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

Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 1 SC457180 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. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection three children were living at the home. All 3 children were spoken to.

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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

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none. Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Outstanding 13/11/2023 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to move in and out of the home in a sensitive and well-planned way. A child said, ‘This is my first time in care. I did not want to come here. The staff have been amazing with me. I was judgmental about being in a children’s home, but it’s not like what I thought at all.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is beautifully decorated and well maintained. Children are involved in decisions about the home’s décor and how the rooms in the home are used. Children’s bedrooms are well presented and personalised in accordance with their interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children form strong, lasting relationships with one another and with the staff. They maintain these positive relationships even after leaving the home. Children return to visit staff and the children still living in the home. Children also socialise with one another in the community. A child who has recently left the home said, ‘I visit at least once a week to see the staff and [name of the child]. She is like my sister’. Another child said, ‘I know I can go and see them whenever I want.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive care from staff who are consistently warm and nurturing. They develop trusting relationships with staff, which enables them to feel safe and valued. Children speak positively about their experiences in the home and refer to staff as being like their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant and sustained progress from their individual starting points. They are supported to overcome adversity through research-informed tools and strategies, which they continue to use in their daily lives after leaving the home. This approach enables them to build resilience and develop effective coping skills. One child said, ‘Living in the home has changed my life. If it wasn’t for them, I am not sure where I would be’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living in the home and those that have moved on, are supported to maintain meaningful relationships with their family. Family members were positive about their visits to the home and said that staff are always welcoming. In addition, a child who no longer lives at the home continues to be supported by staff to visit a family member who lives a considerable distance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are helped to maintain a strong sense of identity and belonging. Staff have a deep understanding of children’s emotional needs and support a child to visit their hometown. Staff have further strengthened the child’s connections, by arranging for the local newspaper where the child lived to be delivered to the home fortnightly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are well prepared for adulthood. Staff teach them the value of education and employment and support them to access paid roles in the community. Consequently, children develop in their independence and confidence. Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 4 The physical and emotional wellbeing of children is prioritised. Staff work closely with health professionals, such as mental health practitioners to ensure that children attend their health appointments. Consequently, one child’s attendance has improved. Furthermore, where children are struggling with substance misuse, staff work with drug and alcohol services to develop and implement strategies to help children.

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

The registered manager and staff use creative ways to help children learn about personal safety. After a missing from home incident, the registered manager took a different approach by asking the child to research and explain how they can keep themselves safe. As a result, the child produced a detailed presentation on measures that children can take to remain safe in the community. This creative approach helps children to reflect on risks and take ownership for their personal safety.

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

Proactive and imaginative safeguarding practice means children are confident that staff will keep them safe. Incidents of children going missing from home are rare. When they do occur, staff respond swiftly and with a high level of professional curiosity, going above and beyond to locate children. Staff work creatively and persistently with internal teams and external partners, to ensure that children are located quickly and their safety and wellbeing is prioritised.

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

Safeguarding incidents are managed effectively. When necessary, room searches are carried out without delay to reduce the risk of children experiencing further harm. In addition, staff respect children’s privacy, by ensuring that, where possible, children are consulted about the room search before it takes place.

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

Staff understand children’s individual risks and their duty to safeguard them. Risk assessments are comprehensive and provide staff with clear, practical guidance on how to identify and respond to children’s individual risks. This ensures that there is a consistent and effective response when incidents occur.

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

Allegations made by children are addressed immediately. Where appropriate, safeguarding partners, including the local authority’s designated officer and police are notified and a thorough investigation is completed. Children are kept informed of the outcome of investigations. This helps them feel listened to and assures them that their concerns are taken seriously.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an inspirational leader and an excellent role model for both staff and children. She is supported by a highly experienced deputy manager. Together they lead and manage the team with a strong focus on prioritising children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has high aspirations for children. She and her staff team have a good understanding of children’s care plans and use highly creative, child centred Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 5 approaches to support their progress in a sensitive and nurturing way. As a result, children feel understood and are supported to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they are supported in their roles. They speak highly of the team culture, which is underpinned by a strong emphasis on teamwork. Staff benefit from practice related supervision. They also commend the support from their colleagues, who they can rely on for emotional and practical support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are proactive in sourcing and prioritising bespoke training in response to children’s individual needs. This ensures that children receive, effective, personalised care. The social worker for one child said, ‘The manager arranged for the drug and alcohol worker for [name of the child] to do a training session with the staff. [name of the child] was touched that staff took time to learn about Ketamine’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff have established effective working relationships with a range of internal and external partners. They have an excellent understanding of the expertise and skills of partner agencies. They use this knowledge to strengthen practice and outcomes for children. Consequently, children benefit from co-ordinated care that meets their individual needs. for a professional involved with one child said, ‘The staff have been fantastic. They asked me to be involved in [name of the child] behaviour support plan. I have never been asked by any home to be involved in these’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and are committed to ensuring that these are met. A social worker said, ‘They are good advocates for [name of the child]. They went above and beyond to make sure that they got an appointment for [name of the child] with CAMHS’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight is excellent and driven by the registered manager’s unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding care to children. Practice is thoroughly monitored, with comprehensive monthly audits. Significant incidents are critically reviewed and evaluated, ensuring that there is reflection on practice and consideration of any improvements required. Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 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 children’s home: SC457180 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caretech, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC457180 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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