Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 1 SC483846

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Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private home provides care for up to five children who may experience a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left her role in February 2025. A manager has been appointed but is not yet registered with Ofsted. The manager is registered for a sister home in the company and is applying for dual registration.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspectors spoke with three of the children.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children report that they have positive relationships with the staff team. Children say that staff team are kind and provide them with lots of support. Care planning for children’s transitions into and out of the home has improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and mangers collaborate with placing authorities to assess risks and to ensure that children can live with one another safely. Additionally, when children have moved out of the home their views have been central to any decisions made and a carefully planned transition has been implemented.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager escalates her concerns to the virtual school and placing authorities when children are not accessing education. Staff support in-house education by engaging children in creative ways to keep them occupied during school hours. For one child who regularly refuses to attend school, the barriers to education have not been thoroughly explored. The manager recognises that this is essential, to help get the child back into a routine.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s weekly consultations are effectively used to gather children’s views, wishes and feelings. Children’s involvement in keywork sessions has improved. Staff talk through a wide range of issues with children to support their progress. However, one child requires more targeted work and support from staff to help them to understand the impact of not taking their medication and not attending mental health appointments.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a reduction in children going missing from the home. Some children with previous risks of going missing from home, have not done so since moving into the home. Staff try to locate and return children safely to the home during missing incidents. As a result, children have not been missing for prolonged periods.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff use de-escalation strategies to try and help children to manage their behaviour. When restraint is used, it is done so as a last resort to keep children and others around them safe. The manager’s oversight of incidents is reflective, taking account of information gathered from detailed debriefs with children and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Complaints and allegations are managed appropriately to ensure that children know their concerns are taken seriously. The manager understands the importance of the children being updated on any investigation outcomes. On one occasion, there was a delay in the manager reporting an allegation made by a child to the police.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that the staff team closely monitor any signs of bullying between children. Direct work is carried out with all children to educate them about the impact of bullying on both the perpetrator and the victim. The manager has also Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 3 arranged for staff to undertake training to develop their understanding of how to manage any bullying related concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Some records do not demonstrate consistent or effective management oversight. Some daily logs are unclear in relation to if staff have carried out regular welfare checks on children, when they are spending unsupervised time with their friends and family. In addition, some children’s risk assessments do not always provide clear guidance about the frequency of welfare checks to be carried out by staff. However, staff spoken to provided a clear account of the action they would take to stay in contact with a child and when they would be required to escalate concerns if the child were no longer contactable.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is focused on achieving positive outcomes for children and developing her staff team. Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. They say they are supported and valued by the manager. Consequently, the staff team morale is good.

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Findings from the inspection

Improvements have been made to systems in the home. The manager has an effective escalation plan in place to ensure that children’s care plans are on file and up to date. She also uses weekly audit systems to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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Findings from the inspection

Some areas of the home have been refurbished. Modern furniture has been purchased to make it more homely. Most children’s bedrooms are nicely personalised and kept tidy. However, one child’s bedroom was not maintained to a good standard. The child has not been effectively supported by staff to help to keep their bedroom clean and tidy. The inspectors also shared concerns about the child’s PlayStation that was overheating. This was addressed by the manager immediately. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2023 Full Inadequate 26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 5

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should demonstrate consistent and effective oversight of children’s daily records and risk assessments. 9 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 9 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 6 provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, all children should be supported by staff to keep their room clean, tidy and free from hazards.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they judge whether the incident is sufficiently serious to make formal notifications and, if it is, which other relevant persons may be notified, for example, the police, probation service, health professionals, the local authority for the area the home is located in (if this is not the child’s placing authority) and others involved with the care or protection of the child. Specifically, the police should be notified without delay if a child makes a serious allegation of harm by a staff member. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.12)  The registered person should ensure that for some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively

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Recommendations

participate in learning activities and formal education. Specifically, children’s barriers to education should be thoroughly explored by the staff team and relevant professionals to help the child re-engage in education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. Where children have specific health needs or conditions, they should be supported to manage these, subject to their age and understanding. When a child needs additional health or well-being support, staff should work with the child’s placing authority to enable proper and immediate access to any specialist medical, psychological or psychiatric support required. Specifically, children should be provided with targeted work and support from staff to help them to understand

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Recommendations

the impact of not taking their medication and not attending mental health appointments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 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: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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