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Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)

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

Inspected 24 Jan 2024 · URN SC456418

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Original PDF ↗

Summary

RI to be good

Sally Griffiths

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Group verified

    Cambian Childcare Limited

  • Inspection date verified

    24 Jan 2024

  • Inspectors verified

    Sally Griffiths

  • Helped and protected verified

    Requires improvement to be good

  • Leadership and management verified

    Requires improvement to be good

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Requires improvement to be good

  • Name on report verified

    SC456418

  • URN verified

    SC456418

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2023.

  • OverallRI to be good
  • Helped and protectedRI to be good
  • Leadership and managementRI to be good

13% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Requires improvement to be good (12,716 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−36Criticalmore positive than 41% of reports of this type graded Requires improvement to be good
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

In line with other reports of this type graded Requires improvement to be good.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praisepositivesafeoutstandingseriousfailuresenjoyeffectivetimely
Criticismrequires improvementinadequateconcernspoorfailedmissednot consistentlylack

How the report reads, start to finish

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FindingsAbout the inspectionWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1010w−29
  • What needs to improve910w−45

Strengths

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Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

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Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
11
Words of findings
1,916
about usual (typical 1899)
Reading level
Fairly hard
Flesch 56, typical 50
Average sentence
16 words
Next steps
8
typical 8
Hedged sentences
2%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 45%What needs to improve 41%About the inspection 15%

Full report text

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 1 SC456418 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for one child who may have social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2023

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2023 Full good 05/10/2021 Full good 16/04/2019 Full good 30/05/2018 Full good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 3

p.2

improvement to be good

One child has lived at this home for several years. During the inspection, the child made a complaint to the manager about the care that they receive from staff. The outcome of this complaint was not available at the time of the inspection. The child had made a complaint to a member of staff six months before this inspection. However, this had not been recorded or responded to as a complaint. The registered manager accepts that the child and their mother did not receive an outcome to the concerns they raised. This does not support the child to feel listened to or to understand how their views had been acted on.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child does not have a consistent morning routine or structure to their day. One member of staff confirmed that the child will remain in bed until late morning or lunchtime. Staff do not consistently wake the child on a morning. The child told the inspector that they stay in bed until late morning because there is nothing else to do. Poor routines and sleep patterns have a negative impact on the child’s well- being and progress.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child does not attend education. On one occasion, the registered manager challenged the placing local authority about lack of care planning and education for the child. However, the registered manager failed to follow up on this in a timely manner or escalate the concern when not resolved. As a result, the child has missed several months of education.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support the child to attend health appointments and encourage the child to exercise daily. Staff support the child to access activities and clubs. This builds the child’s confidence and enables them to pursue their interests. Staff support the child to spend time with their family. This enables the child to maintain important relationships and build support networks for the future.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support the child to attend care planning and review meetings. This enables the child to contribute to decisions made about their own care. Staff understand the child’s views about the care they receive. Staff celebrate the child’s achievements and capture positive memories in a photo book. This will provide the child with a visual record of their time living in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager has not ensured that all aspects of fire safety have been fully considered. Mechanisms fitted to close internal doors in the event of a fire were not working at the time of the inspection. This had not been identified by the manager. One internal fire door was being held open by a sofa. Steps were taken by the manager during the inspection to address these concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 4 The home is spacious and bright. However, some areas of the home have not been maintained to a good standard. This does not provide the child with a safe and welcoming space to live in. For example, there are broken and uneven flags in the garden. As the kitchen has no radiator or other source of heat, the kitchen can be very cold. This does not create a welcoming environment for the child to prepare meals in. Door alarms are used on external doors in the home. The manager has not

p.3

improvement to be good

evidenced why the door alarms are needed or kept this under review.

p.4

improvement to be good

The child’s plans detail their known risks and provide staff with clarity on the steps to take to keep them safe. The child’s risks have reduced because of the care they have received. Staff carry out direct work with the child to develop their understanding of their own risks and steps they can take to keep themselves safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

Incentives and rewards are used to promote positive behaviour. Staff support the child to take manageable risks in line with their age and ability, for example preparing meals and travelling independently. This supports the child to develop their independence.

p.4

good

Leaders have not taken sufficient action to meet some requirements raised at the last inspection. As a result, there are repeated requirements. The manager has not completed a review of the quality of care within the last six months. This is a missed opportunity to evaluate and develop staff practice.

p.4

good

Staff are supervised by with the manager or team leaders. However, the manager does not have access to all staff supervision records. This limits the manager’s oversight of the quality of supervision that staff receive.

p.4

good

The manager ensures that there are enough staff working in the home to meet the child’s needs. Safer recruitment processes are followed, which means that those employed to work with the child are suitable to do so.

p.4

good

Staff enjoy working in the home and feel supported by the management team. Staff access a range of training which supports them to care for the child. Staff participate in regular team meetings; this provides them with an opportunity to reflect and develop.

p.4

good

The manager maintains positive working relationships with external professionals. However, the manager has not escalated concerns about the child’s care planning quickly enough. Feedback from external professionals is positive. One independent reviewing officer said that the staff know the child well and work flexibly to meet the child’s evolving needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 5 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must challenge the placing authority when there are delays in effective care planning for the child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is reinstated. 22 February 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 22 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 7 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain the home environment to a good standard and take prompt action to address outstanding repairs. This will include providing a source of heating in the kitchen.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is reinstated.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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)(c)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person having oversight of the quality of supervision that staff receive and access to all staff supervision records. 22 February 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

p.7

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (c)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 22 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 8 This specifically relates to the registered person reviewing the use of door alarms to assess if they remain proportionate to keep the child safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that internal fire doors are not wedged open, that all mechanical precautions against the risk of fire are working, and that the fire risk assessment reflects any changes in the home. 1 February 2024

p.8

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

p.8

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.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This regulation (apart from paragraph (4)) does not apply to any matter to which the Children Act 1989 Representations Procedure (England) Regulations 2006 apply. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (4) (6))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all complaints made by children are recorded and investigated in accordance with the complaints procedure. 22 February 2024

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 22 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 9 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person completing a review of the quality of care provided for children at least once every 6 months and completing a written report which includes actions the registered person intends to take to improve the care the child receives.

p.9

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: SC456418 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

p.10

Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456418 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

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p.11

Inspector

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p.11

Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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