Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 1 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 home is privately run and provides care for up to four children who may have experienced trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since December 2023.

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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: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2024 Full Inadequate 23/01/2024 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Outstanding 04/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 3

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improvement to be good

There were no children living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child has moved in and moved out of the home since the last inspection. The manager did not assure themselves that they could meet the child’s needs before they moved in. Leaders and managers subsequently decided they were unable to safely meet the child’s needs after some significant incidents. This resulted in the child moving out after just six weeks.

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improvement to be good

There were a high number of calls to the police to help staff manage the child’s behaviour. Leaders and managers agreed that on some occasions police assistance was not necessary and that this had a negative impact on the child.

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improvement to be good

The child had some positive experiences while living at the home. They built positive relationships with some staff and engaged in activities they had not experienced before.

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improvement to be good

The home is nicely decorated and has a homely feel. Repairs to the home are made in a timely manner. This helps to create a nurturing environment.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of family for children. Staff support children to maintain links with those who are important to them when safe and appropriate.

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improvement to be good

When serious incidents occur, leaders and managers notify relevant agencies, including Ofsted; however, these notifications lack crucial details. This means that the capacity of external agencies to monitor safeguards at the home is reduced.

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improvement to be good

Staff generally respond well when children go missing from home; however, there has been a lack of learning from incidents. This led to a child experiencing significant harm while being missing from home. Leaders and managers felt this incident could have been avoided.

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improvement to be good

Staff complete the organisation’s mandatory safeguarding training. They are confident in their roles and in reporting and escalating any child protection concerns, and they understand the whistle-blowing policy. Staff are protective of children and publicly advocate for them, even in times of resistance.

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improvement to be good

Complaints are managed and responded to appropriately. Physical interventions have been necessary and proportionate. There have been no allegations against staff working at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 4 Safe recruitment practices are effective. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures help to strengthen safeguards against unsuitable adults working with children.

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

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted. She is suitably experienced and qualified. She was present during this inspection.

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

There have been several changes to the senior management of the home since the last inspection, including multiple changes of the responsible individual. The manager is currently managing two homes. This has resulted in reduced oversight and monitoring of this home, and some incidents have not been analysed or reviewed by the manager.

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

Leaders and managers have reviewed the location and premises of the home. However, they have failed to consult with relevant external agencies. This limits the scope for assessing risks to children in the wider community.

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

Staff benefit from regular reflective supervision and team meetings. However, staff do not receive an annual appraisal of their performance. This means that opportunities may be missed to support staff development.

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

Staff complete the organisation’s mandatory training. Some staff hold a relevant level 3 qualification, and those who are not qualified are working towards completing their qualification. Staff spoke positively about the home and about the leaders and managers.

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

Feedback from professionals was also positive. Professionals said communication was good, and one commented on their positive working relationship with the managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 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

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 so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(b)) 27 October 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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 27 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 6 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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure there is adequate management oversight and monitoring of the home.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all incidents are reviewed to evaluate the impact on children and, where possible, to inform future practice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. In particular, ensure that notifications are detailed and contain all the relevant information available. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. In particular, the registered person should ensure that they review relevant plans and information about children to assess the home’s ability to meet children’s needs before they move

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Recommendations

into the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. When conducting the review, the registered person should consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 7  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals

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Recommendations

who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 1230416 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: 4th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1230416 9 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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