Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 1 SC456729 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 run by a large private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Good 14/05/2024 Full Good 24/05/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 3

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Summary of findings

Since the last inspection, the manager has maintained good-quality care for the children living in the home. The 2 children living in the home are settled and making good progress.

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Summary of findings

Children are supported by a team with the skills and knowledge to build meaningful relationships which they use to safeguard the children and promote their welfare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved into the home and two children have moved out since the last inspection. Staff supported one child in their move to semi-independence and one child to a solo placement that was more suited to their emerging needs. Staff supported the child to visit their new home and provided emotional support during this transition. These moves were well planned, which helped children to move on from the home in a positive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and speak warmly about them. Relationship-building with children is at the heart of the work carried out in the home. The management team has a clear and ambitious plan for the development of the home, premises, staff team and provision to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff get to know the individual needs of children and show an interest in their skills and interests. For example, despite one child only living in the home for a short period of time, staff have got to know their interests and have supported them to join a gym and a martial arts class. One child said, ‘It’s such a good place to live. All the staff are sound, they help me, look after me and make sure I am okay.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for children moving into the home is thorough and clearly considers all the children in the home, the skills and experience of staff members and local issues. Other professionals are involved appropriately. Planning for children moving out of the home is clear and child centred. Staff support children to develop independence skills in advance of moving on, to help children feel skilled and able to live independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met. Staff ensure that children are up to date with routine health appointments and immunisations. Specialist help is sought when required to support children’s emotional health needs. Staff support children to understand and recognise risks relating to substance use and vaping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote education for the children. They encourage children to attend school and staff have excellent communication with school staff. Staff spend time with children to reflect on any issues in school and try different techniques to encourage school attendance when issues arise. Professionals who work with the children speak highly of Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 4 the staff team and managers of the home. They state that they are proactive and excellent advocates for the children.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is good. All risks are identified and plans are in place to support staff in reducing risks and keeping children safe. Staff are clear about the strategies needed to keep children safe and implement these on all occasions. For one child, this has resulted in a significant reduction in risks relating to substance misuse and going missing from home.

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

There is a proactive response from the team when children go missing from home. Staff continue to search for children until they are located, continue attempts to make contact by phone and are in continuous contact with family members and external professionals. Staff not on shift support searches. The manager and team work closely with external professionals such as police and education services to deliver a multi-agency approach to work carried out with children.

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

Children at risk of criminal exploitation receive strong, pre-emptive and coordinated support. Staff are trained in recognising indicators of exploitation and any concerns are logged and shared with relevant professionals in a timely manner. The manager appropriately challenges other professionals if she feels their response is not in line with the risks recognised. Staff work well with other professionals, demonstrate effective communication and carry out good-quality direct work with children.

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

There have been no incidents of physical intervention. Staff manage the behaviours of the children well and are effective in their use of de-escalation techniques when needed. There is a real strength in the team for building relationships with the children and this enables staff to address challenging behaviour in a way which works with children and ensures that boundaries are respected.

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

Both the children said they felt safe and cared for. The importance of relationships and children feeling important to the staff team has had a significant impact of them feeling safe. One child described the team caring for them as ‘feeling like family’. Staff demonstrate to the children that they care about them and that they matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager run a cohesive and supportive home where the staff feel valued and the children are prioritised. The staff team and external professionals praised the manager for her support and guidance. One professional said, ‘She is a manager who goes above for her team and prioritises their safety and wellbeing alongside that of the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members feel valued, supported and listened to. Team meetings take place regularly and provide opportunities for the team to contribute to the development of the home. Children’s views and wishes for the home are discussed in each team meeting. Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 5 Supervisions also take place regularly at appropriate intervals for all staff members. The staff team work well together and there is a culture of trust and collaboration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When issues have arisen, managers have challenged other professionals appropriately, using escalation when needed and with the child’s best interests at heart. Staff advocate clearly on behalf of children and enable children to have their voice heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the home environment is safe and secure for children and protects them from harm or the risk of harm. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed, and staff understand and implement strategies to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is clearly monitored and planned with the staff group. Additional focused training is commissioned quickly in line with children’s emerging needs. However, not all staff have achieved qualifications within the specified date. For some, there have been extenuating circumstances, and the registered manager has maintained oversight of this. They have chased the relevant assessing agencies to get issues resolved. Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have completed the appropriate qualification by the relevant date when there are not reasonable extenuating circumstances. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC456729 7

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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, London UB8 1UX

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Inspectors

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Hannah Longdon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC456729 8 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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