Children's home run by Children Assisted in a Real Environment Ltd in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC466378 1 SC466378 Registered provider: Children Assisted in a Real Environment (care) Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides long-term care for up to five children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 29 October 2013. The manager of the home registered with Ofsted on 22 June 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: SC466378 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Outstanding 09/03/2023 Full Outstanding 05/05/2021 Full Good 14/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC466378 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children achieve remarkable progress from their initial starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote inclusivity, by using a variety of visual communication aids that enable children to take part in decisions that affect their daily lives. For example, one child has been supported with an iPad to express their wishes and feelings. The staff regularly update the apps on the iPad based on the child’s evolving interests, fostering confidence in their communication. This approach has resulted in greater stability for the child. One social worker commented that the child has expressed liking the staff and said that ‘It’s almost as if the child became unlocked and is now able to communicate fluently.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is beautifully decorated. This helps to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Each child’s bedroom is thoughtfully personalised, showcasing their individuality. Staff take pride in displaying the children’s achievements and document the activities that children take part in. This adds a sense of belonging for every child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Great care is taken to support children as they prepare to move into the home. Staff use social stories and carefully consider each child’s personality and needs. They work closely with parents to gain as much information as possible to understand the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive excellent care. Staff have detailed care plans that help them to understand children’s backgrounds and the best ways to support them. Achievable goals are set for every child, and they are encouraged to develop their independent living skills at a pace that reflects their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff show high aspirations for children in their care. One child, who was thought not to have the capacity to do their own personal care needs before moving into the home, has managed to achieve this outcome with the patience and consistency of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are imaginative and find diverse ways to support children in their care. Staff build exceptional relationships with children, which helps each child to feel happy and secure in the home. One child has been supported to develop safe ways to interact with a dog in the home. This has led to the child learning to build a trusting relationship with the staff and animals. Another child’s sensory needs made it challenging for them to get a haircut. Staff found alternative ways to support the child, so that they could get their hair cut without becoming distressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One of the standout strengths of this home is the manager’s unwavering advocacy for children and young people. Their dedication ensures that those preparing to leave the home receive comprehensive transitional planning that is tailored to their individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC466378 4 Children make good educational progress. Staff work in partnership with children’s schools to ensure that there is a consistent approach to how children learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have an enjoyable time in this home. They engage in a wide range of activities in the home and in the community. This includes fancy dress parties, where children from other homes also join in. Great care is taken to discover children’s interests and tailor activities to suit their likes. One child attends dance class on a weekly basis. Another child attended a dog show and won a certificate. Each summer, the children go on holidays and recently went to a holiday camp, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Another child had an interest in wrestling and was able to attend a national wrestling event. These diverse opportunities bring immense joy to the children.

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

The home provides a nurturing environment where children’s safety is paramount. Staff forge strong, trusting bonds with the children, creating a foundation of warmth and understanding. These relationships enable staff to respond with sensitivity and care when children experience distress, skilfully de-escalating incidents and ensuring that children feel supported and always protected.

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

Children are supported in an age-appropriate way to understand risks and how to stay safe. Children’s meetings explore simple scenarios such as what to do if a child cuts their hands. Children understand that they can speak to staff about any concerns. They are supported by social stories and communication tools to learn about risks. Children are also supported to understand their bodies and any changes that may indicate changes in their health.

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

Children are supported when incidents occur. Staff take time to ensure that children are debriefed and that they understand consequences. Staff are also supported to reflect on how incidents are managed and there is a learning culture within the home. This ensures that incidents continue to be managed appropriately.

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

Staff use risk assessments and behaviour support plans effectively to help them keep children safe. These help to ensure that staff understand when a child is becoming distressed and how to respond.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate exceptional ambition for their service, staff and the children in their care. Their unwavering commitment to excellence is reflected in their proactive approach to continuously evaluating and enhancing service delivery. The leadership team consistently identifies new opportunities for improvement, ensuring that high standards are upheld. Inspection report for children’s home: SC466378 5 A key initiative involves equipping all staff with therapeutic training, fostering a theoretical foundation that helps to guide their practice. This forward-thinking approach not only empowers staff but also enhances the quality of care, creating a transformative and impactful environment where children thrive physically, emotionally, socially and educationally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff like working in the home and feel confident in their roles. They feel children receive exceptional care. Several members of staff describe the home as ‘home from home’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed excellent relationships with partner agencies, which ensures that children’s needs are met effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

New members of staff describe a family atmosphere in the home, where children’s care is prioritised. They are supported with receiving regular supervision sessions and feel able to speak to managers and other staff members if they need support. This has been crucial to staff feeling settled and confident in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers encourage staff to develop professionally. There are now several staff who have progressed into more senior positions where they are able to mentor new members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have a workforce development plan that demonstrates how staff are continuously supported, skilfully developed and meticulously trained to work effectively with children. The highly professional staff team contributes to this plan, driving forward further improvements in the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC466378 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: SC466378 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children Assisted in a Real Environment (care) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 144 Old Oak Road, London W3 7HF

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Inspector

Angela Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC466378 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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Inspector

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