Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 1 SC456535 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

The home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is currently vacant. The home has appointed a new manager, and they have applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: SC456535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Good 29/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/08/2023 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 3

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Summary of findings

The child is settled and making good progress. Staff respond to the child’s emotional and safety needs.

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Summary of findings

Managers provide clear, child-focused direction, and the staff feel supported in their roles.

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Summary of findings

Some shortfalls were identified. However, these have not affected the standard of care provided to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The same child has lived at the home since the last inspection. They have made progress and are settled. The child expressed no concerns regarding their care. Staff regularly encourage the child to express their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their education, and the child is making progress from their starting point. Staff work closely with education providers to address concerns that the child is currently receiving less education than their peers. When there are barriers to the child’s learning, staff take steps to explore and address them. Staff support the child with their schoolwork in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to meet their physical and emotional health needs. They encourage the child to improve their physical health, including by regularly playing football together in the community. This also provides the child with opportunities to make new friends, improve their social skills and stay active.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Partnership working is a strength of the home. The child’s social worker said, ‘Incidents have significantly reduced.’ Other professionals are welcomed into the home when additional advice and support are required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Following a recent fire inspection, one door in the home has been changed. However, the new conservatory door has internal locks that restrict access to the outdoor area. In addition, one fire door requires maintenance, although plans are in place to address this. This does not ensure that the child has full access to all areas of their home and that all fire doors meet fire safety requirements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides ample space for the child. There are photos of the child displayed in the home. However, attention is needed to ensure that the child’s bedroom is clean and decorated to a good standard. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 4

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is effective.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks. Risk assessment documents are regularly reviewed and include detailed guidance and strategies. Staff demonstrate professional curiosity and use trauma-informed approaches in their day-to-day practice.

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

Staff place emphasis on the child’s safety online. They have regular conversations and carry out key-work sessions with the child to help them understand how to stay safe when using gaming platforms, mobile phones and social media. The child is supported to recognise risks, consider privacy and make safer choices online. Staff monitor online activity appropriately and respond quickly when concerns arise. This consistent approach helps the child develop an awareness of how to keep themselves safe.

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

There has been one physical intervention during this inspection period. The child was held by staff using an unauthorised hold. The manager took swift action by sharing concerns with safeguarding professionals and carrying out an internal investigation. Following this incident, the child was supported, and staff participated in a group reflective session, which allowed them to learn and strengthen future practice.

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

On one occasion, the child left the home without informing staff during the night and was returned home by the police. This indicates that staff supervision of the child was not maintained at the level required to keep them safe. The manager took appropriate action, and a new door alarm was fitted so that staff could be alerted if the child was to attempt to leave. However, the manager has not sought permission from the child’s social worker for the additional surveillance and monitoring that are now in place.

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

Direct work with the child is of good quality and responsive to their individual needs and emerging risks. Discussions take place with the child on relevant issues, such as developing independence skills and healthy living. This helps the child understand important topics.

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

Consequences are fair and proportionate. However, the child’s views are not always captured, which does not help the manager to fully evaluate the effectiveness.

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

Safer recruitment checks are carried out for all new employees. This ensures that the staff employed to work at the home are safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management arrangements have changed since the last inspection. The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted, and she is supported by a deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has experienced several changes since the last inspection. Action has been taken to rectify shortfalls in staffing and recruitment. This will provide more stability and ensure that staff are able to provide a consistent level of care for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 5 Staff have received training to meet the child’s needs in line with their induction plans when new to the home. As a result, staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff, including bank staff, benefit from regular reflective supervision, providing them opportunities to reflect on their practice. Staff say they feel supported by the managers, which contributes to them enjoying their work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings take place, providing staff opportunities to come together and share their skills and knowledge. Research and therapeutic guidance are used effectively to inform discussions and strengthen practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have internal and external monitoring systems in place. This helps the managers understand the home’s strengths and areas for development. All serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted in line with regulatory requirements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A review of the suitability of the location of the home does not include feedback from external professionals. This does not provide staff with up-to-date information or help them have a greater understanding of risks in the local area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers produce quality of care review reports. However, the reports do not always include feedback from children, families or professionals, and they lack evaluation. Strengthening this process will help ensure that external perspectives, professional insight and the child’s lived experiences are fully reflected in the home’s ongoing improvement work. Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 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 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 has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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 the children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

the 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)(d)(e)(g)(i)(h)) 2 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 7 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there are effective systems in place for managers to access relevant records in the absence of other managers.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that action is taken to address the internal maintenance of the home, including an internal fire door.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that children are supported to maintain clean bedrooms. 2 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are able to access communal and external areas of their home. 2 October 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 monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; 2 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 8 the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature and help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, the staff caring for them, and the wider community. Children should have opportunities to express their views on any consequences they receive. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review is evaluative and considers the opinions of children, families and professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that a review of the appropriateness and suitability of the home’s location is carried out at least once a year, and sooner if new concerns arise. The review should identify risks and opportunities associated with the

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Recommendations

home’s location and set out strategies for managing these effectively. The review should also include feedback from external professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC456535 9

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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 Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC456535 10 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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