Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 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

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home, and that child spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager at the home. The interim manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 25 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2599399 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. Since the full inspection in May 2025, a new manager has joined the home, but no children have moved into or out of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment for children. It is clean, well furnished, and has a homely feel, offering pleasant spaces for children to relax and enjoy themselves.

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Findings from the inspection

The child living in the home feels safe and can identify staff that they trust to help them. They say that their experience in the home has improved since the new manager came into post. The positive relationships the child enjoys with staff are supporting them to make progress. The child has begun to enjoy free time in the community, allowing them to spend time with their friends.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond appropriately when children go missing from the home. They contact safeguarding professionals and conduct searches of known areas. However, one serious incident occurred due to poor staff practice. The child was allowed free time, which was contrary to their care plan at that time. This led to the child being placed at risk of harm. Leaders and managers acted swiftly and effectively; the member of staff involved is no longer working in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

While some work is being done to address risks to the child, this seems intermittent and reactive, rather than a coordinated effort to develop the child’s understanding of how to be safe. This area requires further development to ensure a more joined-up and sustained approach to the provision of care.

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Findings from the inspection

Room searches are being used appropriately and are subject to management oversight and review.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff speak positively about the manager and feel supported. Leaders and managers have ensured that staff have had an annual appraisal and benefit from regular supervisions. Specific training to support the staff in understanding and caring for the child in their care is ongoing.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s manager has built positive working relationships with partner agencies. Professionals highlight communication and a focus on children as being their strengths. One professional said, ‘[Name of manager] is one of the best communicators. She is brilliant… absolutely on it. The information she shares is much more detailed than I have previously received. From the outside, she is doing a brilliant job.’ Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/09/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 4

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand and follow children’s plans to keep them safe, and help children to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at last inspection and reinstated. 11 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 5 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (1) (3) (4)(a)) 31 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 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: 4th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

John Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2599399 7 regulates and inspects 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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