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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC458027 1 SC458027 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

A national social care provider privately owns this home. The home provides care for up to two children, who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2013.

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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: SC458027 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/04/2022 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Good 25/09/2019 Full Outstanding 14/11/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC458027 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out. Initially, those children’s needs could be met. However, their needs changed, and staff could no longer keep them and other children safe. Despite the moves happening quickly, staff worked effectively with the children’s new homes to share important information.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of building trusting and meaningful relationships with children. Staff prioritise their time to spend with children. Staff consistently use an approach based on emotions. The approach makes certain that staff show children they care and are interested in what they feel and have to say. One child said, ‘The staff are fun, and they are really good to talk to.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff organise a variety of activities for children. Children have been to the theatre, boat trips, cave walking, escape rooms and inflatable assault courses and enjoyed various experiences in London and Brighton. Staff encourage children with their hobbies and interests. One child is a competent footballer. Staff have organised for them to attend football camps to develop their skills further. One child is a member of the local army cadets. Staff help children to build confidence and self-esteem while having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All professionals spoken with agree that children make good progress. Tailored independence plans help children to learn new skills. Staff use encouragement, praise and guidance, which help children to feel supported. One child has learned to manage their own money, shop for their own food and cook their own meals. Additional skills are taught to children such as how to manage bank accounts and keep their bank information confidential. Staff help children to prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to stay in touch with people who are important to them. Staff take children to see their friends and family no matter how far away they live. Children have mobile phones, which help them stay in touch through social media. Staff follow any agreed plans that keep children safe. Staff understand that children’s relationships are important to enable children to feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in education, and their attendance is good. The registered manager works with local schools to find suitable placements, work experience opportunities and apprenticeships. Staff attend parents’ evenings and other important school events. Staff support children to revise for their GCSEs. Staff help children to feel motivated and to have high aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. The manager meets with children so that she can fully understand their concerns. The manager writes to children with the outcome of their complaint. She learns from complaints and changes practice. For Inspection report for children’s home: SC458027 4 instance, a complaint about language used was taken seriously, and staff’s practice changed as a result. This helps children to feel that they are listened to and their views taken seriously.

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

Children’s vulnerabilities are recorded in detail. Clear strategies help staff to provide a consistent approach and reduce harm to children. Children’s vulnerability to self- harm has reduced. This is because staff recognise when children are low in mood, and they know how to respond. Concerns for one child around exploitation have been considered in detail. Staff worked closely with specialist services to help the child learn how they can keep themselves safe from people they know. The child can now make decisions that keep them safe.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no physical interventions, and behaviour incidents are rare. This is because the registered manager ensures that staff can meet the children’s needs. Plans are comprehensive, and children are involved. This helps children let staff know how to respond and help them when needed.

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

Staff use praise to help children learn when they have made healthy choices. On the rare occasion when consequences have been used, they have been proportionate. Children are encouraged to say how they feel about the intervention. The manager has good oversight of the approaches used and evaluates their effectiveness well.

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

One child, who has moved out of the home, would regularly leave without permission. On each occasion, the staff would look for the child in places that they may go. Staff worked closely with the police, social care professionals and the child’s family to find them. The child was always welcomed home, and staff made every attempt to find out why they left. Since this time, no other children have left without permission. Despite this, detailed plans are in place for staff to follow should children leave the home without permission.

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

The manager and staff take their safeguarding roles and responsibilities seriously. Any concerns are reported to external professionals without delay. This provides an additional layer of external monitoring. Managers are designated safeguarding leads. Staff attend regular safeguarding training. Supervision sessions and staff meetings focus on children’s health and well-being. Both children said that they feel safe living at the home.

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

Children live in a modern and comfortable home. New carpets have recently been fitted. However, a fire door was cut at the bottom to allow the door to close. Despite daily and weekly health and safety checks by staff, the gap in the fire door was not noticed. Once the inspector highlighted this, the fire door was fixed by professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified to run the home. Three team leaders support the registered manager. The responsible individual has Inspection report for children’s home: SC458027 5 built good relationships with staff and children. The management team has high aspirations for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, no staff have left and no staff have joined.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An established staff team meets the children’s needs. Agency staff are rarely used. This helps children to build relationships with staff who are consistent in their lives. One social worker said, ‘The staff are amazing. They are nurturing and so welcoming.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers strive to create an open culture in the team. Managers are professionally curious. They encourage staff to reflect on and have honest conversations about practice and relationships. Professionals said that communication is good. This ensures that safeguarding children remains a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular staff meetings and have monthly supervision sessions and annual appraisals. Supervisors have received supervision training. This means that they have the skills to help staff reflect. Children are discussed in depth. Staff say that they feel well supported by the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained to meet children’s needs. In addition to the organisation’s mandatory training, staff have training in attachment, trauma and emotional intelligence. Staff are either qualified or working towards the relevant level 3 diploma within timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good oversight of staff practice and monitors the progress that children make. She uses external and internal monitoring to develop the home. Children are encouraged to share their views on their care. Children make decisions about their activities, menus and decoration at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose details the aims and purpose of the care provided to children. However, it does not include the age ranges of children that care can be offered to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the one requirement set at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC458027 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s bedroom doors can close to create a fire seal in the event of fire. 7 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 7 July 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: SC458027 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: 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: SC458027 8 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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