Children's Home run by Champion Children (NW London) Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 1 Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to 5 children with emotional difficulties. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/03/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 3

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Summary of findings

Children are settled and have positive relationships with most staff. Staff support children to understand and manage their behaviour through individualised, therapeutically informed approaches and positive reinforcement. A range of agreed incentives are used to provide consistency. The in-house therapist knows the children well and provides regular support. The therapist supports staff to ensure responses are appropriate and consistent. Staff help to keep children safe and respond appropriately to incidents and complaints. The manager provides clear and effective leadership and is visible at the home, supporting staff practice. One child’s plans lack clarity and completeness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved out and one child has moved in. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home. All 3 children spoke to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children moved out in a planned way. Staff supported the children to move into their new homes through careful planning. This helped the children to prepare for the move and experience a positive end to living at the home. The children remain in contact with staff and have returned to visit the home for dinner. Staff created photobooks for the children to capture memories. This demonstrates the strong relationships that were built between the staff and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff supported a child to move into the home at short notice with minimal planning. Steps were taken to reassure the child. The manager created a personalised video to introduce the home and staff. This gave the child information in an accessible and reassuring way before they travelled. This helped the child to understand what to expect and to feel prepared.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children appear happy and settled. Staff spend individual time with children and hold regular one-to-one discussions. This gives children opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. Children benefit from the support of an in-house therapist, who visits the home twice a week. The therapist provides support to the children and staff. This helps support children’s emotional wellbeing and ensures that staff are well equipped to meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to express their individual identities. Staff respect children’s culture, beliefs and personal choices. This helps children to feel valued, accepted and confident to be themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two of the children attend full-time education. They have been supported to complete their GCSEs and have plans to progress to further education. The child who is currently not in school has online tuition. Staff are working proactively with the headteacher of the Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 4 virtual school and other professionals to secure a suitable education placement. This ensures children continue to receive education that meets their individual needs.

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

Behaviour support plans are individualised and provide clear guidance for staff on how to respond to children. The home’s therapist develops these plans to ensure that the strategies are consistent with the therapeutic model. This helps the staff to respond consistently and in a way that reflects the children’s needs.

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

Significant incidents are generally well managed. Following incidents, staff speak with children to help them reflect on what has happened. Children have opportunities to speak to the therapist when appropriate. Managers review incidents to identify learning and consider if staff responses could be strengthened.

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

Missing-from-home incidents have been managed appropriately. Staff respond promptly to ensure children’s safe return, including collecting the children when appropriate. The staff have clear procedures for responding to missing-from-home incidents. However, the joint information-sharing protocol with the police has not yet been implemented. This means information to support a coordinated response is not readily available.

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

There is a strong focus on positive reinforcement. Children have agreed incentives to work towards, which supports positive behaviour. Achievements are recognised and celebrated. This approach helps children to build confidence and reinforces positive behaviour.

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

Two children made a complaint. This was fully investigated and explored with them. The outcome was shared and clearly explained. This helps children feel valued and listened to. It reassures them that their concerns are recognised and taken seriously.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated and ambitious for children. They provide clear leadership and are visible at the home. A child described the manager as ‘amazing’ and said they ‘helped the home feel more homely’. The manager knows the children well and has a good understanding of their individual needs and risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to all relevant mandatory training. When additional training needs are identified, managers ensure training is sourced and provided to support staff development. The manager role models best practice for staff and provides guidance. This supports consistency across the team and helps drive ongoing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are used to develop staff understanding further. Staff participate in presentations, reflective discussions and scenario-based learning to explore practice and safeguarding responsibilities. There is an investment in staff training and development. This support is building a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 5 Supervision sessions happen regularly and in line with policy. These are detailed and reflect discussions with the staff. These give them a chance to share any worries they may have and receive feedback on their performance. Staff additionally benefit from regular consultations and group reflections with the in-house therapist. This provides staff with therapeutic insight into the children’s needs and suggested ways for the staff to improve their practice with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have generally ensured that children’s records and information are clear and up to date. For one child who recently moved in, their information is not fully consolidated in one plan. Staff rely on multiple documents, which reduces clarity for their day-to-day care practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s procedures take into account the views of appropriate local services and have regard to police and local authority protocols for responding to missing persons’ incidents in the area where the home is located. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.29)  The registered person should ensure there are effective care planning and strong working relationships between the staff of the home and the placing authority as they are essential to the success of placements. In particular, the registered person should ensure children’s plans are updated to reflect current needs, objectives and agreed actions so that staff have accurate guidance to inform day-to-day care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)

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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: 2769395 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Champion Children (NW London) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Private Client, Unit 7-8, Moran House, 449-451 High Road, London NW10 2JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Wakeling

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Inspector

Harkerat Lidhar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2769395 8 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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