Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 1 SC457068 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the registered manager left and a new manager took over the role in February 2026, following a handover period.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager has submitted an application for registration. He was not present during the inspection due to sickness absence following an accident. The inspection was supported by the responsible individual.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. This child shared their views with the inspector.

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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

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Good 07/05/2024 Full Good 17/07/2023 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 3

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Summary of findings

Some children have not had positive experiences of living in the home.

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Summary of findings

Shortfalls have been identified in the previous manager’s practice and oversight of the home, which have impacted on outcomes for one child.

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Summary of findings

Staff do not always follow safeguarding procedures or report concerns in a timely manner, which has the potential to impact on the safety and wellbeing of children.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers completed a learning review prior to inspection to address the shortfalls identified. The new manager has already made significant efforts to address these.

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences and progress are varied. Shortfalls in safeguarding practice and leadership and management have led to the judgement of requires improvement to be good.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, 2 placements have ended. One followed concerns raised by the placing local authority about care provided and management oversight. The second ended due to disagreements about staffing levels and the child’s support needs. These disruptions have limited children’s stability and continuity of care. Leaders have taken action to address their concerns, including raising a formal complaint with the placing local authority regarding the decision-making and support arrangements for the child.

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improvement to be good

The child currently living in the home does not have a suitable school placement. However, tutoring arrangements are in place and staff make consistent efforts to promote the child’s engagement with education and support their learning needs.

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improvement to be good

The clinical lead provides valuable support to staff, helping them to meet children’s needs effectively. Through guidance, consultation and therapeutic input, the lead supports the quality of care and helps staff to better understand and respond to children in an individualised and thoughtful manner.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise the importance of family relationships and go to considerable lengths to ensure that these are promoted and improved. Staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of the child and their family relationships. They work proactively with family members and social workers to ensure that family time is a safe and positive experience. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 4

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently follow procedures or share information in a timely manner. This practice does not always support effective decision-making and creates a risk that children’s needs may not be identified or responded to promptly. As a result, children’s experiences and outcomes may be adversely affected, and the service cannot assure that children are consistently cared for safely.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from home, staff follow the protocols in place. Following any episode of a child going missing, debriefs are conducted with the child and staff, providing an opportunity to reflect on the incident. Return home interviews by an external person are always undertaken.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe. Managers debrief staff following any use of physical restraint to reflect and review if this was appropriate. Children are encouraged by staff to talk about these incidents and identify their feelings.

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improvement to be good

When there are concerns about staff practice or when children raise concerns about staff, the manager takes prompt action. This includes reporting to those who need to know, investigating and, when necessary, suspending staff while investigations take place. These actions reassure children that staff and leaders care about their welfare.

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

Shortfalls were identified in the previous manager’s oversight of the home, which adversely affected outcomes for a child living there at the time. In response, leaders have undertaken a comprehensive learning review and implemented measures to address the concerns identified and strengthen practice moving forward.

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

The current manager has been in post since February and was not present during the inspection. He has begun improving staff practice and the quality of care. Staff speak positively about his support and the positive impact this has had on morale. He has also developed positive relationships with the child living in the home.

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

Independent Regulation 44 visits have identified shortfalls since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have taken action to address the issues raised, resulting in improvements in practice. However, some areas require further development to ensure that improvements are fully embedded and sustained over time.

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

Staff recording requires further improvement. Children’s records do not always contain clear and concise information that focuses on their experiences and outcomes. For example, on occasion, records lack sufficient detail or clarity to support an understanding of incidents. This has the potential to limit the effectiveness of monitoring and oversight. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 5 Leaders respond appropriately to concerns raised by partner agencies. They work collaboratively with professionals, act promptly on feedback and take effective steps to address identified issues and strengthen practice.

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

The manager has created a supportive environment. Staff receive regular supervision. This supports staff with their work in caring for the child and with their own professional development. Staff commented that they find supervision supportive, and it gives them opportunities to discuss care practice and personal development.

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

The child’s professional network reports that communication with the home is effective. They describe the manager as sharing information appropriately and seeking guidance when needed. Weekly multi-agency meetings help to ensure that professionals remain informed of current challenges and can work together to meet the child’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 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)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff promptly share information relating to incidents, that records accurately reflect the information shared and actions taken, and that appropriate policies and procedures are consistently followed. 23 September 2026

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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— 23 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 7 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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(e) (f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s welfare is promoted at all times, that children are supported to fulfil their potential, and that staff work consistently in accordance with children’s care plans to ensure continuity of care.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14, (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that effective care planning is implemented for all children to support their move into the home and their transition from the home. 23 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. 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) Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 8

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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: SC457068 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Kate Savage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457068 10 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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