection and are determined to rectify the shortfalls.

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good

Children’s case files do not contain all the information required. For example, staff do not have access to a child’s latest care plan from their placing authority. Children’s internal records do not capture all known information about their routines and targets. This does not support clear care planning for children and ensure an accurate record of their journeys.

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good

Staff have completed mandatory training. In addition, the manager has ensured that staff have received training specific to meeting children’s individual needs, and the manager has created a bespoke upskilling plan to ensure that staff continue to develop their practice. This practice demonstrates a commitment to improving staff knowledge and skills.

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good

Staff are positive about the support offered by the management team. Team meetings are frequent and often supported by a Mental Health Practioner. Team meetings provide staff with an opportunity to discuss team dynamics and well-being. Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 5 This practice helps managers to promote stability within the team. However, not all staff members have received frequent supervision. In addition, the manager was not able to provide records of supervision for all staff members who had worked in the home.

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good

During the inspection, it was found that recruitment checks for one staff member had identified practice concerns raised by a previous employer, although not relating to childcare practice. The manager could not provide information to demonstrate that she had explored this with the member of staff. This does not provide assurance to Ofsted that the managers are thorough when completing recruitment checks. Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff support educational activities and a clear daily routine when children are not attending school. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that they review the process of considering children’s needs before they move into the home and how these will be met. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 8 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager reviewing and evaluating the quality of care and improving practice in relation to record- keeping for children.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, ensure that children’s case files include all the relevant plans and assessments.

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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. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when prescribed medication is refused, guidance and advice are sought from the prescriber and discussion takes place with the child regarding their health needs. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that records of intervention meet the regulatory requirements and include thorough oversight. 8 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if —

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Requirement Due date

there is allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted of allegations about any staff working in the home. 8 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person must ensure that they maintain records of supervision for staff that evidence regular supervision takes place that meets the regulatory requirements. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  The registered person must ensure that they maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC457074 9

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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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Inspector

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC457074 10 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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