Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 1 SC472465 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 home is owned by a private organisation. Staff provide care for up to 5 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2023 Full Inadequate 26/06/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making positive and measurable progress from their starting points and benefit from caring relationships with staff who are committed to their welfare and development. Some shortcomings in staff practice were identified, including occasions where children's plans and safeguarding arrangements were not implemented consistently. Although these weaknesses contributed to several incidents and indicate that safeguarding practice requires improvement, the evidence demonstrates that leaders responded to concerns, implemented learning and continued to support children to achieve positive outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff have formed mostly positive relationships with children. Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home, and four children have moved in. Leaders have generally assessed children’s needs well to ensure that children are compatible. However, on one occasion, important information about children already living in the home was not included in one impact assessment. Consequently, it was not clear how leaders had satisfied themselves that they could meet the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Leaders work with children’s placing authorities to develop safe and appropriate arrangements. As a result, one child has been able to spend more time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff encourage children to develop independence skills. The manager has developed an independence programme for a child who is preparing to move to semi- independent living. This supports the child to learn practical skills, including cooking, budgeting and arranging appointments independently. As a result, the child has become more confident in these areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with a range of enjoyable activities, including trips abroad. Leaders and staff work closely with children to prepare them for extended periods away from the home. As a result, one child who had previously struggled to spend prolonged periods away from home has successfully participated in a trip with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are supported well. There are clear plans in place for specific health conditions, including epilepsy. Where medication errors have occurred, leaders have taken appropriate action to promote learning and reduce the likelihood of recurrence through additional training and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is welcoming and child-friendly. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests, helping them develop a sense of belonging within the home. Staff encourage children to be creative. For example, one child has been Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 4 supported to create a ‘little village’ in the garden. Leaders have also identified areas for improvement within the home and are taking action to address these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children well and are able to clearly describe the progress children have made since moving into the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently adhere to staffing ratios identified within children’s plans. Consequently, some children who require one-to-one or two-to-one support have been left unsupervised for periods of time and have felt unsupported. On one occasion, a member of staff’s actions during an incident caused a child to feel unsafe. Leaders responded appropriately and took action to ensure that the child remained supported.

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improvement to be good

On two further occasions, one child left the home without staff’s knowledge and was subsequently reported missing from home. This increased the child’s vulnerability to harm.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are not applied and reviewed consistently. Leaders and staff do not always ensure that children have opportunities to express their views following the implementation of consequences. In addition, on one occasion, the manager imposed a consequence and subsequently reviewed it herself. On another occasion, records did not clearly identify how long a consequence remained in place. These shortfalls do not provide assurance that there is effective oversight of consequences.

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improvement to be good

Leaders do not consistently notify Ofsted of serious incidents within required timescales. On one occasion, Ofsted was notified of a significant incident one week after it occurred. This delayed regulatory oversight of the incident.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention is only used when necessary to prevent harm. When incidents occur, staff generally follow the home’s agreed procedures. On one occasion, staff used an untrained technique due to the severity of the incident. Records demonstrate that this was used for the shortest time possible. Leaders ensure that debriefs take place with children and staff following incidents. This helps to ensure that practice is reviewed and that children receive appropriate support.

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improvement to be good

When allegations are made, leaders respond appropriately. They consult with relevant professionals to ensure that information is shared and clear plans are established. Children are supported to understand how to raise concerns. This encourages them to feel confident in speaking openly about any worries they may have.

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improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

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improvement to be good

Leaders know children well, understand their needs, risks and progress, and maintain high aspirations for their futures. They have a clear understanding of children’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 5 experiences and are committed to helping them achieve positive outcomes. While there have been occasions when children’s plans have not been implemented consistently, leaders have recognised these concerns and taken action to strengthen practice and oversight.

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improvement to be good

Leaders consistently advocate for children and challenge partner agencies to secure appropriate support and services. This has helped children access resources and interventions that promote positive outcomes and ensure that children’s needs remain at the centre of planning.

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improvement to be good

Staff generally describe leaders as approachable, supportive and available for advice and guidance. Most staff report feeling well supported through regular supervision and management oversight. A small number of staff expressed concerns about inconsistencies in practice, which they felt placed additional pressure on the staff team. Leaders have taken steps to address these issues and promote greater consistency across the service.

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improvement to be good

Leaders ensure that staff receive appropriate training. The manager monitors completion of mandatory training and sources additional bespoke learning opportunities when required. Most recently, staff completed training in global developmental delay to strengthen their ability to meet children’s individual needs.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment practice is safe. Leaders ensure that all required checks are completed before staff commence employment. This helps to ensure that only suitable adults work with children.

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improvement to be good

Leaders understand the strengths and areas for development within the home. Monitoring systems identify areas requiring improvement, and leaders take action to address identified shortfalls. Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)) 30 October 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 promotes their welfare.

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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; 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 7 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e))

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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

a description of the measure and its duration;

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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

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)(iv)(vii)(ii)(c)) 30 October 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: SC472465 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cambian Childcare LTD

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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

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC472465 9 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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