Children's Home run by Champion Children (NW London) Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 1 Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to five children with emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since the home was registered in September 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 3

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improvement to be good

There have been a number of shortalls in the safeguarding of children who have lived at this home. However, leaders and manager have recognised this and taken action. Leaders and managers are making improvements at the home. They have taken steps to improve their initial assessment of children before they move into the home. Staff are able to meet the needs of the children who are currently at the home.

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. Three children took part in the inspection. Since the last inspection, four children have moved in and three children have moved out, in an unplanned way.

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improvement to be good

The culture and staff practice in the home are not in line with the statement of purpose. The staff do not understand or practise the therapeutic model described. Care plans fail to provide sufficient guidance for staff to support children. The staff do not all understand children’s neurodiversity. There are times when this has led to frustration for children. Training has been booked for staff to build their knowledge in this area.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always have the skills to build meaningful relationships with children. They are not always sensitive to children’s feelings about their families Records written by staff indicate that children did not want to engage with staff. There is no review or explanation of how staff try to build connection or communication with children. There are few key-worker sessions and reports do not include the children’s views.

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improvement to be good

Medication records are not always clear. One child has been prescribed medication by the GP, however, the staff did not know what this was for. This did not have an impact on the child but could potentially lead to harm if medication is not monitored correctly.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to attend school regularly. One child said they are keen to achieve well in their exams, get a good job and have security as an adult. This promotes their life chances.

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improvement to be good

Children access a wide range of activities, such as visits to theme parks, and going bowling and boating. All the children are going on holiday in the near future. They are very excited about this. This gives children something to look forward to and will create meaningful memories.

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improvement to be good

A new therapist has recently started working at the home. Children have weekly sessions with her. This provides them with a regular space to process past trauma. The therapist is also helping to upskill the staff team. Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 4

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improvement to be good

The children who moved out of the home had high levels of going missing from the home. Staff were not skilled enough to meet the needs of these children. One child was additionally vulnerable to criminal exploitation. On two occasions, the child was missing for up to 45 minutes at night before the staff noticed. Leaders and managers did not investigate how these incidents occurred. Staff were not provided with clear instructions to prevent this from happening again. This resulted in a third incident when two children were missing overnight without the staff knowing. Leaders and managers accept these are serious shortfalls and are investigating to understand how this happened. At the time, there were also concerns about how one child was using his mobile phone and how this was monitored. Since then, the staff have developed better ways of helping children use their mobile phones safely.

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improvement to be good

A record of a team meeting shows that one child was found asleep in another child’s bedroom. The manager failed to follow this up at the time. This issue is included in a reflective investigation by leaders and managers.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are not clear or coherent, particularly in relation to missing-from-home incidents and bullying. This means that staff do not always have specific protocols or procedures to follow in the event of these occurring. This hinders the ability of staff to manage the risks posed to children’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Various records show that there have been recurring minor incidents between children. The staff have not followed these up, and on occasion, staff have minimised children’s behaviour. This shows a lack a of understanding of bullying. Staff have not always understood the dynamics between children. This lack of understanding means that children are not always supported to resolve their differences.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always understand their roles or priorities. They have prioritised doing paperwork when they should be spending time with children which has negatively affected children. Children have reflected on this when spoken to . Staff have not always supervised children effectively and expectations are unclear.

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improvement to be good

The staff rarely use physical restraint. When interventions have been used, children and staff have been fully consulted about what happened. When language is ambiguous, the manager has explored what has happened to ensure children’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Allegations against staff are reported to appropriate safeguarding partners. Internal investigations take place, and formal disciplinary processes are used when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 5 The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She is supported by senior leaders. Senior leaders understand the seriousness of the shortfalls identified. They have a drive to improve the service, and a development plan has been started to address the issues highlighted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has some oversight of incident reports, however, missing-from-home issues have not always been understood or recognised. The manager has not thoroughly assessed children’s needs before considering their move into the home. This has meant that some children have had quick and unplanned endings as staff were unable to meet their needs. This adds further disruption to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings and supervision sessions have not provided enough focus to support staff to understand the therapeutic model. As a result, staff have not always been offered sufficient opportunities to learn from their practice and make the necessary improvements. The manager has not received supervision sessions as described in the statement of purpose. When missing-from-home episodes were increasing, the importance of supervision sessions was not recognised by the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls, staff feel supported by the manager. They said that she is available. Staff feel well supported during their induction period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager ensures that significant events are notified to Ofsted and notifications are open and transparent. This enables Ofsted to have effective oversight of the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 6

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure risk assessments clearly explain the expectations of supervising children and missing-from-home risk assessments provide staff with clear instructions when children go missing. 1 November 2025

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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 1 November 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 7 promotes their welfare.

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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;

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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)(c)(f)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the oversight and review of incidents identify and address shortfalls in staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; 1 November 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 8 understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix)(x)(xii)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 1 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being;

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff record the reason for children’s medication in their plans and there is appropriate management oversight of medication. 1 November 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: 2769395 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Private Client, Unit 7-8, Moran House, 449-451 High Road, London NW10 2JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Wakeling

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2769395 10 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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