Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 1 SC457183 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 home is privately owned and provides care for up to one child who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024. The registered manager is no longer employed at the home but has not yet de-registered with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 17 September 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2021 Full Inadequate 04/12/2019 Full Good 04/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the child has remained living at the home. Staff understand the child’s individual needs and the child is making good progress because of the good quality of care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to take part in a range of activities to develop their interests and hobbies. With support from staff, the child recently started playing rugby and has since been invited to join the local rugby team. In addition, staff support the child in participating in children’s charitable work, and in building confidence through adrenaline- based activities. Photos of the child taking part in activities and certificates of their achievements are proudly displayed in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to the child and ask them what they want and how they can help them. Staff ensure that the child has access to an independent advocate so they can have their voice heard and their views represented independently. This supports the child to feel valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has returned to formal education after a significant period without a school placement. Staff supported the child to engage in informal learning to help them prepare for returning to school. This included the child learning to read and write. Managers and staff work closely with professionals to ensure that plans to attend education are consistent with the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that relevant health practitioners work with the child to support their emotional and physical well-being. The child’s emotional well-being has improved, and they are now attending therapy regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to maintain positive relationships and spend time with their family. When there are restrictions to the child seeing some family members, staff support the child to create child-friendly letters and presentation slides to send to them.

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

Staff are confident in supporting the child when they struggle with their emotions. Staff have a good understanding of how the child’s experiences affect them. Staff consult regularly with a commissioned psychotherapist to discuss the child’s changing needs and how to provide effective support. They ensure that support strategies are reflected in the child’s assessments and plans. Staff understand how to keep the child safe and respond to incidents proactively.

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

Most of the risks identified when the child moved into the home have reduced. Risks are considered sensitively and proportionately by staff. For example, the child has shared previous traumatic experiences with staff. To support the child, the staff and placing Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 4 authority have created a plan to ensure that staff explore this sensitively and effectively without overwhelming the child.

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

Managers use research to develop their understanding of the child’s behaviours during incidents and to enhance staff practice. Research is used to reflect on incidents and support the child’s understanding of their own behaviour. This is in its infancy and is not fully embedded in practice.

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

There are warm and caring relationships between the child and staff. The child knows how to make a complaint. Records show the child speaks to managers if they are worried or upset, and this is acted on appropriately. This contributes to the child’s well- being and security.

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

There are occasions when the child has been restrained by staff to keep them or others safe. The use of restraint has been necessary and proportionate and is a last resort. Staff and the child receive meaningful and reflective debriefs to discuss the incident and consider any changes required to practice.

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

Following a review by senior leaders that identified shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, the registered manager is no longer working there. Despite this, she is yet to de-register with Ofsted. Two interim managers are currently supporting the home. The provider has informed Ofsted of the changes in the day-to-day management of the home. A new manager has been appointed but is yet to start.

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

The interim managers have implemented changes to guide staff in caring for the child. This is positive for both the child and staff. Staff say they feel more confident and empowered to make decisions and perform their roles effectively.

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

Since the changes in management, there has been a notable improvement in the oversight of the care being provided to the child. There are now more effective monitoring and review systems in place, including daily and monthly management checks and audits. This ensures that there is sufficient oversight of staff practice, and the quality-of-care staff provide to the child.

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

Supervision takes place regularly with staff; however, practice-related concerns are not always fully recorded. Discussions between the registered manager and senior leaders about staff practice are not recorded. Furthermore, there are supervision records for sessions with the registered manager which staff say did not take place. This impacts on leaders and managers’ ability to understand the needs of staff and respond appropriately to shortfalls in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is a permanent, suitably qualified manager working in the home. 26 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that practice- related concerns are detailed in formal supervision records and professional development needs are identified and addressed. 26 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 6

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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: SC457183 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Beverley Williams

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457183 8 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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