Children's home run by London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 1 SC443337 Registered provider: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home cares for up to seven children who may have learning and/or physical disabilities. The home provides children with permanent care, shared care or short breaks. If there are vacancies in the home, they may provide care and accommodation under short break arrangements.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2012. The registered manager post has been vacant since September 2022. A manager has been appointed and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2023

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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: SC443337 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 17/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/06/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress. Children who have moved on from the home and those now living there have made significant progress relative to their starting points. For example, children develop their personal care skills and independent living skills such as hoovering, preparing their clothes for school and cooking and have improved their ability to communicate with staff and peers. One social worker said that since moving to this home their child is achieving in all areas of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have high attendance at school and are making improvements with their numeracy, literacy and computer skills. Staff have strong communication with the school to ensure the safety of children and that school staff are working in line with the child’s plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well prepared for moving into and on from the home. Before moving in, children often visit the home and are introduced to staff and the children living there. This helps them to build relationships, feel comfortable when they move in and to adapt to change. This also secures the ongoing stability of the home for the other children living there. Planned moves mean that children are prepared at a pace suited to their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children form positive relationships with staff. Staff use a variety of methods to gather children’s views and share information with children. For example, during children’s meetings, pictorial templates are used to communicate with children with special needs. This helps staff to consult with children effectively and enables children to make choices about their activities and routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a variety of activities in the community and in the home during the day and at weekends and in school holidays. For example, they have been to a theme park, to Windsor Castle, on bike rides, have colouring books and play computer games. Children’s wishes and feelings are gathered in direct work and children’s meetings to decide on their preferred activity. This participation helps children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is maintained to a good standard. Repairs and wear and tear are addressed swiftly. Children are able to personalise their bedrooms. For example, children choose their own bed linen and have family photos and decorations on the walls.

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

Risks to children are known by the manager and staff. Risk assessments are regularly updated. They are detailed and clearly outline individual risks and vulnerabilities. The strategies to mitigate risks are effective and are understood and followed by the manager and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 4 Staff know the children well and develop positive relationships with them. Staff have a good understanding of each child’s likes, dislikes, strengths and challenges. Children respond well to the warm and nurturing care that staff provide to them. One parent said, ‘The home is the closest you could get to a picture-perfect home.’

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

Children receive appropriate help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings. Positive behaviour is encouraged with reinforcement and praise, which children respond to appropriately.

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

Incidents in the home are managed well, and the staff use a range of techniques to de-escalate difficult situations. Physical intervention is rarely used. When physical intervention is necessary, the records are comprehensive and include sufficient information about the incident. There is robust management oversight of incidents, which includes debriefs with staff and children, which enhances children’s safety in the home.

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

Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing policies and procedures. Allegations are not frequent. Allegations or suspicions of harm are dealt with immediately and shared with the relevant agencies.

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

Some medication records and documentation when children receive medication are not clear. For example, records do not consistently detail the quantity of medication remaining. While there have not been any known errors that have placed children at risk, these shortfalls could lead to children not receiving the correct medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children and are determined to ensure that all children have opportunities to fulfil their potential. The manager is a good advocate for children. He will challenge the placing authorities when children’s plans are not suitable to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are motivated and say they work in a supportive environment. Staff benefit from regular supervision. Supervision is effective in identifying goals and objectives to support the development and progress of staff. Staff receive annual appraisals. However, appraisals could be strengthened by including the views of children and external professionals who work with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff can access a wide range of training to increase their skills and knowledge. The training meets the specific needs of the children living in the home. Leaders and managers have identified further training to help support the staff to understand and develop their skills to work with children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and cover appropriate topics, for example, children’s needs and reviewing the quality of the service. Leaders and managers ensure that meetings provide staff with additional learning opportunities to build the team and to develop their practice and knowledge. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 5 The manager and staff know the children well. The manager has recently been promoted from within the staff team and the staff team has been stable for several years. The stable, skilled and consistent staff team enhances children’s safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 10 February 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and of children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: SC443337 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, 145 King Street, London W6 9XY

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Inspector

Melvin Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC443337 8 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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