Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2798016 1 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

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in December 2025. The manager registered in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2798016 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a warm, welcoming and nurturing home environment. The home is well maintained and reflects the children’s identities, with personalised artwork and photos displayed throughout. Children are actively involved in the development of the home environment, including the design of raised flowerbeds and dedicated areas for planting vegetables and flowers. These contributions promote children’s sense of ownership and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised by the staff team. Children who previously disengaged from education now attend suitable provisions, with additional mentoring support. Staff encourage children’s aspirations and promote their future goals. As a result, children make progress in their education. One professional said that a child’s progress since moving into the home is ‘incredible’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Practice within the home is child centred. This approach empowers children to make informed decisions and express themselves in decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Multi-agency working is a strength. The registered manager and staff maintain effective partnerships with a range of external professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met. Timely referrals to specialist services, including child and adolescent mental health services, ensure that therapeutic support is integrated into children’s individual care plans. This enables staff to provide consistent and informed care that is responsive to the emotional and psychological needs of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children contribute meaningfully to the development of the home. They participate in staff meetings and deliver presentations to raise awareness of issues that affect them, such as the risks associated with cannabis misuse. Regular one-to-one discussions support children to influence their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive support to maintain relationships with peers and family members where appropriate. Positive and trusting relationships with staff are evident, with children describing that they are cared for by staff.

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

There have been no incidents requiring the use of physical intervention. Staff are skilled in the use of de-escalation techniques and are supported by the registered manager to reflect on incidents through structured debriefs. This approach promotes learning and contributes to the development of effective strategies to manage children’s behaviours. Inspection report for children’s home: 2798016 3 Behaviour support plans are robust, regularly reviewed, and tailored to individual needs. Children are involved in the development and review of these plans, promoting their understanding of their behaviours and progress.

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

Staff demonstrate an understanding of risk and have access to detailed assessments that are regularly updated in collaboration with the placing authorities. This ensures that care and support plans remain responsive to children’s evolving needs.

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

Incidents of children going missing from care are rare. When such incidents occur, staff respond promptly and effectively, often without the need for police involvement. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s peer networks and are proactive in their efforts to locate and return children safely. Return home interviews and follow-up support are offered to ensure that children have the opportunity to explore the reasons for leaving.

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

Staff receive training tailored to the specific risks and needs of the children in their care. This includes working in partnership with external agencies, such as youth justice, education providers and children’s services to inform care planning. Targeted key-work sessions are delivered effectively, with children receiving recognition for their engagement and learning through certification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership and management within the home are strong. The registered manager is an experienced and effective leader who commands the respect of staff, children and professionals. She leads by example, with a clear focus on securing positive outcomes for children. Staff speak positively about her commitment and drive to promote excellence in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team benefits from a mix of experienced and newer staff. Staffing arrangements ensure a balanced team with consideration given to experience, gender and skills. New staff receive a comprehensive induction and are supported to achieve relevant qualifications. Ongoing professional development is encouraged, and staff can access additional training opportunities, including specialist workshops delivered by the home’s forensic psychologist. These have included topics such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), restorative practices and professional curiosity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are robust systems in place to monitor and drive improvement. The registered manager responds effectively to recommendations made by the independent visitor and ensures that all documentation is up to date and consistently reviewed. The language used in care records is trauma informed, and children’s daily logs provide an overview of their experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision and team meetings are held regularly and support reflective practice. Staff value these opportunities and report high levels of job satisfaction. The home has a Inspection report for children’s home: 2798016 4 positive team culture with strong morale and a shared commitment to delivering good- quality care.

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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: 2798016 5

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Beverley Williams

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Inspector

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2798016 6 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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