Social care · Social care monitoring visit
Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited
Summary
Hannah Phillips (lead), Sarah Orriss
What we read, and from where
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- Group verified
Cambian Childcare Limited
- Inspection date verified
20 Jan 2026
- Inspectors verified
Hannah Phillips, Sarah Orriss
- Name on report verified
2770974
- URN verified
2770974
Deep dive
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Strengths
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Next steps
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- Leaders and managers must ensure that they provide effective day-to-day oversight of staff practice and take timely action to address poor staff practice. p.6
- In particular, ensure that staff are skilled and aware and take all the necessary action in response to self-harm and other safeguarding incidents. p.6
- Ensure that accurate records are in place that clearly describe the action taken by staff. p.6
- Ensure that staff clearly understand the plans to encourage children’s school attendance and that detailed records demonstrate how staff are fulfilling the plans using the therapeutic model of care. p.8
- In particular, ensure that children have clear routines and rhythms in place, that staff are aware of and understand the plans and that detailed records are in place to demonstrate how staff are putting the plans into practice using the prescribed model of care. p.8
- This requirement is restated. 1 March 2026 p.8
- The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— p.8
What the report dwells on
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Wellbeing & mental health2
“meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans.” p.7
Anatomy of the report
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- Pages
- 11
- Words of findings
- 1,037
- longer than usual (typical 566)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 46, typical 46
- Average sentence
- 17 words
- Next steps
- 7
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 0%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited
p.1
Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children’s home
This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 5 children with mental health difficulties and who may not be able to live in the community without continued support.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
There has been no registered manager since 12 March 2025. A manager is in post, and he has applied to register with Ofsted.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
There is a separately registered school on site. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision.
p.1
This monitoring visit
The home was inspected on 7 and 8 April 2025 and was judged to be ‘requires improvement to be good’.
p.1
This monitoring visit
An assurance visit took place on 8 December 2025, where there were serious and widespread concerns relating to children’s safety and the leadership and management of the home. As a result, compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. The purpose of this visit was to review the progress made in meeting the compliance notices.
p.1
This monitoring visit
The provider has not met the steps in the compliance notices. Since the compliance notices were served, the safety of children has declined.
p.1
This monitoring visit
Children in the home have high risks of self-harm. The responsible individual sent an email to the staff team on 11 December 2025 to explain the action that they need to take if a child self-harms and refuses to go to hospital. Within a week of this email Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 2 being sent, a child swallowed 2 button batteries. Staff tried to encourage the child to go to hospital. However, the child refused. Staff left the child overnight with no further medical advice being sought. The manager advised staff to call medical professionals the next morning. Staff are not following clear advice provided to them by senior managers. This puts children at risk of harm.
p.1
This monitoring visit
Several more incidents have taken place involving children self-harming. More recently, a child had tied a ligature around their neck. Staff have recorded that this was ‘loose’. Staff allowed the child to keep the ligature on their neck for over 24 hours, including while the child was asleep. This increases the risk of harm that the child could cause to themselves. Staff involved in this incident have been referred to safeguarding partners.
p.2
This monitoring visit
The manager’s oversight is ineffective. When he has evaluated recent incidents, he has identified poor staff practice. However, he has not spent time with individual staff to explain to them what the practice concerns are and what they need to do differently. This means that unsafe practice has continued. For example, during a self-harm incident involving a ligature, the child went to their bathroom for around 30 minutes, meaning that the staff member could not see them. The staff member was on their own, and it is not clear why no other staff were available. This was also questioned by the manager in his evaluation. The staff member did not seek support from the on-call Manager. None of these issues have been followed up with the staff member by the manager through either a debrief or in supervision.
p.2
This monitoring visit
A child made an allegation against staff. The manager did not report this to senior managers or to external safeguarding partners. Appropriate steps have not been taken to provide assurances that the child is safe.
p.2
This monitoring visit
A child made another allegation on 1 December 2025. The investigation into this concluded on 19 December 2025. As part of the investigation, a staff member reported witnessing a different staff member swearing at a child. A supervision took place with the staff member. However, this did not take place until 17 January 2026, nearly a month after the investigation concluded. The staff member was not reported to the local authority designated officer. The manager has also not followed up why the witness did not report the staff member swearing until being involved in an investigation, rather than at the time of the incident. The manager has not identified these issues as being important.
p.2
This monitoring visit
Staff have been provided with additional training, and risk assessments have been updated. However, some aspects of risk have not been included. For example, a child wearing their jumper in a particular way should promote staff to be curious about whether the child has self-harmed; however, this has not been translated into risk assessments.
p.2
This monitoring visit
To provide better support to one child, a risk assessment has been put in place to ensure that the child always has 2 staff members with them and that these staff Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 3 should be within arm’s reach of the child. This is so that the staff can help the child if they try to harm themselves. These staffing ratios were not evident on inspection. Staff are not clear what the staffing risk assessment means or what the expectations are in practice. This does not keep the child safe.
p.2
This monitoring visit
The manager has not notified Ofsted of serious incidents. During the inspection, a senior manager advised that he had identified with the manager that some incidents should have been notified. However, no action was taken to rectify this.
p.3
This monitoring visit
Following the inspection, the provider was asked to make retrospective notifications of incidents that they had identified as being serious. These were sent by the manager. However, some incidents that Ofsted have been made aware of by social workers have still not been reported. This limits the oversight that Ofsted has of the setting.
p.3
This monitoring visit
Due to the serious nature of the shortfalls, Ofsted is not confident that the provider has the capacity and capability to provide rigorous leadership to strengthen safeguarding practice. The registration of this home has been suspended. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 4
p.3
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
07/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/07/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 5
p.4
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 with the given timescales.
p.5
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—
p.5
Requirement Due date
helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.5
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;
p.5
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;
p.5
Requirement Due date
demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—
p.5
Requirement Due date
feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and
p.5
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)(g)(ii)(h))
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, leaders and managers must provide effective oversight and monitoring of safeguarding practice, including recognising complaints and allegations and ensuring that these are responded to effectively. 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 6 Leaders and managers must ensure that effective debriefs are undertaken with staff and children following safeguarding and other incidents.
p.5
Requirement Due date
Leaders and managers must ensure that they provide effective day-to-day oversight of staff practice and take timely action to address poor staff practice.
p.6
Requirement Due date
The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.
p.6
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.6
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;
p.6
Requirement Due date
have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;
p.6
Requirement Due date
understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;
p.6
Requirement Due date
take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and
p.6
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)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))
p.6
Requirement Due date
In particular, ensure that staff are skilled and aware and take all the necessary action in response to self-harm and other safeguarding incidents.
p.6
Requirement Due date
Ensure that accurate records are in place that clearly describe the action taken by staff.
p.6
Requirement Due date
Ensure that staff understand their role and responsibility in relation to safeguarding, that they engage with children and 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 7 that all necessary action is taken to provide safe and effective care for children.
p.6
Requirement Due date
The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—
p.7
Requirement Due date
understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and
p.7
Requirement Due date
use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.
p.7
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.7
Requirement Due date
understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;
p.7
Requirement Due date
understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;
p.7
Requirement Due date
protect and promote each child’s welfare. (Regulation (6) (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)) 1 March 2026
p.7
Requirement Due date
The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—
p.7
Requirement Due date
an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and
p.7
Requirement Due date
positive responses to other children and adults.
p.7
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.7
Requirement Due date
meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation (11) (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)) 1 March 2026
p.7
Requirement Due date
The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 1 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.7
Requirement Due date
help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;
p.8
Requirement Due date
understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;
p.8
Requirement Due date
promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; and
p.8
Requirement Due date
help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(x))
p.8
Requirement Due date
Ensure that staff clearly understand the plans to encourage children’s school attendance and that detailed records demonstrate how staff are fulfilling the plans using the therapeutic model of care.
p.8
Requirement Due date
The health and well-being standard is that—
p.8
Requirement Due date
children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(c))
p.8
Requirement Due date
In particular, ensure that children have clear routines and rhythms in place, that staff are aware of and understand the plans and that detailed records are in place to demonstrate how staff are putting the plans into practice using the prescribed model of care.
p.8
Requirement Due date
This requirement is restated. 1 March 2026
p.8
Requirement Due date
The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—
p.8
Requirement Due date
a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;
p.8
Requirement Due date
an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 15 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 9 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;
p.8
Requirement Due date
a child protection enquiry involving a child—
p.9
Requirement Due date
or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or
p.9
Requirement Due date
there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))
p.9
Requirement Due date
*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.
p.9
Information about this inspection
The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.
p.9
Information about this inspection
This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 10
p.9
Children’s home details
Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited
p.10
Children’s home details
Registered provider address: Caretech, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX
p.10
Inspectors
Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2770974 11 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.
p.10
Inspectors
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p.11
Inspectors
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p.11
Inspectors
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
p.11
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