Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in WiganOfsted inspection, 9 Sept 2026

Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 1 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

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since registration in March 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 2

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Summary of findings

Staff provide good quality care to the child living in the home. The child is settled and making good progress.

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Summary of findings

The child is cared for by a team who have the skills and knowledge to build meaningful relationships. Children’s welfare is promoted at all times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection. Staff have developed strong positive relationships with the child. All staff spoke warmly about the child and were able to easily identify the progress that the child has made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team demonstrates a strong commitment to providing high-quality care for children. Staff actively engage with the child to develop a deeper understanding of their needs and experiences. They have identified the child’s preferred method of communication during times of distress and respond sensitively by writing to them in a journal format when the child is struggling emotionally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress in education. They attend regularly, enjoy learning, and have achieved several qualifications. The manager has proactively ensured that the child’s education, health and care plan (EHCP) has been reviewed and that appropriate formal learning environments have been identified. Recognising the positive impact of vocational learning, the manager has ensured that the child continues to access learning opportunities on a farm as part of their next stage in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is healthy and thriving. Staff understand the importance of supporting the child to access health services. For example, the child had outstanding immunisations when they moved into the home. Through proactive work with the child, staff supported them to receive all required immunisations. Managers identified an incident where the child had withheld medication and responded promptly. They implemented a new safety procedure, and staff now demonstrate a clear understanding of their responsibilities and the actions required to ensure the safe management of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is a key priority, and staff recognise its importance to the child’s emotional well-being. All staff have received training in bereavement and loss, which enables them to respond sensitively to the child’s individual needs. Staff actively support and facilitate arrangements for the child to spend meaningful time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to participate in activities that reflect their interests and preferences. During the inspection, the child was observed enjoying positive interactions with adults and appeared happy and comfortable in their company. Clear and consistent routines are in place, which help the child feel secure and supported. Increased Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 3 consistency within the staff team is having a positive impact on the child’s progress and overall well-being.

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

The manager has ensured that comprehensive and detailed risk assessments are in place for all identified risks. These assessments provide clear, child-specific strategies and identify indicators that may suggest the child is experiencing low mood. They also include tailored guidance on the language and approaches staff can use to encourage the child to express how they are feeling. As a result, staff are well equipped to respond to the child’s emotional needs, which has contributed to a reduction in incidents and improved emotional well-being.

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

On two occasions, staff were unable to effectively de-escalate the child’s behaviour and requested police assistance to help manage the situation. The manager identified shortfalls in practice and took action to strengthen staff skills through clinical input and targeted supervision sessions.

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

The staff team provides consistent support to help the child manage their emotions. Staff recognise early signs that the child may be struggling and respond appropriately. As a result, the child is becoming increasingly comfortable sharing their worries and concerns with the team.

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

The manager has proactively secured additional support from the clinical team and has undertaken focused supervision sessions with staff when required. Staff and managers reflect on incidents to identify learning and improve practice. However, these discussions do not always take place on an individual basis. This does not enable open and reflective discussions.

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

The child went missing from the home on one occasion. Staff took appropriate action in line with the child’s plans, and the child returned safely within a short period of time. Staff understand the content of the child’s risk management plan and were clear about the actions they would take should the child go missing from the home.

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place for new staff joining the home. The manager ensures that recruitment checks are in place before staff commence employment. New staff benefit from a comprehensive induction and training programme, with a clear focus on developing the skills and knowledge required to meet the child’s needs. The manager also ensures that safeguarding training is prioritised, enabling staff to develop a strong understanding of their responsibilities from the outset and maintain the child’s safety as they begin working shifts within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 4 There is a registered manager in post who has a strong vision for the home. The manager prioritises the child’s safety and promotes positive outcomes in all areas of their development. They recognise and celebrate the child’s achievements through monthly letters, which acknowledge the child’s successes and highlight enjoyable experiences shared throughout the month.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains good oversight of the home through organised systems and effective monitoring arrangements. They ensure that the plans in place are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the child’s progress and needs. Monthly reviews of records and documentation enable the manager to evaluate both the child’s achievements and the effectiveness of staff practice. This strong oversight has contributed to the positive progress and outcomes achieved by the child currently living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team speak highly about the support afforded to them by the leadership team. They feel valued and this leads to a positive working environment. One staff member noted that management will ensure to check in with them after they have had a particularly difficult shift. External professionals are positive about communication with the team and feel that they have built effective working relationships with the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team is appropriately trained in both mandatory training and training specific to the needs of the child. Where training courses are not available the manager will ask for the therapeutic team to complete bespoke sessions for the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team work in line with the ethos and objectives of the home. The team are therapeutic in their approach with the child and have supported them during particularly difficult emotional incidents. Staff recognise the importance of consistency for the child and that rules and boundaries must be implemented by everyone in the same way to support the positive progress for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The internal areas of the home are warm, homely and beautifully decorated. However, external areas of the home present as tired requiring attention. Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 5

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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

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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must make sure that de-briefs completed with staffs involved in incidents take place on an individual basis in order to allow space for open and honest discussion. 21 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically that the registered manager must ensure that the external areas of the house are decorated and maintained to provide a homely environment to the child living in it. 21 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 6

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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: 2875005 7

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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 Park View, 82 Oxford Rd, Uxbridge UB8 1UX

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Inspector

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2875005 8 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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