Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456729 1 SC456729 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 is one of several children’s homes run by a large private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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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: SC456729 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Good 24/05/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Good 24/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC456729 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home, and four children have moved out. One child left to live with their family, and another child moved to a new home. The child currently living in the home has lived there for over two years. The child said, ‘My relationships with staff are good. I have close relationships with them all.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support family time. As a result, children sustain their close relationships with their friends and loved ones. Staff provide a warm, welcoming and homely living environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the children’s health needs effectively. They encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle and ensure that their medication is stored and administered safely. Staff provide children with positive activities to promote their interests and hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Property damage is repaired promptly, and health and safety matters are addressed effectively by staff. Children’s bedrooms were observed to be clean and tidy, well decorated and furnished.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s education and learning by working closely with the providers of their education to promote their achievements. The child attends school and is doing well academically. A teacher said, ‘Their attitude towards learning is positive. They seem so much happier and are sitting their exams as we speak.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys close relationships with staff. Staff provide them with well-planned, highly individualised care that promotes their needs safely and effectively. The child’s social worker said, ‘They are doing incredibly well. I can’t believe the difference we have seen. They are bright, alert and happy.’

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

Staff show a good level of professional curiosity. This has helped staff to identify unsafe behaviours quickly and take appropriate action to protect children from harm. Staff regularly update children’s risk management plans to record any new or emerging behaviours. This ensures that staff have a thorough understanding of children’s specific risks and vulnerabilities.

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

Staff are trained to handle challenging behaviours. They use behaviour management plans to guide them on how to support children safely. The use of restraint is always a last resort. Restraint is only ever used to protect children from harm.

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

When children go missing from the home, including when they leave during the night due to feeling unsettled, staff actively search for them. They work closely with the police to find children quickly to promote their safe return. There has been a significant Inspection report for children’s home: SC456729 4 reduction in missing-from-home episodes for the child who is currently living in the home.

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

Staff educate children about the risks of going missing and misusing drugs. They work closely with partner agencies to ensure that children benefit from effective help and support. This has helped one child to stop misusing drugs. A social worker said, ‘Staff have done an incredible job in keeping [name of child] safe.’ The child said, ‘Staff have helped me so much. I got lots of help from everyone.’

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

The home notifies the appropriate authorities when significant incidents occur. This ensures that professionals work together effectively to keep the children safe. Staff develop effective partnerships with all safeguarding agencies to promote children’s safety. A teacher said, ‘The placement has been brilliant, and there is a safety plan between home and school.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from an experienced manager who provides effective leadership in the daily operations of the home. The manager is a strong advocate for children and makes decisions that they believe are in the children’s best interests. Since the last inspection, the manager has registered with Ofsted. Children benefit from a stable staff team that provides them with continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although children have made progress since the last inspection, there was a brief period during which two children experienced distress. The manager worked closely with the placing authority to provide support for the children during this challenging period. Staffing levels were increased, and meetings were held to discuss strategies to help children settle. However, following a serious incident, two of the children quickly moved out of the home. The manager has since collaborated with the team and the placing authority to identify strategies that will prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff employed to care for children are carefully recruited, selected and vetted. This ensures that children are protected from unsuitable individuals. There is a good-quality training programme in place. This ensures that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the children’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from monthly team meetings and practice-related supervision sessions. This helps them to reflect on their practice and performance as a team in meeting the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits the home to assess the quality of care and the safety arrangements in place for the children. This helps leaders and managers to understand the strengths and weaknesses in practice. The manager addresses any shortfalls to improve the care provided for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456729 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 23 June 2025

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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: SC456729 6

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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: SC456729 7 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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