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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 1 SC388991

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children who have emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023. They were not working at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The same two children are living in the home as at the time of the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children attend education, although one child’s attendance is inconsistent. Staff encourage the child to attend and reward attendance and positive decision-making. Boundaries are put in place when the child does not attend school. Communication between the staff team and the school is good, and they work in partnership to support the child. The teacher commented that the same child is making excellent progress in the vocational aspects of their school curriculum. Staff ensure that children understand the importance of education.

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Findings from the inspection

Children see their family, and where appropriate family members visit the home to share and celebrate significant events with their child. Children enjoy activities, trips and holidays, which provide them with opportunities to try new experiences and build their confidence.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual needs, and care is planned accordingly. One child is working towards independence, and staff help him to learn different tasks that will prepare him for his next steps. Staff take account of the child’s individual learning needs and work at a pace which is suited to the child. This enables the child to consolidate his learning in a way that is best for him.

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Findings from the inspection

The overall condition of the home is good, warm and welcoming. However, there are some outstanding maintenance issues due to recent property damage which need urgent attention.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work well with other professionals to manage risks relating to exploitation. Advice is sought from those with specialist knowledge, and open communication helps to provide a multi-agency approach to understanding and managing potential risks. There is effective partnership working with the placing authority and police to understand risks in the local area. Staff have considered creative ways to engage the children and have considered plans to reduce the risks presenting in the local area.

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Findings from the inspection

One child’s care plan has had multiple changes to respond to emerging risks. This has meant a shortfall in up-to-date information being cascaded from the manager to the staff team and an error in the staff team’s response to the child leaving the home and going missing.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been one allegation since the last inspection, and an investigation by relevant agencies is ongoing. Leaders and managers have followed safeguarding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 3 procedures and reported these incidents to the appropriate agencies. They have taken effective action when needed to protect children.

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Findings from the inspection

An interim manager is overseeing the day-to-day running of the home with support from the responsible individual. Monitoring activity has highlighted shortfalls in reporting and recording, and the responsible individual is in the process of completing an in-depth review to identify further areas for development. Where the responsible individual has already identified learning needs within the staff team, she has sought to address this through providing bespoke training and learning opportunities for staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Incident reports are completed by staff members, but some of the reports have not yet had management oversight. Discrepancies in some missing-from-care incident records have led to confusion and misreporting of key information relating to one child.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children currently living in the home. Few of the staff are qualified, but four members of staff are enrolled and working towards their qualification. No staff are out of timescales to achieve their qualification.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff report feeling happy and supported in the home. Supervision is completed with staff but lacks depth and opportunities for reflection. The responsible individual has already identified this as an area for development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2024 Full Good 22/08/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 5

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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 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

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager’s oversight of incident reports. 20 December

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 20 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 6 This specifically relates to improving the physical environment and ensuring that furniture and equipment are replaced or repaired in a timely way when required. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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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

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC388991 8 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.

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Inspector

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