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

Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 1 SC457012 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

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation, providing care for up to three children with complex needs who require specialist support.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good 27/02/2023 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good 07/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, there were three children living at the home. All three children spoke to the inspector. Since the last inspection, three children have moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager considers whether they can meet the needs of new children, and considers the needs of children who already live in the home. The staff and manager work with children to build positive relationships with staff as well as each other. Two children said that they like living in the home and spoke of the positive support they have received from staff. Children who have moved out were supported to visit their new homes, helping to prepare them for their moves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to gain skills that enable them to develop their independence. Staff encourage healthy sleep, education and personal hygiene routines. Children are encouraged to work towards specific targets with incentive plans. When children struggle to attend education, staff encourage their attendance with these plans. This has helped children to attend more frequently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to have fun, and they plan activities around the children’s interests. Children have enjoyed a range of events, including going on holiday, bowling and to the trampoline park. This helps children to take part in activities that they enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff take children to see their families, who live a significant distance away. This helps children to maintain relationships with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although children have mostly positive relationships with staff, they do not have regular access to independent advocacy. Therefore, they do not have an independent, trusted person to confide in should they need to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, the environment is homely. Children personalise and decorate their bedrooms to their individual preference. However, there is a build up of limescale on the tiles and shower screen in the children’s bathroom. This detracts from the homely environment.

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

Detailed risk assessments and safety plans help to support staff to work with the children. Staff demonstrate that they understand the children’s plans and follow these to reduce risk and help keep the children safe.

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

Room searches take place only when a specific risk is identified. Children are asked for their consent. The searches have proved effective in removing items that could present a danger to the children. Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 4 When children have been missing from the home, staff have taken effective action, including looking for the children and informing the appropriate professionals. Staff welcome children home and provide a safe environment for them to return to.

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

Rewards and consequence are used effectively to encourage positive behaviour. Consequences are fair and proportionate, with a focus on developing the children’s understanding and supporting self-reflection.

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

Staff have in-depth discussions with children regarding substance misuse, child criminal exploitation and bullying. These discussions have helped children to develop their understanding of areas of risk.

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

Staff support children to talk about their emotions and develop healthier coping mechanisms. There is good communication and guidance from external professionals, who support staff with how to respond to and implement the children’s safety plans. This helps children to receive consistency from all agencies and supports their well-being.

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

When children have raised concerns about staff, these have been taken seriously. Investigations take place and are discussed with the relevant agencies. Children receive clear information and a response to the outcome of their concern.

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

When children have experienced difficulties living together, staff have supported children to talk about their concerns and managed bullying incidents well. This approach has kept the children safe. However, on one occasion, a particularly serious bullying incident happened. Ofsted was not notified about this incident, which has limited Ofsted’s capacity to monitor incidents of this nature.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2020. She is experienced and qualified. She is committed to her role, and understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regular. The manager provides staff with important updates and practice improvements, and the welfare of the children is discussed. This helps the team to reflect and improve on their practice and ensure that children receive a high standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is supported by a mental health clinician who regularly visits the home and offers well-being sessions. This helps to support the staff’s emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with other professionals, including social workers, the police and local authorities. Feedback from professionals is positive. One social worker said, ‘In my opinion, the manager and staff at the home have shown great commitment in providing a person-centred service towards the child’s needs despite some challenges.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 5 Staff generally receive regular, high-quality, reflective supervision. When provided, this helps staff to reflect on and enhance their practice. Overall, the manager ensures that staff are trained to meet the complex needs of the children. However, although supervision and training for staff are generally positive, on one occasion, following a significant concern, a member of staff was not given the support, supervision or training necessary to help develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has reviewed the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises. However, they have not sought updated information from relevant people. This does not ensure that the provider has an accurate understanding of the risks and benefits presented by the location of the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 6

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What does the children's home need to do to improve?

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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(x)) 25 February 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children have access to appropriate advocacy support, and, where possible, this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that when completing the review of the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home, up-to-date information is sought from relevant people. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. In particular, ensure that the build

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Recommendations

up of limescale on the tiles and the shower screen in the children's bathroom is Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 7 removed. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15 paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: SC457012 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

Syvanna Matthew, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC457012 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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