Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 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 privately owned. It provides care for up to 5 children with ongoing mental health difficulties who may not be able to live in the community without continued support.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025, when the home opened.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a separately registered school on site. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

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Inspection date: 9 February 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and/or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Failure by leaders and managers to provide appropriate oversight of safeguarding concerns.  Staff have failed to risk assess situations. This has led to one child attempting to strangle another child for a second time in one day, without staff being aware.  Failure by leaders and managers to ensure that uses of physical restraint are recorded appropriately, and a lack of curiosity about how or why restraints have been used.  Staff have not taken all possible action in response to emerging safeguarding concerns.  Leaders and managers have failed to equip staff with relevant knowledge to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection took place due to concerns identified in recent notifications submitted by the manager. A complaint has also been received from a whistle blower and an external agency has raised concerns directly with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

All the children have complex needs and high risks. As a result of ineffective leadership, children are not being safeguarded.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical interventions are not always recorded. This has not been identified by the manager. As a result, there has not been enough oversight to consider whether staff have intervened appropriately. When managers have evaluated the use of restraint, they have not been curious about the methods staff have used. In one record, the type of restraint used is not described, however a child had made an allegation regarding being restrained and the reason for this. The staff member involved did not recognise the importance of completing clear and succinct records to enable an investigation into the allegation. The manager held debriefs with 2 staff about this incident. However, the records of these discussions are identical in places. The manager said that she has recorded exactly what each staff member said, but she has not considered how these records are identical and what this might mean. This level of scrutiny does not keep children safe. During another incident, staff physically

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Findings from the inspection

intervened to stop one child from assaulting another. Despite this, there is no physical intervention record. This had not been identified by the manager.

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Findings from the inspection

In several key-work sessions, children have mentioned issues of concern, such as one child sending intimate photos and a child telling staff that they have been involved in sexual exploitation. Staff have not understood that these comments are concerning or reported these to the manager. The records show a lack of curiosity and interest from staff. The manager has not had oversight of key-work sessions and was unaware of these comments until they were highlighted during the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 3 inspection. This means that children have not been listened to and appropriate steps have not been taken to minimise external risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not understand the dynamics between children and are not attuned to emerging risks during incidents. On one occasion, a child attempted to strangle another child. Staff were present when this happened and intervened. Following this incident, both children remained with staff. When the children went to leave the home, there was confusion about who would go with them, and they were left alone. This was despite a risk assessment that specified the 2 children always need staff with them. In the time children were left alone together, one child attempted to strangle the other. This demonstrates poor dynamic risk assessment and understanding of immediate risks. The manager has not taken sufficient action in relation to the staff involved, meaning that staff are not given advice on how to improve and poor practice allowed to continue.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans are weak. Risk assessments do not include all current information about serious incidents, including a child using household items such as a butter knife to hurt staff. Staff have not been provided with up-to-date information to minimise risks.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has not ensured that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to work successfully with children who have complex mental health needs. Fewer than 50% of the staff have received training in self-harm, ligature safety and mental health. This means that staff have not had training to meet children’s specific needs and does not adhere to the conditions of the home’s registration. The service described in the statement of purpose is not being provided. This is misleading for commissioners.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not use the therapeutic model and fail to respond to children in trauma- informed ways. There are examples of staff speaking unkindly about one child. There has been no action from managers on how to support staff to understand past trauma or to consider how to address children’s unmet needs.

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Findings from the inspection

When managers review incidents, they have not evaluated how staff have supported children therapeutically in the early stages of an emotional crisis. In a recent incident when one child was distressed they were left in their room for 30 minutes. The child became angrier and was involved in an incident with staff. This led to staff pressing charges against the child, which could lead to a child being criminalised. Staff are not being helped to understand how to use a therapeutic approach to understand children’s behaviour. This has created a culture where children’s needs are poorly understood. The children’s care plans are poor. One child’s health and education Plan relates to a different child and has not been corrected to detail them and their needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/08/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 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 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; and

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff are skilled at recognising safeguarding concerns and take appropriate action.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff understand the requirements and expectations placed upon them in fulfilling their role in protecting children and produce clear and accurate records. 22 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 6 Ensure that when staff fail to take appropriate action in relation to safeguarding, that prompt action is taken by managers.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure risk assessments contain thorough and up-to-date information about known risks and vulnerabilities and provide staff with clear guidance and instructions on how to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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; and

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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)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that systems provide effective oversight of all incidents and records at the home. This is to help leaders and managers prevent or minimise similar incidents from happening again.

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Requirement Due date

Evaluate physical interventions from a safeguarding perspective, demonstrating curiosity and ensuring records are clear and accurate.

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Requirement Due date

Identify when records are poor and take steps to rectify the records and support staff to improve records. 22 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 7 Take appropriate action promptly with staff to ensure that poor practice is addressed.

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Requirement Due date

Provide staff with high-quality training that enables staff to meet the home’s conditions of registration. This includes training in mental health and the therapeutic model, as well as topics specific to children’s needs, such as self-harm, ligature and neurodiversity.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

*The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)) 22 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 8 Ensure that records clearly demonstrate that staff understand the therapeutic model and practise this through their responses to children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all staff are competent and understand children’s past experiences, knowing how children’s behaviour is a result of past trauma, and that staff are skilled at responding to children in a trauma-informed way.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that managers evaluate records to consider the practice used by staff and support staff on how they can improve practice in future.

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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 overall 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.

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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

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

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)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the service provided is in line with the statement of purpose, including comprehensive therapeutic interventions that are assimilated into plans.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that psychiatric and psychological formulations, advice, assessments and reports are integrated into care plans and risk assessments and that staff understand these. 1 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 9 Ensure children’s preferred pronouns are used throughout care plans and that these are embedded in staff’s vocabulary when talking about the children.

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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— that staff—

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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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that every child has an up-to-date, individualised education plan that accurately reflects their specific education and learning needs and provides clear guidance for staff on how to support them. 1 April 2026

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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.

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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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that every child has an up-to-date, individualised health plan that accurately reflects their specific health needs and provides clear guidance for staff on how to support them. 1 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 1 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 10 Ensure that the responsible individual provides appropriate oversight and scrutiny to support staff and managers to improve safeguarding practice.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 22 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 11

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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: Lyanna Sinclair-Russel

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Inspectors

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2808791 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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