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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 1 SC067899 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a private company. It provides care for up to seven children. However, the home’s statement of purpose reflects that a decision has been made by the provider that the home will only provide care for up to four children. At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2017.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2024 Full Good 23/08/2023 Full Good 22/08/2022 Full Good 10/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out, who had lived at this home for nearly two years before moving into supported accommodation. A new child has since moved into the home, who has settled in quickly. The social worker said, ‘[Name of child’s] communication has improved. They feel settled and they want to stay there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff and each other. A child said, ‘It’s always calm and homely. The staff are all really nice and it doesn’t feel like a care home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress and benefit from stability in their lives. Staff support them to spend time with their friends and families to ensure that they sustain their close relationships with the people who matter most to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children’s regular school attendance and reinforce the value and importance of their education. However, school attendance for some children is inconsistent. A social worker said, ‘Staff are very invested in the children. The children are struggling at times with their attendance, but staff are trying their best.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to be healthy and encourage their healthy lifestyle. They support children to attend their health appointments and ensure that they have access to the services they need to secure their physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children’s positive activities at home and in the community. Children enjoy visiting the gym, going swimming, horse riding and attending music concerts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with good support through one-to-one discussions. This focused approach helps staff address and meet the needs of each child. Topics covered include the dangers of using drugs, staying safe in the community, and advice on sexual health and healthy relationships. A child said, ‘This is my longest placement. I’m a different child because staff have helped me so much.’

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

Staff know the children well and have a clear understanding of their needs and vulnerabilities. They use clear risk management plans to reduce known risks to children that keep them safe from harm. There has been a marked reduction in unsafe behaviours, such as self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

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

There has been no use of restraint since the last inspection. Staff support children’s positive behaviours and ensure that the use of negative consequences is kept to an absolute minimum. Children know how to make a complaint, and their rights are promoted effectively. Children feel valued, respected and listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 4 Staff actively look for children when they are absent or go missing from the home. They keep in contact with the children, their families and friends to help them locate children quickly and encourage their safe return. However, there was an occasion when a child left the home in the middle of the night. A staff member noticed that a door to the home was unlocked but failed to check on the children. The manager has addressed this issue with staff and is conducting a lessons-learned exercise to prevent similar incidents occurring.

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

Staff are trained in child protection so that they understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. The manager responds quickly to all safeguarding concerns and oversees the care provided for children effectively.

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

Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate agencies. This ensures that prompt action is taken to keep children safe from harm. Staff maintain effective partnerships with the police and all other safeguarding partners to promote the children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high aspirations for children and high expectations of the staff. The manager demonstrates strong and effective leadership of the day-to-day operations of the home. They ensure that staff have a clear sense of purpose and direction and are consistently well managed, supported and professionally led.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a home that is managed in their best interests, and the manager is a strong advocate for children. They are a visible, strong and important presence in the children’s lives. A child said, ‘She is not like a manager. She’s like a mum who tells us what we need to hear. She cares about us and has a big heart and listens.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff provide children with a comfortable and homely living environment. Children’s bedrooms are nicely furnished, decorated and personalised. Children are respectful of the home, and staff ensure that it is maintained to a high standard for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good quality training that is tailored to meet the children’s specific needs. There are regular team meetings, and staff benefit from practice-related supervision sessions. These help staff to review their performance and monitor the progress and experiences of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses independent monitoring activities to understand the strengths and weaknesses in practice. This allows them to address any shortcomings quickly to improve the care provided for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff retention has been challenging and there have been several staff changes since the last inspection. The home has a small number of current staff vacancies, which has led to staff from other homes in the company being used to care for children. The manager ensures that the same staff members are used, whenever possible, to promote consistency for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 5 The staff employed are vetted and recruited carefully to protect children from unsuitable individuals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff’s understanding of their roles in keeping children safe, particularly with regards to using their professional curiosity to prevent children from going missing from the home. 28 July 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child is not participating in full-time education, they are supported to engage in structured learning activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should negate the need for the use of non-permanent staff, wherever possible, and recruit additional staff to fill the home’s vacant posts. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15) Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 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: SC067899 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: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC067899 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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