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

Inspection report children's home: SC456959 1 SC456959 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for one child who experiences social and / or emotional difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: 14 December 2021

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 14 December 2021. Inspectors identified shortfalls in safeguarding practices, care planning and leadership and management of the home. Following the inspection, a notice to restrict accommodation at the home was issued. A three-month condition was imposed, requiring the provider to inform Ofsted three months before they intended for a child to move into the home. Inspection report children's home: SC456959 2 A monitoring visit took place on the 22 January 2022. During this visit it was identified that the provider had taken sufficient steps to meet the compliance notices. No children were living in the home at that time.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 22 February 2022, a further monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s compliance with the restriction notice. The provider continued to comply with the notice and there were no children living at the home.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit took place on the 15 March 2024. The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken by the provider to prepare for children moving into the home. Following, this visit a case review was held. It was the decision of the case review that sufficient action had been taken to remove the three-month condition. Inspection report children's home: SC456959 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2021 Full Inadequate 31/07/2019 Full Good 03/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/06/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: SC456959 4

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improvement to be good

The child says he is happy living in the home. Recent refurbishment of the home means that the child now benefits from a more comfortable home environment. However, other areas of the home environment have been prioritised before the child’s bedroom. Action has not been taken to provide an aesthetically pleasing outside space for the child to en- joy.

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improvement to be good

Staff meet the child’s physical and emotional health needs. The child is supported by the provider’s psychologist who provides psychological interventions to support the child’s mental and emotional well-being. Supporting the child through direct work on their life experiences helps the child to make sense of their behaviour and develop their sense of identity. However, the child’s records do not reflect how these interventions are sup- ported by staff practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

Given the child’s starting point, the child is making good progress in education. Manag- ers are proactive in identifying educational provisions that are suitable for the child’s needs. The child is supported by a mentor to access a bespoke educational programme. As a result, the child has been supported to undertake qualifications and commence a barbering course which they enjoy. The child is supported by external agencies. Profes- sionals visit the home to deliver workshops to the child on relevant issues. This supports the child to make positive choices and identify achievable goals to work towards.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to engage in new and existing hobbies. The child enjoys visits to the home from external agencies to engage in activities such as writing music. The child is provided with opportunities to spend time recording music in a recording studio. Activ- ities and celebrations that the child shares with staff and friends are captured through individualised memory books. This means that the child can reflect on positive experi- ences when they move on from the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Arrangements are made for friends to spend time with the child in the home. Staff re- spect the child’s relationships with family members. Staff support the child to maintain regular contact with family who reside overseas.

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improvement to be good

The child knows how to complain. The manager provides written feedback to the child following complaints to ensure that they are informed of outcomes.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. They spend time getting to know the child when they move into the home. The child is supported to overcome difficulties Inspection report children's home: SC456959 5 with staff members if there are any issues in their relationships. This has helped the child to develop positive relationships with the whole staff team. As a result, some risks for the child have reduced since living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff are professionally curious in their daily interactions with the child. The manager is proactive in seeking guidance from local authority professionals in respect of managing risks in the home. However, action is not always taken to safeguard the child following incidents of suspected substance misuse. Staff are unable to identify substances when the child has been in possession of these. Staff do not have the experience or level of understanding needed to support the child in respect of substance use. As a result, the child has been able to retain possession of substances, drug paraphernalia and e-ciga- rettes.

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improvement to be good

Staff look for the child when they are missing from the home. Detailed plans provide staff with clear guidance to follow when incidents occur. Staff spend time with the child following incidents of being missing. This provides the child with opportunities to reflect on their behaviour. Staff recognise the child’s underlying emotional needs that lead to the child leaving the home. However, records do not always reflect the extent of staff actions to locate the child when missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

Plans are in place to support the child to access the internet and social media safely. The manager has challenged decisions to allow the child to have unrestricted access to a mo- bile phone and internet. However, plans to ensure that the child is safe online have not been effective. Action has been taken to introduce incentives to promote the child’s en- gagement with regular device checks.

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improvement to be good

The child’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans include detailed infor- mation for staff. They provide guidance for staff to follow to manage incidents of chal- lenging behaviour. However, records have not been reviewed and updated following changes in arrangements for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff engage the child in meaningful work following incidents. This helps the child to rec- ognise his emotions and understand his behaviour. However, the language used in rec- ords is not child friendly and does not reflect that the child’s wishes and feelings have been considered in the development of plans.

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improvement to be good

Staff are vigilant and supervise the child’s interactions with friends when in the home. Managers liaise with professionals involved with the child’s friends. This means that the child can spend time with friends safely and in line with local authority plans.

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

There have been changes to the management and staffing of the home since the last in- spection. The home is currently overseen by a suitably qualified and experienced man- ager. She is supported by a deputy manager. However, action has not been taken by senior leaders to notify the regulator of changes to the senior leadership team of the home. Inspection report children's home: SC456959 6 A new staff team have been recruited to care for the child. However, only one member of staff is qualified. Some staff will not be working in the home on a long-term basis due to their immigration status. Some staff working in the home are not experienced in working within residential childcare. Shortfalls in support and training for these staff members means that the child has not received a consistent level of care.

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

Some staff said they were unhappy in their roles when the previous leadership team was in place. Staff shared concerns with the current manager that the child living in the home had observed inappropriate responses by managers towards staff. Action has been taken to address these concerns. As a result, staff say they feel supported by the new manager.

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

Progress has been made in the oversight of the care being provided to the child. Specific subject supervisions, provide staff with support in respect of their personal and profes- sional development. However, the manager has not always identified shortfalls in staff practice following incidents. As a result, the staff team have not been provided with con- sistent support to manage the child’s behaviour.

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

The manager works hard to maintain relationships with professionals involved in the child’s care. Social work professionals say that they are well informed of the child’s pro- gress and speak highly of the levels of communication from the manager. The manager advocates for the child when decisions are made that are not in the child’s interests. However, the manager has not formally challenged or escalated these concerns. As a re- sult, the manager and staff team have faced challenges in meeting all the child’s needs and in ensuring consistent positive outcomes for them.

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

Staff benefit from regular supervision and reflective team meetings. Workshops and con- sultations with the in-house psychologist provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and seek guidance on how to support the child further. The in-house psy- chologist says that staff are receptive to advice and are conscientious to adapt this into their daily interactions with the child.

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

Development plans for the home have not been reviewed since the child moved into the home. Quality of care reports have not been received by the regulator. These are missed opportunities for managers and senior leaders to reflect and evaluate on shortfalls in practice that were identified during previous inspections. Inspection report children's home: SC456959 7

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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, 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— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person must ensure that the child’s records include up to date information and that all staff have the skills and knowledge to take action to safeguard the child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 21 August 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. 21 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC456959 8 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff are provided with the relevant training and learning opportunities to meet the child’s needs; that systems are in place to ensure that development plans and quality of care reports are undertaken, reviewed and updated; and that managerial oversight identifies shortfalls in staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s 21 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC456959 9 best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare; help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 7 (1)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person ensures that child’s records do not include the use of institutionalised language and are written in a child friendly format and that the child is consulted on the development of plans for the child. The quality and purpose of care standard, in particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(2)(iv)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that repairs to the child’s bedroom are rectified promptly, that the home is maintained to a good standard and that action is taken to provide a good standard of outdoor space for the child. 21 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 21 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC456959 10 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.

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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 children's home: SC456959 11

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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

Claire Hobbs, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC456959 12 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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