Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 1 SC457175 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large national provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. The post has been vacant since 31 January 2026.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 25 February 2025

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2024 Full Good 05/10/2022 Full Outstanding 14/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 3

p.2

Summary of findings

There have been shortfalls identified in the care planning for children moving into and on from the home. There is limited evidence of progress for children in both education and accessing health services.

p.3

Summary of findings

There has been some improvement in the response to safeguarding incidents, specifically in relation to substance misuse for one child.

p.3

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers are embedding new monitoring systems and have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

p.3

improvement to be good

Shortfalls in safeguarding and the leadership and management at the home have affected the children’s experiences and overall progress since the last inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

Not all moves into the home have been well planned. Consideration is not given to the location of the home when children have restrictions on areas close to the home and how this would impact on their ability to keep the child safe. One child’s move from the home happened before meaningful progress could be made. The local authority moved the child due to the team being unable to keep him safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff work hard to build positive relationships with the child. Staff speak warmly about the child and have meaningful conversations with them regarding relevant topics and to understand their wishes and feelings. This has enabled the child to be open and honest with staff and begin to build trusting relationships.

p.3

improvement to be good

Managers and staff do not provide the child with a consistent daily routine. Staff make attempts to wake the child and engage them in an appropriate routine; however, the child continues to spend time out of the home, which has limited opportunities for engaging them in educational activities.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff are not enabling the child to make progress in education. A learning mentor, provided by the company, attends the home daily. However, they have been unable to encourage the child to participate in education or alternative educational activities. Staff have been engaging the child in work to promote his independence, such as cooking and food shopping.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child’s health needs are not being fully met. Staff carry out detailed and meaningful sessions with the child regarding their substance misuse. However, there have been several missed health appointments for the child. Additionally, there have been several Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 4 errors in the recording of medication in the home. This has been identified and addressed by the interim manager.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager and staff recognise the importance of maintaining links with family members. Family time is encouraged, and there has been a recent improvement in this for the child. One parent for the child was complimentary and reported feeling that the team had worked hard to encourage the child to spend some time with them and be less evasive.

p.4

improvement to be good

Safeguarding practice is not effective. There are risk assessments in place for all identified risks for the child; however, staff do not always follow plans to safeguard them. This specifically relates to when the previous child who lived in the home was missing from the home. This resulted in the child moving on earlier than planned.

p.4

improvement to be good

Incidents of substance misuse are managed well by staff and in line with risk assessments. Medical advice is sought promptly, and welfare checks continue in line with the requirements. Following incidents, the child is spoken with, relevant professionals are informed and referrals are made to support services. There is clear management oversight over all incidents that have occurred while the current manager has been in post.

p.4

improvement to be good

Medication practices in the home are not robust. There have been several errors in the recording of medication. This has not had a direct negative impact on the child, but medication practice needs to improve. Staff were not counting medication during medication checks and, therefore, recordings are not accurate.

p.4

improvement to be good

Managers and staff engage well with other agencies and seek to build effective working relationships with professionals.

p.4

improvement to be good

The current manager has brought in systems to implement changes in the way in which they safeguard children. However, they need time to embed these to be able to show sustained improvement and evidence reduction in risk for the child.

p.4

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

There is no registered manager in post. An interim manager has been appointed, and they have applied to register with Ofsted. The manager has high expectations and aspirations for all children. The manager has been supported during their transition to the home by the home’s responsible individual and other registered managers in the company.

p.4

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

The leadership and management are not effective. There are shortfalls in the systems used to monitor the quality of care, specifically in relation to staff skills and training. This Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 5 creates a risk that poor practice may go unnoticed and negatively impact on the care provided to children.

p.4

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

Staff say that they feel supported by the manager. Regular supervision takes place for all staff. Supervision is used as a time for reflection and to review any training that staff have attended. However, records of these sessions are not signed. Regular team meetings are held and are well utilised.

p.5

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

Professionals and children’s families speak positively of the home, with the leadership team’s communication and commitment being highlighted as particular strengths.

p.5

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

The home is appropriately staffed to meet the needs of the child. There is a good mix of experience and skills in the team. However, the manager has not ensured that all staff are trained to be able to safeguard the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff take proactive action when children are missing from home. Additionally, the they must ensure that all staff are trained to understand the specific risks children face.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

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;

p.7

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)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must have good-quality oversight of the work being carried out by the staff team and use effective evaluation and monitoring to identify shortfalls and patterns of behaviour and improve the quality of care.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 29 July 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 8 take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must identify barriers and support the child to access necessary medical treatment.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must understand and actively support child to overcome barriers to education.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 29 July 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 29 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 9 that arrangements are in place to—

p.8

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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iii))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that a full and comprehensive assessment is carried out before children move into the home that considers location when there are restrictions on children’s movements and access to certain areas. Additionally, moves out of the home should be carefully planned to ensure that they are positive experiences.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.9

Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

p.9

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that clear and accurate records are maintained in the home. 29 July 2026

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff receive timely training relating to the specific risks identified for the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)  The registered person should ensure that all supervision records are signed by both the supervisor and the supervisee to agree accuracy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4) Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 10

p.9

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: SC457175 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4th Floor Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, London UB8 1UX

p.11

Inspector

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457175 12 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.

p.11

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12