Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 1 SC456911 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare LTD

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 6 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns received by Ofsted from external agencies and professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant increase in incidents at the home. Two children who recently moved into the home, just prior to last inspection, have both moved out in unplanned ways because staff could not meet these children's needs. Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child was seen and spoken with.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns were raised to Ofsted about several shortfalls in the safeguarding of children. A child said they have not felt safe at the home and that they do not know which staff will be caring for them because the staff team has changed so much. The child also said they were unhappy living at this home, did not feel listened to by staff and wanted to move out.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have failed to respond effectively to serious safeguarding concerns raised by a child. Staff failed to follow safeguarding policies and did not appropriately escalate concerns raised by a child. This meant that the concerns were not considered by Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 2 leaders and managers for over 2 weeks. This resulted in a child coming to further harm.

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This monitoring visit

On several occasions, staff have failed to effectively supervise children. Staff have not followed safety plans to support children in the home to keep safe. This has placed children at further risk and meant that children came to harm. In addition, staff have not effectively managed children's relationships with each other, and this has allowed children to harm their peers.

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This monitoring visit

When children have gone missing from the home, staff have not consistently followed missing-from-care protocols. On one occasion, staff did not try to stop a child from going missing in the early hours of the morning. Staff did not immediately follow the child and did not search for the child for a further 25 minutes. This practice does not help to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an increase in the use of physical interventions with children. There are significant gaps in the recording of these incidents. Staff are not debriefed following these incidents and children are not consistently spoken to, which prevents them from sharing their views. On some occasions, it is not clear if the holds used by staff are necessary, proportionate and in line with holds set out in the home's training policy.

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This monitoring visit

On one occasion, a child made an allegation during a hold. This was not known by leaders and managers and so appropriate follow up actions did not take place at the time. This was identified during the inspection, and steps have been taken since to address this. Leaders and managers do not have sufficient oversight of the use of physical intervention. This does not help leaders and managers to understand any staff practice shortfalls or identify learning and improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been significant changes to the staff team. Two staff are suspended; one member of staff has been dismissed and one resigned with immediate effect. This has not provided continuity of care to children. Instead, children have been supported by staff from other sister homes who do not know the children well.

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This monitoring visit

The changes to staffing have meant that staff are not confident in understanding individual children's needs and do not consistently follow agreed safety plans and risk assessments. Staff do not have the skills and experience to effectively meet all children's needs. An inexperienced and changing staff team does not help children to build positive relationships. Two children subsequently moved out when staff could not keep them safe or meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to effectively manage and monitor issues in the home since the last inspection. Several incident records do not have management oversight. This does not help leaders and managers to understand shortfalls in practice and what learning is required by staff. In addition, leaders and managers Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 3 have not always considered shortfalls in staff practice quickly. This has reduced information-sharing with appropriate partner agencies, including the local authority designated officer, social workers and Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has started to identify some of these concerns and is taking steps to address several of the concerns raised in this inspection. Several requirements are restated and are the subject of a compliance notice, as more concerns have been raised. Two requirements were not reviewed as part of this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/06/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/08/2024 Full Good 30/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 4

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

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 5 *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

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

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)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 7 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must ensure that— 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 6 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

(a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

(has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

(has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 7 receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding; 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 8 help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi))

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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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)(c)(e)) 7 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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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— 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 9 ascertain and consider each child's views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child's best interests when making decisions about the child's care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child's views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home's care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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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

seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children's home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 August 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; 31 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 10 are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children's plans, daily records and all incident reports are completed diligently and reviewed by a manager in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have access to appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. This specifically relates to ensuring that training to meet the specific needs of individual children is arranged and provided in a timely manner. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 11

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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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Inspectors

Rebecca Hannell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC456911 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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