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

Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 1 SC476271 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has been in post since January 2014.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were five children living in the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/03/2023 Full Outstanding 19/08/2021 Full Good 22/01/2020 Full Outstanding 05/03/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 3

p.2

outstanding

There have been no changes to the children living in the home since the last inspection. Two of the children benefit from being placed together as siblings and speak positively about their experience of living together. Children make exceptional progress in all aspects of their health, education, social and psychological well-being, peer relationships and emotional regulation.

p.3

outstanding

Children benefit from strong relationships with staff, who know them extremely well. Children are fully involved in their day-to-day care and in setting monthly targets and goals. Each child has an individualised in-house care plan that is kept under regular review, including being updated to include their wishes and feelings. This means children have a solid understanding of their care plans and the progress they are making.

p.3

outstanding

Children make excellent progress with their academic attainment. All of the children attend full-time education and make strong progress against their age and developmental targets. Staff work closely with school staff to ensure there is a consistent approach to the care and education children receive. As a result, one child is now fully engaged with their school timetable, enjoys work experience one day a week and has been offered future employment. One provider referred to the communication with the home as ‘brilliant’. Another commented on how their pupil is ‘always well presented and prepared for school’.

p.3

outstanding

The children are encouraged to have their own hobbies and interests. As a result, the children enjoy a range of experiences and engage in football, rugby, basketball, swimming, gymnastics and dance classes. For one child who has been on the waiting list to join a club that provides first aid and emergency medical services, the registered manager has identified a child-friendly first-aid course to help raise their awareness while they wait for their place. Another child has been provided with a mini stage for music and comedy performance practice. Additionally, the children do things together, and they enjoyed a summer holiday abroad, which they all spoke positively about.

p.3

outstanding

Children are well supported by staff to prepare for adulthood, and as a result, they enjoy developing their levels of independence according to their individual needs. A thoughtful approach by staff helps to equip children with essential life skills in preparation for the next stage of their journeys.

p.3

outstanding

The staff take great care to help children spend valuable time with family members as appropriate. As a result, two children have been supported to see a parent for the first time in a considerable number of years. This is an exceptional opportunity for these children to develop their relationships with their families. Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 4 The children enjoy a warm and welcoming home. The staff take great pride in ensuring that the home is a safe and nurturing environment for the children to live. The children benefit from a quiet room and sensory room. There are soft furnishings and photo’s of the children throughout the home that create a family feel. Each child’s bedroom is personalised to suit the child’s individual tastes. When changes are planned for the home, the children are involved in decision-making about things such as new decor.

p.3

outstanding

Children are safe. This is because the staff know the children and their associated risks well. Each child has an individual behaviour and risk management plan that is kept under regular review. Staff make good use of team meetings and support from the clinical team to review and evaluate their response to children’s changing behaviour and needs.

p.4

outstanding

Staff support children to take age- and developmentally appropriate risks, which increases their awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, some children use public transport and have free time with their friends. Other children are supported to use their mobile phones and devices safely. Staff constantly seek to creatively educate children about potential risks, such as online safety, stranger danger and bullying, both in groups and during one-to-one time with the children.

p.4

outstanding

Staff pay great attention to ensuring that children’s voices are heard and that children can express their wishes and feelings. A creative approach enables children to share their views in various ways, including via children’s meetings, feedback questionnaires and via an online application where children leave feedback multiple times per week. The ability to contribute their opinions has stirred one child to go even further by writing to the current Prime Minister about their views. The staff also advocate on behalf of the children and ensure that they are involved in all aspects of their care and safety planning.

p.4

outstanding

There are few incidents in the home. Staff use their good relationships with children and their expertise in therapeutic parenting to help children regulate their own emotions. Consequently, there have only been three occasions where low-level physical intervention has been necessary to support children’s safety. Children’s achievements are well recognised, with them having received over 300 acknowledgements for positive behaviour. Children say they feel safe and they do not go missing from the home.

p.4

outstanding

Staff make great efforts to support children to understand and change behaviours for the better. Children are helped to reflect on their past behaviours and identify the triggers for these behaviours. Staff then help children to explore ways to manage their emotions. This works exceptionally well for one child who uses a diary to communicate how they feel to staff. This gives the child the opportunity to process how they feel and avoid escalating emotions in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 5 The children are happy living at the home. Children are unanimous about how happy they are living in the home, referring to the home as a ‘family home’. They spoke positively about the staff and how they keep them safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is exceptionally skilled and experienced. She leads by example to ensure that she models high expectations for herself, the staff team and, most importantly, the children. As a result, she has a team of highly motivated individuals who share the same ethos and ambition for the children to make excellent progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the children well. This is because of her open-door and hands-on approach to the care they receive. The registered manager has a good understanding of the journey of each child and works hard to ensure that each child receives the individual care and support they need. She advocates well on behalf of the children and will challenge other professionals as needed. She has positive relationships with professionals and other agencies. External professionals are overwhelmingly positive about her professionalism, communication and dedication to the children in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is stable. There is a dedicated core staff team with exceptional knowledge about each child and their care. Staff speak positively about how regular and reflective supervision, team meetings, training and support from managers help to enhance their practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has developed effective systems to ensure that she has an intricate understanding of all aspects of the operation of the home and the children’s care. The registered manager is clear in her expectations of her staff team, and this can be seen in the quality of their record-keeping and report writing.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has developed a learning culture and ensures that research is applied in practice. For example, she has done extensive research and worked with staff on pet therapy, and as a result, the children benefit from the regular presence of a therapy dog. Her enthusiasm for learning and upskilling can be seen in the staff development. This is particularly seen in the staff’s learning through exposure to a range of learning opportunities, including podcasts and interactive teaching. The staff team continually looks for new ideas and ways to improve practice to enhance the children’s experiences and progress. Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 6

p.5

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: SC476271 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC476271 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8