Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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, 3 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with one of the children during the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/07/2021 Full Good 02/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 3

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Summary of findings

Progress for children living in the home is varied. Risks for children have reduced. However, shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home have impacted on children's progress.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. Shortfalls in care planning mean that the required legal documentation is not obtained in a timely way when children move in. This means that staff do not have access to the information and legal consents needed to care for children in line with local authority plans. Furthermore, close circuit television consent forms were not signed by the relevant professionals when the child moved in.

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improvement to be good

The home presents as welcoming and cosy, with bean bags available for the children and a range of games, including air hockey. Children's artwork is displayed throughout the home. Bedrooms are individualised; for example, one child has painted their room and has photographs of their family on display. However, some areas of the home require maintenance. In one child's bedroom, where repair work has been completed, the wall now requires painting. In another bedroom, there are areas of the walls and doors that also need attention to ensure cleanliness. Additionally, in the back garden, there are paving stones and a broken garden ornament that need to be removed.

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improvement to be good

Most staff have a good understanding of one child's medical condition. They respond appropriately when they are in crisis and support them to be able to manage their condition.

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improvement to be good

Children are reminded of medical appointments but are not always encouraged to attend. Staff do not always spend time talking to children about the importance of accessing medical care and attending health appointments. This shortfall demonstrates a lack of proactive support and oversight in relation to meeting the child's health needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not ensure that all children have appropriate routines and boundaries. Action is not taken to support some children to attend their education placement. There is an alternative daily planner in place but there is an inconsistent response from staff in implementing this. As a result, some children stay in their bedrooms most of the day. Strategies are not implemented to encourage more positive routines for some children, meaning that they spend their time accessing the internet rather than developing a healthy routine.

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improvement to be good

Children contribute to their support plans. Most staff members understand the children's individual needs. However, the manager had not obtained a local authority pathway plan Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 4 for a child when they moved into the home. This limits staff's ability to support the child's needs, including developing independent living skills.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise the importance of children maintaining relationships with significant people in their lives. Family time arrangements are well supported and sensitively managed by staff. One child's birthday was celebrated in the home with their family attending, helping them to sustain important familial connections. However, staff do always follow children's safety plans when their friends visit the home.

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improvement to be good

The child who was spoken to said that they feel safe in the home. There has been a reduction in children's risks.

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improvement to be good

Staff engage children in direct work to help them understand most risks and how to keep themselves safe. Staff use a range of tools, including information booklets. However, staff do not always complete direct work following safeguarding incidents. Furthermore, children would benefit from direct work around online safety, cannabis misuse and fire hazards regarding electronic cigarettes and lighters in the home.

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improvement to be good

Risk management plans are not regularly reviewed and, in some areas, contain inaccurate information, specifically in relation to mobile phones. They do not provide clear guidance for staff on how to respond to the risks associated to online safety in relation to children's computers. These shortfalls expose the child to potential harm and leave staff without the direction they need to respond safely and effectively.

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improvement to be good

A child's safety plan lacked guidance to staff on conducting room searches following self- harm incidents. Furthermore, it lacked information on details of where specific medication would be stored and how it would be used to support the child when they are having a medical episode. This was rectified during inspection.

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improvement to be good

Online safeguards are not in place to ensure that children can only access age- appropriate content. A concern was raised that a child had been accessing games that are not suitable for their age. Despite this concern being highlighted, effective measures do not appear to have been implemented, which leaves the child at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Staff use therapeutic approaches to support children when they are in distress, helping them to manage their emotions more effectively. As a result, staff are able to de-escalate incidents without the need for physical intervention and there have been no incidents where children have been physically held. Furthermore, there has been no missing-from- care incidents.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers respond appropriately to allegations. They share information with relevant professionals in line with safeguarding procedures. Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is led by an experienced registered manager who is child focused. He is committed to the child, knows them well and advocates effectively on their behalf. The registered manager recently escalated concerns regarding a child's education provision with a member of parliament.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Systems are in place to review staff practice and identify patterns or trends in relation to incidents. While there is evidence that these monitoring systems are sometimes effective, they do not consistently identify shortfalls in staff practice. For example, there was a delay in staff checking if a child had a head injury following a bike accident. Furthermore, there is no monitoring of set actions being completed following the manager's review of incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Debriefs are not consistently undertaken with staff and children following safeguarding incidents. This is a missed opportunity for reflection and learning, improving practice and providing support to both staff and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities, both online and face to face. Not all staff have completed refresher training; this includes physical intervention and health and safety training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not escalate concerns with local authorities when essential care plans are not shared.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff spoken to are positive about the support they receive from the registered manager. They benefit from regular supervision. However, records do not demonstrate that there is reflection on the care being provided to children. Furthermore, staff appraisals are brief and do not include the views of the appraisee. This is a missed opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Regular team meetings are held, which include creative learning and development sessions for staff. For example, to enhance staff members' room-searching skills, the manager organised a practical exercise by hiding items throughout the home for staff to locate. This interactive approach supported skill development in an engaging and effective way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management and staff have developed positive working relationships with other professionals and children's family members. Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 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

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children's individual risk management plans are regularly reviewed and provide staff with clear, accessible guidance to support risk reduction, specifically in relation online safety, mobile phones and electronic devices.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that room searches are completed without delay following incidents of self-harming.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that direct work is carried out with children following incidents. That direct work is done with the children on cannabis misuse, online safety and fire 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 7 hazards relating to electronic cigarettes and lighters in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff are following safety plans when family or friends visit the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children's usage of mobile phones and electronic devices is monitored to ensure they are safeguarded.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that if a children have an accident, physical health checks are conducted, including any potential head injuries.

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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

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 specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the skills, knowledge and understanding required to meet children's needs and manage risks effectively. The registered manager and staff must undertake all mandatory refresher training, including physical intervention and control of substance hazardous to health training.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must debrief are completed with staff and children following incidents. 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 8 This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that the registered person has consistent oversight of incidents, records and documents. Where shortfalls in staff practice are identified, action must be taken to address them.

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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

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Requirement Due date

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 a copy of all local authority plans for the child, including pathway plans and those that have been reviewed. Ensure that all consents forms are signed by the local authority. 29 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and wellbeing standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and wellbeing needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and wellbeing.

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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 wellbeing outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans; 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 9 take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and wellbeing needs; and (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children are encouraged and supported to attend all health appointments, and that direct work is carried out with children following any missed health appointments.

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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, leaders and managers must ensure that when children are not attending an education setting, staff actively encourage them to engage in a structured routine that is regularly reviewed for its effectiveness. 29 July 2026

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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 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 10 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.

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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 managers must ensure that supervision provides opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice, safeguarding incidents and the needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the registered person receives a written copy of their supervisions.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and manages must ensure that staff contribute to their appraisals and that these are reflective of their performance and areas of development. 29 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that consent forms for close circuit television are signed and dated. 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 11

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the children's home environment meets the needs of the children and that it is presented as homely, and maintained to a good standard. Specifically, ensure that action is taken to clean all bedroom walls and doors, paint areas where there has been repair to walls and ensure that broken garden ornaments and unused paving stones are removed. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality and purpose of care standard', page 14, paragraph 3.3 and page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 1225136 12

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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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Inspector

Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1225136 13 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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