Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 1 Registered provider: Cambian Childcare Limited

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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 company. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/07/2025 Full Good 28/08/2024 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Inadequate 08/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 3

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Summary of findings

Significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home have been identified. This has impacted on the children’s progress and safety.

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Summary of findings

Monitoring systems to oversee and review practice are in place. However, these are not consistently effective.

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Summary of findings

Consequently, the home has been judged to be inadequate in all areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Ineffective safeguarding practice and poor leadership and management have impacted on children’s overall experiences and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, 3 children have moved out of the home. One child experienced an abrupt ending after only living in the home for less than a month. Another child moved to another of the provider’s homes as the staff were unable to keep the child safe. Consequently, children’s experiences of living in the home are not always positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children currently living in the home say they feel happy living here. Both children have only been living at the home for a short period of time. They could identify staff who they would speak to if they were worried about anything.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support children’s education. The children have an in-house tutor and are supported with learning opportunities inside and outside of the home. One child enjoys fishing and is being supported to develop their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Documents in the home did demonstrate that staff use language that cares. Language used by staff to the inspector was stigmatising for children and did not demonstrate that staff provided care in line with the home’s therapeutic model.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff recognise the importance of children maintaining relationships with significant people in their lives. If this is deemed to be unsafe, action is taken.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There have been complaints raised by neighbours. The manager has supported the children to undertake restorative actions. Consequently, incidents have reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home has adequate space for the children. They have access to a spacious garden. There were some small maintenance issues observed in the home and the manager took swift action to address these. Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 4

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

Staff have not safeguarded children effectively.

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

Children’s health needs are not fully understood. When new risks have been identified, the manager has not ensured that health professionals have been updated or taken action to involve them in care planning. The manager has not ensured that staff have undertaken training to have a clear understanding of the risks associated with suicidal ideation. This does not demonstrate a strong safeguarding culture of ensuring that children’s mental health needs are understood and that children receive the support they require when in crisis.

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

Risk assessments are not always updated after incidents, and the manager has not ensured that staff always follow the child’s risk assessment. This does not demonstrate a strong safeguarding practice.

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

Staff have not followed a child’s risk assessment when they have gone missing from home. The home’s safe area report has not been updated to reflect known risks in the community. These shortfalls demonstrate a lack of proactive support and oversight in ensuring that risks are fully understood and staff practice is challenged when appropriate action is not taken.

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

Due to staff not being able to manage the children’s care needs and risks, they have repeatedly required assistance from the police to manage incidents. Behaviour support strategies have not been effective and there have been occasions when staff have locked themselves in the staff office. Consequently, there has been an escalation in incidents and children have moved on from the home.

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

The managers sign off all incident reports, but they do not always complete a thorough evaluation of staff practice. This does not support the manager to share learning with staff or reflect and improve the care for the children.

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

Staff engage children in direct work to help them understand most risks and how to keep themselves safe. This includes knife crime, online safety and substance misuse.

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

Room checks have been undertaken, but children are not always informed and their views not considered. This is not in line with the home’s policy and does not ensure that children’s views are captured and acted on.

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

Physical intervention has been required on a number of occasions. On one occasion, a child’s debrief was undertaken by staff involved. When the manager has been involved in a physical intervention, they have not had a debrief, and the incident evaluation was undertaken by the manager. This does demonstrate independent oversight and gives children the opportunity to safely share their views. Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 5 Children have made allegations against staff, which have been investigated. Concerns have been shared with professionals including the local authority designated officer. However, concerns were not shared when a member of staff was suspended and later dismissed due to their conduct in the home. An external manager conducted the investigation, and the manager had only had sight of the full report during the inspection so there was no learning or reflection. This did not directly impact on the children, but

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

demonstrated poor management of a serious allegation.

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

Safer recruitment practices have been implemented. This ensures that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is committed and qualified. There has been changes in the management team since the last inspection and there is a new responsible individual who is awaiting a suitability assessment. Planning for children to move into the home has been reflected on to ensure the staff can meet the children’s needs and risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is generally aligned with the children’s needs. However, when emerging risks in relation to self-harm and suicidal ideation became known, these were not prioritised until after the child moved from the home. This did not fully equip staff to meet the child’s needs. This left the child at risk of further harm and their welfare was not safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have received regular reflective supervision. Staff say they feel supported by the manager. This gives staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have regular team meetings. This gives them an opportunity to come together, reflect and share information. The home’s external psychologist attends the meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been a number of changes in staffing since the last inspection. This has led to a period of instability for the children. The manager is taking action to address this. Additionally, the home’s statement of purpose was not factually correct. However, the manager did address this during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have effective internal and external monitoring systems in place. This limits opportunities to monitor and evaluate the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted, as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of safeguarding practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 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

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

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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; and

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff understand what action that they are expected to take when there are concerns about children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the homes day to day care is delivered in a way, which keeps children safe from harm. 27 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 7 Ensure that risk assessments are up to date with children’s known risks and that staff understand the actions that they are expected to take to keep children safe.

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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’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; 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)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that shortfalls in staff practice are identified and action is taken to rectify these.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that systems are in place to monitor the quality of care in the home are effective.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the skills and experience to meet the needs of each child in their care. 27 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 8 Ensure a review of staff skills and knowledge is undertaken.

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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.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)) 30 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

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; 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 9 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

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Requirement Due date

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)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that children speak to someone independent, and that when the manager is involved oversight to be undertaken by the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 10 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; and

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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)(b)(e)) 27 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a review of the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises is carried out at least once a year or sooner if any new concerns arise. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff describe children in a non-stigmatising way. (‘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 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: 1225371 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: Caretech, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1225371 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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