Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 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

This home is owned by a large national provider and is a specialist service for children with mental disorders, excluding learning disability. At the time of this monitoring visit, there were 4 children living at the home. Two children were spoken to and their views were considered as part of the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has recently registered with Ofsted but was not present for this visit. The visit was supported by the responsible individual for the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the progress made by the organisation to meet the compliance notices set at the previous visit, and to ensure that the organisation was complying with a restriction of accommodation notice that was issued to the organisation by Ofsted. At the visit, it was confirmed that the restriction of accommodation notice has been complied with, as no further children have been admitted to the home. However, this restriction will remain in place to prevent any additional children moving into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice relating to Regulation 14, ‘The care planning standard’, is considered to have been met. This improvement reflects better oversight and understanding of the impact of children living together in a group setting. However, the compliance notices relating to Regulation 12 ‘The protection of children standard’, and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’, have not been met. These notices have therefore been restated for a fourth consecutive time.

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This monitoring visit

Although some progress has been noted, this is primarily in relation to improvements in the quality of children’s risk assessments and plans rather than the care and safeguarding of children. Staff continue to fail to follow guidance from leaders and managers and information recorded in children’s plans and risk Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 2 assessments. There have been several significant incidents which had the potential to place children at risk of harm. External agencies, such as the police and local authority designated officer (LADO), have raised concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children and staff responses.

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This monitoring visit

Children spoken to continue to raise concerns about their care, safety and wellbeing. Their concerns have been shared with their social workers and the organisation. Concerns raised at the last monitoring visit have not been adequately addressed.

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This monitoring visit

On one occasion, a child recorded an incident in which another child was being restrained. They did so because they were concerned about staff conduct during the restraint. The video was shared with the organisation, which acted in response, including reporting the matter to the LADO. The child reported that they did not feel confident leaders and managers would believe their account without this evidence. In addition, staff failed to report their own concerns about the conduct of colleagues during the incident. This does not provide Ofsted with assurance of a positive safeguarding culture within the home and places children at risk of harm. It also demonstrates that children do not feel their concerns are listened to or acted on, which affects their sense of safety and wellbeing.

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This monitoring visit

There have been incidents where children left the home, which led to significant consequences, such as running in the roads in front of traffic. Police have been required to intervene in these incidents, and they have raised concerns around children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

On one occasion, staff failed to follow medication policies and protocols. This led to a child being left with medication, and this had the potential to cause them harm if they had taken more than the prescribed dose. The child alleged they had taken an overdose, and staff followed the guidance in place. The medication was then stored securely to prevent any further concerns.

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This monitoring visit

There was flooding in one of the children’s bedrooms, which resulted in the child having to move rooms. Staff chose to move the child’s belongings while the child was out of the home. This caused the child considerable distress and led to a serious incident involving ligatures. Staff did not consider the potential impact on the child or how best to mitigate the associated risks. This does not provide confidence that staff understand the child’s specific needs or how to respond to them safely.

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This monitoring visit

A staff member, who was supporting and supervising a child on a one-to-one basis, was found asleep on duty. The child videoed the staff member asleep and shared this with leaders and managers. This had the potential to place children at significant risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have identified that there is an emerging closed culture within the home, which has led to safeguarding concerns and incidents not being reported in line with expectations. Staff have been provided with guidance and reminders of the expectations of their roles, with further workshops and training Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 3 planned. Guidance and training have so far been ineffective in providing any meaningful change and progress in the quality of care in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Not all of the statutory requirements previously set were reviewed during this inspection and have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/04/2024 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 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 with 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

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;

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments relating to all children contain thorough and up- to-date information about known risks and vulnerabilities and that staff are following these.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that risk assessments provide staff with clear strategies on how to support children when they exhibit unsafe behaviour, and that appropriate action is taken to help reduce risks. 6 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 6 The registered person must ensure that managers and staff understand the requirements and expectations in fulfilling risk assessments.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff are reporting safeguarding concerns as soon as possible.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

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–

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 6 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that systems are in place to enable effective management oversight of the home, including during periods where the manager is away from the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all complaints are investigated and that the outcomes are shared with children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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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;

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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)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 6 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who-

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children:

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 6 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to-

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are always following the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any concerns with closed cultures are addressed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any action taken by staff towards children is in line with the child’s individual care plan and considers the individual needs of the child.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 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 UB8 1UX

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Inspectors

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1257796 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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