Children's Home run by Champion Children (NW London) Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 1 Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to 5 children with emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in November 2025. A new manager is in post. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: 2769395 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved out and one child has moved in. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The new manager is nurturing and strives to build connections with children. The manager shows staff how to respond to children in a therapeutic way. There is clear improvement in the records, which demonstrates how staff are developing their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

All children are either at college, mainstream school or have a bespoke learning package. In the evening, there is a smell of food being prepared and children can be heard playing in the garden. Two children were seen briefly. Both appeared to be relaxed and comfortable at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are rarely involved in incidents. When these occasionally occur, staff respond appropriately. One staff member noticed items in a child’s bedroom which made them feel worried. They immediately spoke to the manager, who took further action. The manager noticed that the child had been using their mobile device inappropriately. There was a multi-agency response, including safer internet boundaries being imposed. The manager has spent time with the child to understand the reasons for the incident. This reduces the likelihood of a similar incident happening again.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. The children have detailed missing-from-home risk assessments that explain each child’s individual needs. Managers have helped staff to understand their roles in relation to children being missing from home. The manager has recently held a team meeting where scenarios were used as a learning exercise. Staff were asked to consider what else could have been done in these incidents. This gives staff real examples of previous poor practice and how this can be avoided.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand how to administer medication. When issues have arisen, they have been resolved quickly. One child was prescribed a small amount of medication for a long-term condition. When the medication ran out, the new prescription was not ready. This has gradually been resolved and recently the child has been prescribed a larger amount of medication to prevent this from reoccurring.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff are more interested in children. Staff are initiating connections with children rather than expecting children to do this. A record of a key-work session demonstrates that a staff member knew the subject might be difficult for the child to discuss. Staff used a thoughtful and tactile approach where they were attuned to the child’s feelings. However, most key-work sessions are recorded by two or three Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 3 people and are recorded as being process led. This means the whole staff team does not yet reflect nurturing practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations are responded to effectively. There is a fair and proportionate approach that is rooted in the investigations. When necessary, staff probation periods have been ended. One investigation involved two concerns with the previous manager. These were thoroughly investigated. However, this outcome was not communicated with the local authority designated officer. This does not ensure multi-agency involvement with the full process. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/03/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that safeguarding partners are informed of investigation outcomes. 1 May 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 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

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)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff respond to children in nurturing ways. 01 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Private Client, Unit 7-8, Moran House, 449- 451 High Road, London NW10 2JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Wakeling

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 7 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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