Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 1 SC483846 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with both children during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The new manager started in their role in March 2026 and has not submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 18 November 2025

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/07/2025 Full Inadequate 26/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 3

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Summary of findings

Significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home have impacted on the quality of care children have received.

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Summary of findings

Children make progress in some areas of their lives. However, poor safeguarding practice and ineffective management arrangements mean that children’s safety and wellbeing have been compromised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two children have remained living in the home since the last inspection. They are cared for by a consistent staff team. However, the quality of the care provided to children is compromised due to poor safeguarding practice and ineffective management of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff and managers do not ensure that the home and the children’s bedrooms are maintained to an acceptable standard. Parts of the property are unclean. There is broken furniture in the home and damaged fencing on the exterior of the property, meaning that the area cannot be secured. In one child’s bedroom, an extension lead with items plugged in was observed to be in the child’s bed and concealed with bedding. This presents a fire safety hazard. Despite managers and staff being aware of this for several months, no action was taken to address this. As a result of these ongoing issues, the children are not provided with a welcoming or nurturing home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s health needs are not consistently met. Staff do not demonstrate effective oversight or coordination with external health services, including ensuring that appointments are tracked and followed up. As a result of missed appointments, one child was discharged from mental health services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

In addition, staff are not providing adequate support to encourage children to attend health appointments where there is reluctance or refusal. There is limited evidence of meaningful engagement with children to help them understand the importance of accessing medical care and attending appointments. This shortfall highlights a lack of proactive planning, support and professional curiosity in relation to meeting children’s health needs, which places them at risk of not receiving appropriate and timely healthcare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Progress in education is not consistent for children. One child attends school full time and has good attendance. However, staff do not support the other child to access any form of education or to maintain consistent daily routines. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 4 Despite the concerns, staff provide opportunities for children to engage in activities aligned to their interests, including going to theme parks. One child attends the local youth club and has made friendships. Staff understand the importance of the children’s relationships with people who are important to them. They support the children to spend time with their family.

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

Shortfalls in safeguarding practice mean that children have not been effectively safeguarded. One child spent 6 nights away from the home, without a plan in place to ensure that the child was safe and well during this time. In addition, staff did not understand the potential risks posed to the child when staying away from the home.

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

Risk management plans do not include all known risks for children and are not consistently updated following incidents. Furthermore, staff do not have access to children’s most recent risk management plans. This means that staff do not have guidance on how to respond to emerging or ongoing risks.

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

Staff lack the knowledge and skills to manage known risks for children. Despite a child having been found with alcohol in their bedroom, staff did not complete a room search to ensure that the child did not have any further alcohol in their room. This placed the child at potential risk of harm. Furthermore, staff did not follow one child’s plans to safeguard them from online safety concerns.

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

Direct work with children is not effective. Staff do not always speak with the child following incidents or when new risks are identified. This is a missed opportunity to support children to develop strategies to manage their emotions and to safeguard them by educating them on potential risks and how to stay safe.

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

Staff lack the skills to de-escalate children’s behaviour. They do not always physically intervene to safeguard children or others. As a result, children have not been supported in times of crisis or distress. When children are physically held, debriefs are undertaken with staff and children. Children are spoken to by an independent person.

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

Plans are not in place to ensure that risks posed to children from neighbouring properties and buildings are effectively managed. This means that the children can access another home and school next door. Furthermore, strategies have not been implemented to ensure that the children living in the neighbouring property are not able to access this home. This has led to serious safeguarding incidents involving children from both homes, including assaults on staff and one child feeling unsafe in their home.

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

Appropriate action is not always taken when concerns are raised about staff. Leaders and managers do not always investigate allegations thoroughly, and records of any actions taken are poor. This leaves children at risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 5 Recruitment of new staff is not safe. Not all required checks are completed before staff start to work in the home. For example, verification of references and exploring safeguarding concerns on a reference have not been followed up. This leaves children at risk of being cared for by unsafe adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left. The new manager has stepped up from their role of deputy manager in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of the care provided to children is poor. Systems are not in place to support leaders and managers to maintain effective oversight of the care being provided in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Records demonstrate that the manager reviews safeguarding incidents. However, shortfalls in staff practice are not always identified. When shortfalls are identified, this information is not always shared with staff to improve their practice. In addition, staff debriefs are not always carried out following safeguarding incidents, and actions are not followed up when incidents are reviewed by the in-house clinical lead. This limits opportunities for the manager to make improvements or for staff to learn and reflect on how they support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities. However, not all staff have completed refresher training, including fire safety or needs-led training on topics such as trauma and alcohol misuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff spoken to are positive about the support they receive from the manager and the changes that she has implemented. They are confident in her ability. Staff have regular supervision; however, the manager has not identified or followed through on staff concerns raised during these sessions. The manager has not shown professional curiosity when concerns have been raised regarding poor staff practice. Furthermore, staff have not had an annual appraisal.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff attend regular team meetings, which include contributions from the clinical lead. However, the manager does not use these forums to address or reflect on staff practice issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not escalate concerns with local authorities when required documents are not shared and when information sharing in relation to safeguarding incidents is insufficient. This limits the staff’s understanding of the children’s needs and impacts on their ability to support the child’s progress in key areas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not always followed direction from the local authority to safeguard children following unsupervised family time. Furthermore, not all complaints made to the home are being appropriately recorded, including details of the action taken and the outcomes. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 6

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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; 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 7 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff take action to safeguard children at all times.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that plans are in place to safeguard children from all known risks and that these plans include clear guidance for staff to follow.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the skills, knowledge and understanding to meet children’s needs and manage risks.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that meaningful work is completed with children to help them understand how to keep safe. This should include following all incidents.

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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—

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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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 8 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that there is oversight of all of the care being provided in the home. This includes ensuring that care is provided to children in line with local authority care plans.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all incidents are reviewed, that all shortfalls in staff practice are identified and action is taken to address these. This should also include undertaking debriefs with children and staff following all incidents.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff develop their knowledge, skills and understanding to undertake their role effectively.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that leaders and managers monitor and review staff practice, identify any development needs and take action to address these.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 9 plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that they obtain all local authority plans for the child, including pathway plans and those that have been reviewed. Ensure that there is not a delay in completing any actions set out in the local authority’s plans for the child.

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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—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the leaders and manager must ensure that when children are not attending an education setting, staff are actively 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 10 encouraging them to engage in a structured routine that is regularly reviewed for effectiveness.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff support children to attend all health appointments, including psychological support services. 12 July 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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(b)(vii)) 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 11 Leaders and managers must ensure that all areas of the home are cleaned and maintained to a good standard, including skirting boards, radiators, doors and walls. Ensure that walls are fully painted and any broken furniture is removed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that allegations against staff members are thoroughly investigated and recorded. 12 July 2026

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that recording of welfare checks on children include the time and contact method used.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, ensure that recordings of incidents are detailed. 12 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 12 if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that all references are verified, and any safeguarding concerns in references are explored and recorded.

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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

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they escalate concerns when local authority documents are not received or when an allocated worker does not share important safeguarding information. 12 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that details of any complaints to the home are fully recorded and include 12 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 13 action taken and outcomes of the complaint.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and manager must ensure that any poor practice or health and safety concerns raised by staff in supervision are acted on effectively. Additionally, ensure that all staff have an annual appraisal. 12 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the leaders and managers ensuring that Ofsted is informed of all serious incidents in the home. 12 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC483846 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caretech, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483846 15 and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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