Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 1 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 children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Good 04/01/2024 Full Inadequate 21/03/2023 Full Outstanding 26/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The overall judgement of this home is inadequate, due to poor safeguarding practice. Despite some areas of positive practice, the manager had not always taken appropriate action to keep the child safe. This meant the child was left at risk of harm. Allegations of harm are under investigation by relevant safeguarding professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The manager has not ensured that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding the child. On one occasion, a staff member allowed a child to have a friend stay overnight in the home without any formal planning. This was not agreed with the manager in advance to support safe care and the manager remained unaware of this for several days.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Following this safeguarding incident, the staff on duty failed to record an accurate account of the event and further concerns were identified about staff practice. To address the concerns about practice, the manager did take immediate action to ensure that staff completed additional training to reinforce their responsibilities in safeguarding children and reiterate the importance of accurate recording.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the safeguarding concerns, one child lived at the home for 18 months and made some progress before moving into supported accommodation. The move was well planned and the child was fully involved in the decision-making process. Staff ensured thar the child had sufficient support to settle into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some staff were proactive in developing the child’s independence skills. They encouraged and supported the child to develop their confidence with budgeting, shopping and preparing appropriate meals. This helped the child to gain valuable skills for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff supported the child to spend regular time with people who were important in their life. This helped the child to build on support networks for the future.

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

Since the last inspection, the child had been left at risk of harm. The manager failed to ensure that a staff member under investigation of abuse was fully supervised when working with the child until the allegation had been fully investigated. In addition, the manager did not ensure that serious allegations made against staff were reported to the local authority designated officer in the appropriate timescales.

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

Not all staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding and how they should have implemented this in daily practice to keep the child safe. Although staff have attended a range of training, this had not been implemented to ensure that the child’s needs and safety were prioritised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 4 There have been three allegations made against staff. One staff member left before disciplinary action was taken. The manager failed to ensure that all safeguarding agencies had been informed. This did not ensure that unsafe adults did not continue working and therefore put the child at risk.

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

When the child went missing from home, staff followed the appropriate procedures and actively looked for the child. Close working with other professionals, including police and the complex safeguarding team, helped to quickly locate the child and ensure their safe return.

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

Safer recruitment processes have been followed to ensure that the adults working with children have been suitably vetted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s monitoring systems are ineffective and have not identified serious shortfalls in practice which left the child at risk of harm. There have been several staff changes over the last year, which has impacted on stability for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When carrying out an investigation into a safeguarding issue, the manager has not always ensured that there is accurate recording of dates when discussions took place. This does not give clear information to ensure that the findings are accurate and give other professionals a clear overview of all processes followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager did not ensure that the independent person spent time with the child on a regular basis to obtain their views and ensure that they were safe. This limited the effectiveness of the visit and did not provide a detailed accurate report that demonstrated the child was safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervision sessions and team meetings take place in the appropriate timescales and there is clear reflective practice. This allows staff to develop their knowledge. Staff said that the manager is supportive. The in-house mental health practitioner attends these meetings and gives advice and support to staff to help them support and meet the children’s emotional needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the manager and staff are aware how to act on any allegations in accordance with the home’s policies and procedures, to ensure that staff under investigation do not work alone with children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that managers have the knowledge, skills and understanding to manage safeguarding concerns and allegations in line with statutory guidance and time frames.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are clear processes in place to ensure that appropriate referrals to 20 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 6 safeguarding agencies, including the Disclosure and Barring Service, are made when necessary.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is adequate management oversight of any significant incidents and that clear and accurate records are kept. 11 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 11 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that the independent person has the skills necessary to obtain feedback from the child on their views of the care they are receiving when they visit each month.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2623004 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

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2623004 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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