Cambridge Care Company

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 1 Cambridge Care Company

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Registered provider: Cambridge Care Company Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

A private provider operates this service.

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provider

The service offers accommodation for up to 191 children in 49 premises, comprising 7 single-occupancy properties, 7 properties limited to accommodating looked-after children and 35 properties that are not ring-fenced. These properties are located over 5 locations in Newmarket, Peterborough, Cambridge, Liverpool and Coventry.

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provider

At the time of the monitoring visit, this service was providing supported accommodation for 67 children aged 16 or 17 who were looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

The registered service manager, who is also the nominated individual, registered at the same time as the organisation, in December 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 6 May 2026, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit in response to concerns received. These concerns related to management oversight, accommodation standards, staff training and safeguarding practices. Cambridge local authority received the same concerns and carried out a quality assurance visit with Peterborough commissioning department, covering Newmarket and Peterborough properties. Inspectors visited properties in Coventry.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders are knowledgeable of the service and demonstrate how they receive feedback and action key findings. Staff had raised concerns about maintenance delays; these have been addressed by appointing maintenance services in each region of the company. Properties viewed during the monitoring visit had some Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 2 maintenance requirements. Staff were able to evidence how these were being logged and tracked.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents and episodes of children going missing are being recorded. However, managers and leaders do not have consistent oversight of these incidents. Senior managers from all the regions meet monthly to discuss key developments. A safeguarding log is held, covering all key incidents and concerns across the service. This allows management to identify patterns and trends. Actions taken from these meetings are not clearly documented. This potentially limits learning.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoke confidently about the children they support and spoke passionately about their personal accomplishments and progress. Daily logs and key-work sessions were evidenced; however, gaps in children’s support plans and risk assessments were identified.

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This monitoring visit

In March 2026, the provider changed their recording system, and some data has not transferred over. Management need to ensure that new staff are made aware of current risks for all children during this transition period.

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This monitoring visit

Children spoke positively about the support they receive. Children say they have daily contact with staff, who care about their wellbeing and do not give up on them. Some children who speak English as an additional language said they felt welcomed into the service by friendly staff and were supported to enrol in college promptly. Children are informed about house rules during their integration and feel confident raising concerns with staff or managers.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive regular supervision, and training is closely monitored. Staff are prompted when training is due for renewal. Staff spoken with reported feeling happy in their workplace and felt supported by their line manager/senior leadership team. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 3

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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

keep the child’s support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child’s needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(c)) 17 June 2026

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 4

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Cambridge Care Company Limited

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: Pheasant House, Mill Road, Great Barton, Bury St Edmunds IP31 2QQ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Penny Stapleton

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Inspectors

Shelley Chowdhury, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Cambridge Care Company 5 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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