Children's home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Wandsworth

Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 1 Registered provider: St Christopher’s Fellowship Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in October 2015 and is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children of the same gender who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since September 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Outstanding 14/03/2023 Full Outstanding 26/01/2022 Full Outstanding 26/11/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is clean, warm and welcoming. It is maintained to a high standard, and it is cosy and comfortable. The kitchen is the hub of the home, where staff and children come together daily to have home-cooked meals. The two living room areas and sensory room are inviting and well furnished, encouraging children to relax and have a pleasant alternative space to their bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are settled and happy at the home. Their physical and emotional environment offers positive day-to-day interactions and experiences. Staff consistently engage with children. They are child centred and proactive when communicating with them, giving helpful support and advice. Weekly residents meetings and open discussions throughout the day provide a platform for children's voices to be heard. Staff make purposeful decisions that are central to children’s quality of care. One parent said that staff at the home ‘really care’ for their child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are flourishing from their starting points. Managers and staff know them exceptionally well. Managers and staff show considerable creativity and are forward thinking in identifying areas where children need support and guidance. For instance, they promote hair care by encouraging children to attend a hair seminar and visit their preferred hairdresser once a month. This has made a significant difference to one child’s view of themself.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive continuous educational support. Staff are persistent in finding ways to help children engage with education when they experience barriers to learning. For example, one child has returned to mainstream education due to the tenacity and advocacy of staff at the home. The child has received several recognised awards for academic effort and achievement, which emphasises this progress and success. A professional working with the child describes their progress as ‘brilliant’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a wide range of activities in the home and local community. Staff encourage children’s personal interests and create positive experiences. Additionally, a video of photos showcases all the activities children have participated in throughout the year, capturing memorable moments. Children enjoy watching these videos with staff to relive those happy memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go over and above to help children feel they belong. Staff celebrate children’s birthdays with creativity and thoughtfulness. One child recently experienced a well- designed, themed party with household traditions and a personalised birthday cake.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are offered a therapeutic approach to their care. Leaders and managers strive to improve the quality of care for children. The home has recently joined a well-known national society where staff are undertaking accredited therapeutic training. This helps Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 4 staff to support children through their life journeys with more understanding of their experiences and presenting behaviours.

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

Children’s risks are well managed. Staff are diligent and responsive when managing children’s safety and keep levels of risk under regular review. Managers undertake detailed, individualised case studies of children’s behaviour. This helps managers and staff to see trends and patterns and devise new ways of working when addressing safeguarding concerns. Staff work in line with an agreed model of care that aims to always create physical and emotional safety in the home.

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

Staff highly respect children’s views and opinions. Children participate in the recruitment process of new staff in the home. This gives them a sense of responsibility and ownership over their judgement and safety. This inclusive practice is helping children to build confidence in their communication skills. One parent told the inspector that they like that staff encourage their child to get involved with decision-making and planning.

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

Staff are proactive in supporting children to understand their health needs. Staff prioritise their work with medical professionals to ensure that children understand the importance of maintaining good health. One child’s medical condition has been managed exceptionally well, and improvements have exceeded professionals’ expectations since the child moved into the home. One professional said the experienced staff and effective management that supports the child have been life-changing.

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

Staff are forward thinking and show creativity with engaging children. Key-work discussions are planned, regular and tailored to children’s needs. Discussions cover a wide range of areas, such as daily routines and online safety. Children participate very well and complete related study documents.

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

Staff work in partnership with children to keep them safe. For example, children are involved in creating risk assessments about the local area. As staff are aware of children’s views, they can proactively support them by offering advice and flexible, tailored assistance when in the community.

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

Staff keep parents well informed about their child’s progress. Parents told the inspector that staff communication is consistent, and they are confident their children are cared for and kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children. They meticulously ensure that staff have the knowledge they need to nurture and care for children to a high standard. Staff are offered a wide range of specialist training opportunities. The depth of knowledge is helping staff be more purposeful in all aspects of their care for children. Staff say that they feel supported by managers, and that they value this highly. One staff Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 5 member commented during the inspection that the home’s induction process is comprehensive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home. Managers use weekly and monthly audits which contribute to comprehensive reviewing and monitoring systems. This plays an important part in helping to ensure that there is only high-quality care for children, as any shortfalls are addressed quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s care is individualised. This personalisation is extensively seen in training, team meetings and staff supervision records. Managers and leaders support staff to maintain child-focused practice. The care in the home is well structured with clear expectations of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff engage in monthly supervision. They reflect on their practice and the quality of care and safety for children. Staff also discuss their well-being and development opportunities. Records show consistent partnership work between management and staff, and staff confirmed this was the case to the inspector.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers show innovative thinking around children’s well-being. The home has received recognition for its second voluntary contribution towards government research and has been officially commended for its efforts. Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 6

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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: 1159755 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: St Christopher’s Fellowship

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Putney High Street, Wandsworth, London SW15 1SZ

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Inspector

Natalie Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1159755 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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