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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC026910 1 SC026910

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Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private national organisation and can provide care for up to 47 children with autism and/or learning disabilities. The home operates as a residential special school. The home currently provides care to 10 children and young people across four houses on the same site as the school. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Inspection date: 21 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 21 November 2023

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: SC026910 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children continue to have mixed experiences in this home. Some children are offered varied and interesting activities. However, plans for how some children spend their time are repetitive and lack ambition. Leaders have reviewed the services available on site and have identified ways to facilitate more creative and purposeful activities. Staff have started to build memory books for children to reflect on their time in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children mostly receive support from a core team of staff who know them well. However, staff also continue to provide support to the school. This continues to impact on the ability of staff to plan and review children’s care and progress in the home. This is a repeated shortfall. The quality of staff’s recording remains inconsistent. Staff do not always record the information needed to help understand the support children need.

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Findings from the inspection

A significant number of staff do not yet have a qualification that helps them understand how to support children. There are specific plans in place to ensure staff are supported to achieve this qualification within the required timescales. However, the lack of qualified staff results in the need for more support and oversight from others.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders commissioned independent reviews of care for two children. This was as a result of the concerns raised for their welfare at the last full inspection. Leaders have used these reviews to make clear plans to support children going forward, ensuring staff meet their complex needs. These actions are in the very early stages of implementation. While there are some positive early indicators, the plans remain to be fully embedded before progress can be seen.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff continue to report safeguarding concerns and worries about other staff’s practice as needed. An increased number of safeguarding investigations are now resolved. New concerns that have been raised are investigated swiftly, with clear outcomes in place.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders’ monitoring and oversight of key themes and concerns are improved. They now have a number of regular meetings in place to track progress against targets set for improvement. However, there remain significant delays in management oversight and review of incidents, including when restraint has been used. Learning from serious interventions in the home is therefore delayed. This impacts on the understanding of children’s support needs and staff’s training needs. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC026910 3 The organisation has appointed a new senior leader to the home. Although only a temporary role, this reflects a commitment towards improving the home. The home still needs to make significant improvements to be delivering good care with effective leadership.

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection did not address all requirements and recommendations previously set. One requirement and one recommendation are met. One requirement is partially met. One new recommendation has been made.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2022 Full Inadequate 01/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC026910 4

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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 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—

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure there is timely oversight and monitoring of key incidents, to identify themes and practice issues and address them at the earliest opportunity. In addition, ensure that all children have clear, meaningful targets, with processes for review of progress in place.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated although the action detailed has changed. 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (3) (5)) 28 July 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC026910 5 In particular, ensure the complainant receives a response and a record is made of the action taken in response to the complaint.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all houses are in good decorative repair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should review the recording system to ensure it is effective for staff and managers to capture and understand the quality of care in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC026910 6

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Autism Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cambian Autism Services Limited, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Paula Lahey, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC026910 7 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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