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

Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 1 SC480429 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

The home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2024. He is also the registered manager of another children’s home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 27 February 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Inadequate 10/05/2022 Full Good 30/06/2021 Full Good 17/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 3

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improvement to be good

One child has recently moved into the home. The child was welcomed into the home sensitively. They have personalised the house with items they have made, like toy models and an electronic speaker, as well as placing photos of family members and football memorabilia around the home. The home has a welcoming feel to it and staff are proud of the improvements that have been made since the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise that trust is important to the child and have started to build positive relationships. This has led to the child spending time with staff, engaging in a range of activities such as ice skating, football, snooker and going on local walks together.

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improvement to be good

Family time is promoted, which supports the child to maintain links to family members they are close to. Connections with other people the child has established relationships with have been supported by the staff team, in agreement with the child’s social worker.

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improvement to be good

The child’s overall progress has been varied. There has been some success, with the child recently sitting an exam. However, progress has not been sustained. The child has disengaged from education and staff have not been able to implement a structured routine that the child is receptive to.

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improvement to be good

When the child refused to go to routine dental appointments, the manager liaised with health professionals to help implement an alternative plan so that the child can access treatment.

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improvement to be good

Key-worker sessions to provide advice and guidance have taken place with the child to support their understanding around sexual health and drugs and alcohol. However, opportunities have been missed to ensure that the child has access to external services and key professionals who can provide them with additional and specific support in these areas.

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improvement to be good

Risks for the child have not reduced since they have been living in the home. There has been an increase in the number of missing-from-home episodes, which has led to further concerns around criminal exploitation and offending behaviour.

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improvement to be good

When the child is missing from home, the staff implement a plan of action to search for and locate the child, as well as reporting them missing in a timely manner. The local authority has not provided return home interviews for the child. The manager has challenged this so that the child has an opportunity to reflect on incidents with a person independent from the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 4 When room searches have been necessary, these have been carried out sensitively. Searches are appropriately recorded and the child’s consent is actively sought. Staff talk to the child following the search of the room to discuss the reason and outcome of the room search.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not challenged effectively the child’s use of e-cigarettes in the home. Key- worker sessions around the topic of vaping and smoking have taken place. However, there is a missed opportunity to further promote the child’s welfare by having clear guidance and policies in place which make clear to staff and children the home’s approach to the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and related equipment.

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improvement to be good

When the child has used discriminatory language, staff have challenged and provided education to help the child understand other cultures and religions. This enables the child to understand appropriate boundaries as well as learning to treat others with respect.

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improvement to be good

Not all staff have completed training related to child criminal exploitation, despite this being identified as a risk for the child. Specific training was arranged but this was not done in time to prepare for the child moving into the home. Additionally, specific training on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has not been arranged. This does not ensure that the staff team has the full knowledge or necessary skills to care for the child’s specific needs and understand their behaviours in a way that reduces risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is managed by a permanent, suitably qualified manager. Since the last inspection, he has implemented an action plan to address the identified areas for improvement. New systems for monitoring and reviewing the service have been introduced, which will help the manager to address practice shortfalls in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a full staff team in place who are committed to the continued improvement of the home and who have a shared sense of ownership about its practice. Staff receive supervision regularly and team meetings provide a forum to receive updates, share information and for the manager to celebrate good practice. When staff are in their probation period, the manager arranges reviews to ensure that professional practice is monitored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have kept the child at the centre of decision-making when considering next steps to determine how best to keep the child safe. When there are concerns that the placing local authority has not met its statutory responsibility towards the child, leaders and managers have challenged this and escalated concerns appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The statement of purpose is not kept under review and does not contain accurate information about the skills of the staff team and how the team are able to meet the needs of the child. Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 5 The manager is responsible for ensuring that the physical environment is maintained to a high standard. When repairs have been required, these have been reported and completed in a timely manner. Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 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 (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff understanding their responsibilities when children smoke and use e-cigarettes and that they provide effective challenge to ensure the child’s safety, protection and welfare. 15 July 2024

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the staff team is suitably skilled and has relevant experience to provide effectively planned care for children. The staff must be trained in child criminal exploitation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 15 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 7 The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and

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Requirement Due date

notify HCMI of any revisions and send HCMI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the statement of purpose must include relevant and up-to-date information relating to training and skills of the staff team and how they can meet the specific needs of the child. 15 July 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children and staff are provided with written guidance which details the home’s approach to the use by children of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and related equipment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: SC480429 8

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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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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC480429 9 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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