Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 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

The home is privately operated and provides care for up to 4 children aged between 11 and 18 of single gender. The home specialises in providing care for children at risk of exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke with the child as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in August 2024. A new manager was appointed in January 2026 and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 3 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 3 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2534827 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been incidents when the child has been able to access mobile phones in the staff office. Despite these incidents, nothing was done to prevent such issues from happening again. The following week, the child was able to access the mobile phones again. Actions were then put in place. This lack of immediate action placed the child at risk of being able to access items that could potentially make the child unsafe.

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Findings from the inspection

In a separate incident, the child was able to access knives. The incident report states they took a ‘handful’ of knives. The follow-up conclusion is that the child returned 2 knives. It is unclear if all the knives were returned or how staff ensured that none were missing. The manager has failed to explore why the records differ and whether the child had more than one knife. The unclear recording and failure to ensure all knives have been located means it is not possible to determine whether the child is at ongoing risk by having knives.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has been restrained on one occasion. Concerns relating to this restraint are recorded in the incident record. However, the staff member did not report these concerns to a manager. As a result, there was a delay in the manager taking action and reporting these to the local authority designated officer. No actions have been taken to ensure that the staff member understands their safeguarding responsibilities.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not ensure that they have all relevant documents for the child. A court order is in place, but there is not a copy of the most up-to-date order at the home. The manager was unaware that this had expired. This means that staff have been implementing restrictions without the lawful documents.

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Findings from the inspection

Recording and reporting require improvement. Some incident records do not detail the de-escalation strategies used. During several incidents, the police were called to support the staff. Due to poor staff recording, it is not possible to determine whether it was proportionate for the police to be called. During the inspection, there were difficulties in accessing some documents because the manager and proposed responsible individual both commenced their roles after the last inspection. This means that the records are inaccessible for this inspection year.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers review all incidents and concerns. However, this does not always identify strong practice or lessons learned. This means that staff do not receive clear guidance about whether their actions were appropriate or not. This could mean that incidents repeat due to a lack of learning. The manager fails to consistently demonstrate curiosity when concerns are raised. For example, she has failed to take Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 3 robust actions to ensure that the child cannot contact people on an online gaming system.

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Findings from the inspection

The door alarms continue to remain in place during the day. There are no clear procedures for when these are turned off. During the day, staff are present and the child is supervised by a high number of staff members; therefore, the staff should be aware of the child’s location. The door alarms can be heard throughout the house. This fails to provide a homely environment for children.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of care review has not been carried out within the required time frame. The report does not include any feedback. This limits the effectiveness of identifying and driving improvements.

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Findings from the inspection

Key-work sessions take place regularly. Staff speak to the child about a range of topics at these sessions, including specific risks that are relevant.

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Findings from the inspection

Two of the requirements have been met. One recommendation has been linked to a new requirement, as this was unmet. Two requirements and a recommendation have been restated. Overall, the improvements are inadequate and fail to address the issues raised at the full inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2023 Full Good 26/05/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities, children’s plans detail the frequency they should be checked and staff are aware of this, and staff are spoken to following any concerns about their practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 24 April 2026

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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— 24 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 6 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;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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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 registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that clear, consistent records are kept that contain effective levels of detail and that copies of up- to-date court orders relating to the child are available. 24 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(c) (5)) 26 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any monitoring equipment is proportionate and used to support the safeguarding and wellbeing of those living and working at the home in accordance with regulation 24. In particular, ensure that door alarms are only used when necessary and are turned off when not required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 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: 4th Floor Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2534827 9 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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