Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare LTD Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large national provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of inspection. They were spoken to and had their views considered.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was present throughout this 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 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is set in a rural location. Staff maintain the building to a high standard, and it feels like a family home. Staff are committed to ensuring that children live in a positive environment that is clean and well presented. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their characters and interests. Children said that they like their rooms and see them as safe spaces for them to have time to themselves. Staff have supported children to safely care for pets in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been several children arrive at and leave the home since the last inspection. Some children have had poor experiences of living in the home because they want to move closer to where they are from. The way that this has been communicated by children through their behaviours has, at points, impacted on other children living in the home. However, children do have positive and well-planned moves into the home. Despite challenging periods, staff focus on what children want and are trying to express. This contributes to children experiencing positive endings when they leave. One child’s social worker said, ’There have been some bumps, but this is the best place [name of child] could have lived.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been extensive reflection from the manager in relation to children’s placements that ended in a short space of time. The lessons learned are being used to improve experiences for children moving into the home. There is improved scrutiny of referrals that better considers the impact children might have on each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to build positive relationships with adults and with other children in the home. Where there have been breakdowns in relationships between children and with the staff, there is consistent support to repair and restore. Children have focused time with key staff who share in their hobbies and interests. Children have been supported to access positive activities and holidays with staff. Staff explore options based on children’s interests and passions, then invest time and energy in maintaining the experience for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to eat healthily and exercise. However, children’s health needs are not clearly identified or recorded within health plans. One child’s health plan was created by a staff member who does not work in the home. This has not been picked up or challenged by managers or staff in relation to inaccurate information within the plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been supported to progress with their education. Children who have experienced significant gaps in their learning have been supported to access provisions to meet their needs. One child returned to full attendance and completed exams. This was an achievement beyond expectations. Where children do not have an identified school, staff are supporting education at home. Staff are continually Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 4 challenging local authorities and working with professionals to identify a school place for one child.

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

There have been several incidents of children going missing from the home. Children have gone missing together at times. The response to this risk is effective and staff follow children’s protocols. Staff work with each other and effectively with wider professionals to locate children and return them safely. Actions for staff in response to children being missing are clear in plans. However, there is a need for plans to be more regularly reviewed to ensure information is current and reflective of children’s needs.

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

Children’s safety plans and strategies are clear and detailed. Plans link to the approaches and support techniques that staff are trained in. These plans have been kept under review but require minor updates to accurately reflect current children in the home and behaviours or risks being displayed. There is also some evidence of plans mirroring those of other children and lacking individualisation. This has not impacted on children’s care.

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

Some incidents where children have struggled to express their emotions safely have required staff to physically intervene. Restraint is used as a last resort in the home when situations are deemed a risk to people or property. Staff are trained in the safe use of restraint. When incidents have occurred, the recording is detailed and thorough. Incidents are reflected on to consider how to reduce recurrence. Children are supported to talk about incidents. Staff are also given the opportunity to debrief, particularly when they have been subject to physical aggression. Triggers and support for children are a focus when incidents are reviewed.

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

There is an effective response when children struggle because of substance or alcohol misuse. Children are supported to have meaningful discussions with staff either informally or in response to incidents of concern. Staff support children to access specialist services whom they work collaboratively with. For one child, engagement with these services has been positive and helpful.

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

Children are advocated for strongly by the manager and staff. The children’s voice and wishes are central to the care that they receive and within plans for them moving forward and longer term . Children are supported to make complaints when they are not happy with the care that they receive. Complaints are recorded, heard and acknowledged. There is a lack of evidence of the conclusion of some complaints and if children are satisfied with outcomes. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 5

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good

The home is led by an experienced and dedicated manager. The manager took the decision to become registered for two homes in the same organisation. The manager has recognised the impact that this was having on their capacity to have effective oversight of both homes. The manager raised this with a plan to return to managing one home. Responses to this request from senior leaders did not align with the manager’s concerns and suggestion and they have resigned. The home’s deputy manager has also made the decision to leave their role.This is a poor outcome for the team and children given their combined skills and experience.

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good

Although there is a strong core team of staff in the home, there are shortages, and there is a theme of staff being used from sister homes to cover. Permanent staff struggle with managing this dynamic because covering staff do not know routines or have not had access recording systems. Additionally, they have limited relationships with the children. Staff do, however, feel supported. Those spoken to said there is a strong team ethos and that the core team supported each other through very challenging periods in recent months.

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good

There are gaps in the supervision of staff. One new staff member on probation has not been regularly provided with planned one-to-one time. The staff member has raised concerns about being redeployed too often while developing and being inducted into the role. Other staff spoken to did reflect positively on training that is provided. Team meetings do offer staff the opportunity to come together for reflection and group learning.

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good

The manager has systems in place for monitoring and oversight. However, their reduced time directly in the home and in that role has meant that there are some gaps and inconsistencies in how children’s records and plans are reviewed. This does not reflect the standards that the manager holds. When the manager does review care and practice, it is effective. Limited time has prevented opportunities for the manager to upskill and develop staff who deputise in their absence. Senior leaders and managers have not provided effective oversight, which may have identified the shortfalls.

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good

Professionals spoken to have no concerns about the staff and manager. They consistently said that communication is regular and effective. They feel that children’s needs and feelings are understood and advocated for. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children’s health plans containing relevant and accurate information and all staff challenging this when plans do not reflect children’s current needs. 18 February 2026

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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. 18 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that children’s safety plans are clear, detailed and demonstrate management oversight, reflection and learning.

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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—

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 18 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 8 research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received.

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staffing shortages being addressed in line with the impact it has on core staff and relationships with children.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to leaders and managers having sufficient time for effective oversight of children’s care plans in order for effective review and completion to be undertaken.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to managers ensuring that complaints from children are fully explored to conclusion and that records reflect children and staff being consulted of outcomes.

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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: 2683445 9

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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, England UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2683445 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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