Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in County Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 1 SC066127 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. It provides care for up to 4 children with social and emotional difficulties, and who may have a sensory impairment, learning disabilities or a mental health condition.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 4 children living at the home at the time of this inspection. All 4 children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection, and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2025 Full Outstanding 14/02/2024 Full Outstanding 22/03/2023 Full Outstanding 01/11/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s experience of living at the home is extremely positive. The home is filled with fun and laughter. Children are happy and flourish due to the care they receive from knowledgeable staff who consistently prioritise children’s wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are at the heart of decision making and feel safe due to the stability that staff provide. The children’s views, wishes, and feelings are listened to and acted on quickly. When talking about a member of staff, one child said, ‘They are like a proper mammy when I am poorly.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Family members and professionals describe the care children experience as ‘life- changing’ because of the opportunities provided to them. Another parent said that staff are making ‘massive differences’ to both their children’s lives and their own.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The décor in the home is enriched with photos of the children and staff, as well as the children’s own artwork. The atmosphere and the home environment reflect the children’s personalities. This alongside the children’s relationships with staff and each other provides a strong sense of love and family. Children enjoy spending time with each other. For some children this has been their first experience of forming friendships. They play games together, eat together and enjoy trips out together that are referred to as ‘family days out.’ The children live together harmoniously, showing genuine care and respect for one another.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have an in-depth understanding of each child and have high expectations of them, enabling them to achieve their potential and beyond. Through consistent high-quality care, skilled guidance and unwavering encouragement, staff provide an environment of unconditional positive regard and nurture. As a result, children make significant progress across all areas of their development. They grow socially and emotionally developing the resilience, independence and self-belief needed to thrive. One child who has left the home said, ‘The staff have helped me get to where I am now, I have achieved my dreams, I’ve had one hell of a ride.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is a strong focus on each child’s individual health needs. The care that staff provide has enabled children to be healthier and happier. One child can manage their dental health now. They have healthier teeth and gums and no longer need regular treatment. Another child has significantly improved their mobility and is now able to walk without the support of another person. They said that their dream was to walk and, ‘I have achieved my dream.’ The child has continued to excel by competing in wheelchair rugby, completing their 100th park run, and climbing up and down stairs without support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move in and out of the home, they experience transitions that are planned with care and attention. One child was listened to when asked where he wanted Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 4 to live in the future. Staff completed extensive work with the child and his family to create a stable and loving environment for his next home. The child’s parent shared that the staff’s unwavering commitment is why the child was reunited with them and their siblings. Children’s time in the home is celebrated. Children leave with personalised photo albums and messages from friends, staff and the adults who have been with them throughout their journey. This creates a powerful sense of belonging for children with the home becoming an extension of their family. When children have left, they stay in touch with their friends and visit the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have a range of amazing experiences living in this home. They are consulted about activities, routines, and menus, ensuring that their views shape daily life. Recent activities have included soft play, swimming, cinema visits, play parks, bowling, and beach trips. This rich variety of opportunities enhances the children’s happiness and broadens their experiences. One child has been able to experience a school residential trip for the first time, an unforgettable childhood experience with friends. The school highlighted that this would not have been possible without the care and commitment from staff.

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

Children flourish from staff’s approach to positive behaviour support. This is visible in the care and affection given to each child. Staff constantly praise children for their achievements or for just being themselves. This helps children to develop strong levels of self-awareness and develop positive behaviour. Staff focus on educating children about risk, develop children’s understanding and providing them with the knowledge to keep themselves safe.

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

Safeguarding practice at the home is excellent. Staff have a deep understanding of their responsibilities and follow procedures to keep children safe. The manager swiftly addresses safeguarding concerns that occur. They work closely with safeguarding professionals, including the local authority designated officer. They provide detailed accounts of incidents and the actions taken. Social workers talk positively about the manager and trust her to safeguard children effectively.

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

The manager has monitoring tools to identify patterns of concerns for children’s safety. They use these alongside curiosity and reflection with staff to continuously develop the home’s safeguarding practice.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort and only when necessary to keep children safe. Children’s welfare is priority and staff always find a way to enable children to share their views following any use of intervention.

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

Leaders and managers are tenacious in their efforts to secure essential specialist support for children when this is needed. Their efforts have resulted in children receiving vital assessments that highlight children’s individual needs and how these should be supported. Staff use the information in these assessments effectively and incorporate recommendations and guidance into their daily practice. Because of this, staff know the Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 5 children very well, have a high level of intuition and are responsive when children show subtle signs of needing support. This means that children quickly get the support they need before their behaviour escalates.

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

Children settle quickly at the home and develop a strong sense of trust in staff. Support is provided with patience, empathy, and consistency. Families express high levels of confidence in the staff, frequently stating that they feel reassured about their child’s safety. Careful planning and engagement with children lead to opportunities for them to take age-appropriate risks. For one child who recently moved on, this has led them to now travelling independently to college.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an inspirational leader who has high expectations of children’s care. They are ambitious and dedicated to securing positive outcomes for children. They have established positive working relationships with all those important to children, continuously developing staff practice and ensuring that children receive excellent care. The manager is well supported by her team leaders and the regional manager who share the same enthusiasm and commitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report feeling extremely well supported, with leaders demonstrating genuine consideration for their wellbeing. They speak highly of the manager. There is a positive culture in which staff feel valued, motivated, and confident in their roles. The staff are experienced and long-standing due to the support they receive. This consistency enables children to form trusting relationships. Staff members are often heard saying ‘we are just one family’ and refer to the children as ‘our children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are held regularly and are recognised as valuable, protected time for staff to reflect, share learning and review practice. Research is disseminated to the team, and staff have routine opportunities to consider emerging themes and practice updates. The manager demonstrates creativity in facilitating learning, including recent sessions on positive environments, person centred planning and using ‘love led’ language.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff demonstrate the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the diverse needs of the children. They receive training that equips them to keep children safe in the home, support their learning, and respond confidently to children’s complex health and care needs. The manager has thorough systems to monitor training completion and track renewal dates to ensure that all training remains up to date. Furthermore, staff are held accountable for maintaining their competencies, and any gaps are promptly identified and addressed. When a new or emerging need is identified for a child, the manager proactively sources appropriate training. For example, staff have recently completed additional learning around understanding previous childhood experiences and trauma. As a result, staff are well-prepared, well-informed, and able to deliver safe, responsive, and high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers recognise the value of staff development. Staff are encouraged to complete qualifications required for the role, with 4 members of staff recently completing Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 6 these. Staff have the autonomy over their own development and are supported to gain additional qualifications and development experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 7

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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: SC066127 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: 4 th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspectors

Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector (lead) Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066127 9 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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