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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 1 SC457180 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties or special educational needs and/or disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has registered with Ofsted since the 17 July 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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

Date of last inspection: 13 November 2023

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2023 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good 10/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Three children live at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out and three children have moved in. All the moves were well planned and child focused. During the inspection, the inspector spoke to three children and one child who had recently moved out.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a home that is characterised by warmth. Each child has a jar filled with positive messages written by the staff and visitors. There are inspirational quotes on the wall, which helps children know they are valued. Furthermore, staff recognise that it is the children’s home and encourage them to contribute to its design and how the communal areas are used. When asked what it is like living at the home, one child said, ‘It feels like they love us.’ Another child said, ‘They don’t treat me like I live in a children’s home.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children build relationships with each other and remain in contact with those that have moved on from the home. They are encouraged to spend time together at mealtimes, during holidays and when celebrating each other’s achievements. One child happily shared their experience of another child going to watch them perform at their skating competition. These experiences teach children how to form appropriate friendships and contribute to them feeling happy and secure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have excellent relationships with staff. These are based on mutual respect and are developed through staff being highly nurturing and loving. Staff instil in children the belief that nothing is unachievable. During the inspection, a young person who previously lived at the home returned to the house for their lunch, which happens often. During the young person’s visit, they spoke about the continued support that staff provide, which ranged from helping to clean their property to supporting them to address maintenance issues in their home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive individualised care that makes a positive difference to their lives. Staff practice is informed by research that is used to increase children’s life opportunities. An example of this is staff introducing a child to researched-informed strategies to manage their anxiety. The child is now able to regularly go on their favourite activity and has successfully obtained paid work in an area they are interested in. During the inspection, the child spoke to the inspector about the benefit of these strategies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff strongly advocate for children and help children express their views about the care that they receive. Children are encouraged to be part of team meetings and share their views.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to retain a sense of identity by spending time with their family. Family members visit the home and are regularly invited to celebratory events. One family member said, ‘The care is excellent. They are forward thinking with [name of Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 4 child]. They encourage [name of child] to keep in contact with me, and I could not be more grateful.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to reach their academic potential. Staff talk to children about the importance of education and the difference it can make to their future. They go above and beyond to help children reach their education goals. A teacher praised the commitment of staff, who travelled several hours to a child’s hometown before every GCSE examination. Commenting on their involvement in the child’s achievements, the teacher said, ‘I have nothing but praise for the staff. [Name of child] completed every single exam.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant progress from their starting points. A child who has struggled with education now attends their academic provision and has full attendance. Additionally, staff have supported them to get a part-time job and work experience related to their course.

p.4

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

Children view the home as a safe place to live and can identify someone they would speak to if that ever changed or if they felt unhappy. Professionals are confident that staff care for children safely. Furthermore, leaders, managers and staff create an environment where children can express their emotions freely, which reduces the risk of children feeling stressed and anxious.

p.4

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

Staff understand children’s lived experiences and how these can influence their behaviour. Behaviour management strategies are informed by therapeutic input from the home’s therapy team to ensure that staff respond sensitively to children. Children respond well to praise and reward strategies used by staff.

p.4

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

Leaders and managers adhere to regulations designed to protect children from harmful adults. Records show that prospective employees take part in a recruitment process that ensures that they are safe and suitable to work with children.

p.4

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. Records demonstrate that although safeguarding incidents are rare, when they do occur, staff follow detailed safety plans that outline how they should respond to children’s specific risk. This ensures that there is a consistent response from staff. The manager reviews all incidents thoroughly to consider whether action is needed to improve practice. For example, following an incident of self-harm, the manager sourced further training for staff to increase the effectiveness of the care they provide.

p.4

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

When children go missing from home, there is a coordinated response from staff to try and locate and return children home quickly and safely. Staff liaise with the placing authority and the police to help find the children and reduce the risk of them going missing from home in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an inspirational and effective leader. She is respected by her staff team and forms positive relationships with children. She is approachable and is someone children are comfortable being around. She is determined that children do not feel disadvantaged because of their circumstances and uses opportunities to help them develop. For example, the manager has arranged for one child, who is studying a course in health and social care, to access the provider’s staff training courses as part of their learning experience.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak highly of the manager and the remarkable effect her presence in the home has had on the children and staff team. Staff recognise that she is highly motivated for children to succeed in line with their ability and share her vision. They describe the environment as a family home rather than a workplace. They feel well supported and have confidence in the manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a strong focus on the staff’s continuous development and supports them to progress. Since the last inspection, staff have been promoted to senior roles. Supervision sessions are practice related and encourage staff to reflect on their work with children. Accountability in the staff team is encouraged, and staff are assigned the roles of champions in areas such as mental health. This gives staff a sense of ownership of their practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high expectations of the staff team. Team meetings are held regularly and are an opportunity for staff to discuss and reflect on their therapeutic practice and how this is embedded into children’s day-to-day care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff have excellent relationships with external professionals. Social workers and teaching staff commented on the efforts that the staff make to get to know children and learn how they can meet their needs effectively. Professionals acknowledge that leaders, managers and staff are good advocates for children and ‘go above and beyond’ to meet their needs. These effective partnerships with other agencies ensure that there is a holistic approach to caring for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive consistent care from a stable team of staff who know them well. This means that children can build trusting relationships with adults who care for them. It also contributes to children feeling safe and secure.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s oversight of the home is excellent. She uses a number of auditing tools to ensure that the quality of care children receive is of a high standard. The quality of children’s records is high and gives insight into their experiences at the home. Children’s progress is routinely shared with professionals and family so that they understand the children’s journey.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There were no recommendations or requirements raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 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: SC457180 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

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457180 8 regulates and inspects 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