Children's home run by Champion Children (NW London) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2567267 1 Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024 and is working towards the required qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home.

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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: 16 January 2024

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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: 2567267 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Good 28/03/2023 Full Good 12/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2567267 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspectors spoke with all children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive personalised care from staff who know them well and demonstrate warmth. Children and professionals highlight these positive relationships as supporting children to feel settled and make progress. This adds to an environment where children can be themselves and feel at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are consistent in their approach, so children know what to expect. Children accept this from staff overall. Where children see unfairness, staff explain to them why there may be differences between children. This helps children to feel heard and understand their experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in areas that are important to them. For example, children are in school, college or actively looking to return to education. Managers and staff emphasise the importance of children’s education, learning and development. Children have access to a therapist who visits the home weekly to work with children and the staff. Children are helped to access healthcare as needed. This includes mental health support and other aspects of their physical care. Staff also prepare children for physical developmental milestones. This all helps children to personally develop and confidently move towards adolescence and beyond.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with the people who are important to them, and, where possible, this increases over time. Staff recognise the importance of those relationships to children, so are happy to help them repair and develop relationships with friends and family if needed, and work towards safety in relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with each other are mostly positive, and staff largely address challenging behaviour well. However, on occasion, some children experience other children’s behaviour as a challenge and feel that staff could manage this more effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated and maintained. Children’s rooms reflect their personalities, and they are comfortable and cared for. The communal areas of the home reflect the purpose of the space, such as a study area with books and a desk to work at, and a games room with comic books and games controller decorations. This all adds to a welcoming, homely environment for children to live in.

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

Staff know the children and any risks to them well. Children’s risk assessments give staff good guidance, and any serious incidents lead to clear updates. Aside from the update to documents, managers make sure that staff are quickly informed of any changes so that Inspection report for children’s home: 2567267 4 they can consider these in their work. In contrast to this well-considered approach, staff have not fully considered some places that children go to regularly, such as for education, and the risks that children might be exposed to in those places due to their vulnerabilities and life experiences.

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

Staff know the procedures to follow if children go missing from their care. Staff will look for children while contacting their friends and family so that they can get children home as safely and as quickly as possible. This also emphasises to children that staff care about them. Staff talk with children after this happens to help them recognise why this puts them at risk so they can better understand how to keep safe. On one occasion, staff did not act swiftly when a child was missing as they did not follow the correct procedure. Leaders reviewed this with those staff and reminded all staff of their responsibilities. This learning has meant that staff are now clearer about the required actions, and procedures are followed.

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

Children know how to make complaints and raise concerns to staff and the manager if they need to. When this happens, managers take appropriate action. However, on one occasion, a child was not clearly informed about the outcome of a complaint they made and that they could receive additional support if needed.

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

Overall, children receive a consistent, thoughtful response when they are distressed or upset. On two occasions, a decision was made by managers to contact the police to support the management of behaviour. While some thought was given to this decision at the time, not enough thought was given to the potential consequences of this action for the children had the situation escalated. Managers have reflected on this and sought learning, but this is not yet clearly embedded.

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

Leaders have recruited several new members of staff since the last inspection. Leaders understand the principles of safer recruitment, and records are thorough. This gives leaders confidence that the staff working in the home are safe to be alongside the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the manager has registered with Ofsted. She leads the home with clarity, understanding and kindness. In addition, the newly appointed deputy adds strength and experience to the management arrangements. External professionals are complimentary about the managers’ approach, communication and leadership of the care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders can clearly articulate where children are making progress. This is captured in regular reports to children’s statutory reviews. Children have clear plans that are updated as needed so that staff know the areas of work to focus on to help children develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported by leaders. They appreciate their regular supervision and team meetings and use the time to reflect and learn. Managers also receive good support from senior leaders, so they are also able to develop in their role. New staff value their Inspection report for children’s home: 2567267 5 induction, and staff say they have access to training that has a direct impact on their practice. For example, the deputy manager facilitated a workshop about self-harm that staff were able to use to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s views are gathered formally and informally by managers and staff, and these are valued. Despite this good practice, children’s views are not well represented in the regular review of the quality of care. This is a missed opportunity to capture the positive work staff do to help children feel included in the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff help children to learn about diversity and different cultures. This includes staff celebrating meaningful festivals for children and discussing their own culture. Staff help children to develop and value their identity so that they can be confident in themselves as they develop. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567267 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children receive the outcomes of any complaints. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should ensure that the police are called to the home only when this is proportionate and necessary, and the potential consequences are thought through as well as any immediate concern. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)  The registered person should ensure that children’s behaviours towards each other are noted on behaviour plans and that there is a plan in place for addressing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.6)  The registered person should consider the risks to children in places they frequently attend, such as for education, to inform staff risk management for children. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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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: 2567267 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Private Client, Units 7 and 8, Moran House, 449 to 451 High Road, London NW10 2JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Wakeling

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Inspectors

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Ruth Okezie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2567267 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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