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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 1 SC457272

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since November 2022. A new manager is in post and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Staff and managers have failed to ensure that all safeguarding incidents have been responded to in a way that protects the child’s welfare.  Leaders and managers have not had clear oversight of risk management plans. Some guidance is contradictory and ambiguous. Recent incidents and escalating risks to the child have not been included in risk management plans. Risk-reduction measures for online safety and responses to incidents of the child going missing from the home and the associated risks are weak.  Managerial monitoring systems are ineffective. Managers have failed to identify shortfalls, to help staff to improve their practice and provide safe care.  Leaders and managers have failed to take effective action in response to the requirements raised at the last inspection. This failure to respond to the shortfalls does not demonstrate that managers have the capacity to make the necessary improvements.

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Findings from the inspection

 Leaders and managers have not ensured that staff supervision has taken place at the required frequency set out in the home’s policy.

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The care of children

This inspection was brought forward because of concerning notifications and information received by Ofsted relating to the child’s safety.

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The care of children

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. There has been a recent increase in safety concerns and high-risk incidents for the child. Leaders and managers have not had the capacity to guide staff effectively in responding to these risks safely and in a way that protects the child’s welfare.

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The care of children

The child’s placement plan has recently been reviewed. However, important information about how the child’s visits with family members are arranged is inaccurate and outdated.

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The care of children

Leaders and managers have identified that the door alarm in operation during the day on the child’s bedroom door is no longer proportionate. Despite this, there has been a delay in disconnecting this alarm during these specified hours. At the time of the inspection, the works to remove the alarm had not been scheduled. This has an impact on the child’s privacy.

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The care of children

Staff’s one-to-one discussions with the child have not been suitably responsive to the child’s presenting needs and behaviour or effective. Important conversations to explore recent safeguarding concerns have not always been held with the child. As a Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 3 result, the child has had limited opportunities to develop necessary safety strategies with staff and to reflect on their views and their feelings.

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The care of children

Staff have made appropriate referrals to specialist substance misuse teams and sexual health professionals when necessary. However, staff have not yet supported the child to access health services that they need to encourage them to manage nicotine addiction and to stop smoking.

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The care of children

Staff understand the importance of the child’s education. The child continues to receive home tutoring. Staff continue to ensure that positive routines are maintained, and they advocate well for the child to participate in tutoring sessions.

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The care of children

Staff support positive experiences for the child. Activities that expand the interests and hobbies of the child are actively encouraged, including the child attending a weekly boxing class.

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The safety of children

The child is at significant risk of harm. Staff have attended training in relation to understanding and supporting emerging risks of child exploitation. However, staff and managers have failed to respond to all safeguarding incidents in a way that protects the child’s safety.

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The safety of children

On one occasion, there was a significant delay in staff searching for the child when they had reported the child as missing from home. This is despite known information that suggested the child was at risk of harm. On another occasion, staff did not explore all opportunities to encourage the child to return home, in accordance with the home’s model of support.

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The safety of children

Staff identified concerns during a search of the child’s room. They demonstrated a lack of professional curiosity to understand the associated effects and risks for the child in relation to unknown substances found. In another instance, staff did not take the child to hospital when they were advised to do this by a health professional or seek alternative medical support when the child refused to go. This does not provide the necessary assurances that staff are doing all that they can to ensure the child’s welfare.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers have not ensured that reviews of the child’s risk management plans are strong enough to guide staff effectively in reducing the risks. Some guidance is contradictory and strategies for staff in relation to the actions that they need to take when the child is missing from home and remains missing are ambiguous. Guidance on managing the child’s online safety is limited and not responsive to this area of risk.

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The safety of children

Leaders’ and managers’ recent review of the fire risk assessment contains unclear strategies to reduce the risk of fire. The location assessment has not been updated to reflect a recently identified area of concern. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 4 Leaders and managers have ensured that the home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. However, during the inspection, a shed containing hazardous paint pots and tools which could pose a risk was unlocked. Managers secured this during the inspection.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers have regularly liaised with the police and the child’s placing authority and recognise the importance of partnership working for the child to be safer. Weekly strategy meetings have taken place to discuss emerging risks and share information.

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The safety of children

A recent allegation made against a staff member has been suitably responded to. Actions have been taken to protect the child and the staff member.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been no registered manager at the home since November 2022. In March 2023, a new manager was appointed. They have submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Several shortfalls have been identified in the effectiveness of the leadership and management of the home. High-risk situations recently have not been responded to by staff as well as they could be. Leaders and managers have failed to recognise staff practice concerns. Consequently, these concerns have not been addressed and the child’s safety has not always been supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders’ and managers’ monitoring of recent incidents has been ineffective. Recent reviews by managers are either missing or poor in quality. Leaders and managers have failed to take sufficient action in relation to the requirements raised at the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive support from a mental health practitioner who provides monthly group debriefing sessions. However, leaders and managers have not ensured that individual staff supervision has taken place at the frequency set out in the home’s policy. The regularity of staff supervision was raised at the full inspection in April 2023. Five staff are in their probationary period and only two staff hold a qualification in children’s social care. Failure to provide regular and effective supervision for staff, particularly when they are managing a high level of risk for a child, means that staff do not have the support, direction and oversight that they need to care for the child safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Most notifications to Ofsted of significant incidents provide clear information and assurances. However, the information submitted in two notifications failed to include important details. This can affect Ofsted’s capacity to monitor the home’s safeguarding arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have recently advocated for the child. Appropriate and constructive challenge to other professionals has been made when their responses have been insufficient. As a result, the child has had access to more frequent return Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 5 interviews when they have been missing from home. A social care manager has given positive feedback about recent proactive communication with managers in respect of supporting the well-being of the child.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/05/2021 Full Good 11/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 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, 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 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 requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 21 August 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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 21 August 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 7 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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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

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 21 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that bedroom door alarms are only used for safeguarding purposes.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 21 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 31 August 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that one-to-one discussions with the child are frequent and responsive to safety concerns.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to understand the dangers of nicotine addiction, including helping them to stop smoking, by referring them to specialist smoking-cessation services. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  The registered person should ensure storage areas containing hazardous materials are locked when not in use. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.62)  The registered person should have a system in place so that notifications of all serious events that are required to be sent to Ofsted include full details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 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 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC457272 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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