Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Bromley

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 1

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Acorn Homes (UK) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home offers placements for children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Placements are generally medium to long term.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2020

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This monitoring visit

The visit was conducted because the home has not been inspected since August 2019, and to address specific concerns about behaviour management in the home not being effective and Ofsted not receiving all safeguarding notifications as required. The management of the home was also monitored as an additional line of enquiry during the visit. The visit was conducted off site.

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This monitoring visit

The ability of staff to protect young people in the home from harm is poor. Staff do not have the skills and experience to prevent assaults, bullying, harassment and intimidation of all young people and staff members. As a result, some young people avoid using the home’s communal areas. A young person reported eating and drinking less because he did not feel safe sitting down for dinner in the kitchen with another young person present. Because of this, young people who have been subjected to bullying have eaten meals alone in their bedroom or have temporarily returned to their family home to help keep themselves safe. A young person said, ‘It’s not fair that I should have to go to my bedroom when I have done nothing wrong.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff’s behaviour management strategies are not effective. Sanctions, such as the loss of computer time, fail to reduce challenging behaviours. Young people do not receive regular one-to-one support, key-work sessions or individual debriefs to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 2 support or challenge bullying behaviours. A young person said, ‘I did not feel safe here until a few weeks ago.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken with were unclear of young people’s current care plans. Staff were uncertain of the young people’s plans for education during the visit. Case records are not consistently kept up to date. For example, a risk assessment record inspected was not up to date and reports of bullying did not match the incident reports.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff expressed their concern that the leadership and management of the home are insufficient. A member of staff said that communication is bad. Another member of staff said that morale is low and nothing is being done about it. Team meetings and staff supervisions have been cancelled.

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This monitoring visit

A member of staff described the staff team’s relationship as being ‘on edge’. A recent argument between staff in the office has resulted in a staff member’s dismissal. The registered manager said that staff’s roles and responsibilities have been addressed at a recent team meeting. However, the inspector could not find any evidence of this being discussed or recorded.

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This monitoring visit

Despite the shortfalls identified during this visit, social workers are complimentary about the home. Social workers praise the staff for their regular communication with them and for enabling young people to see important family members and friends.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found one safeguarding incident that was not notified to Ofsted. This has now been addressed. The registered manager said that he will ensure that any future safeguarding incidents are notified to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector recognises that incidents of bullying in the home have decreased recently and there have been no reported incidents or safeguarding concerns in recent weeks. A young person said, ‘I am happy here and I feel safe.’

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This monitoring visit

The home has managed the challenge of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic well. Rigorous safety procedures are in place. Leaders and managers have developed a ‘Best practice assessment toolkit during COVID-19’. No young people have tested positive while resident in the home.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the inspector did not review all the requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection and these have been restated at this visit. The home’s statement of purpose has been amended. Therefore, the relevant requirement has been met. Three further requirements are set following this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/08/2019 Full Good 13/05/2019 Full Inadequate 01/05/2018 Full Good 24/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 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, 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 registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29 (4)) 30 June 2021

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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

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)) 30 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must keep the register of children up to date. 30 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 5 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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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;

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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; 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 6 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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(iii)) 30 June 2021

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 7 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)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must provide young people with levels of supervision as identified in their care plans, and the registered person must ensure that effective strategies are in place and followed by staff to manage any risks to children in the home.

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when staff are unable to attend team meetings, a record is kept to evidence that staff have read the team meeting notes. 30 June 2021

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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.

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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) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to provide care and support to children in the home that is in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 8 Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must not deprive children of their liberty unless authorised by a court order, and the number of staff used to restrain children must be proportionate to any risk of harm. 30 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must receive regular supervision 30 June 2021

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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;

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 9 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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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; 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 10 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;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 11

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children's homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. In particular, a bedroom roller blind, an en-suite bathroom door handle and bedroom door paint in the unoccupied bedrooms must be repaired. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home. In particular, the training matrix must be kept up to date. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to be aware of

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Recommendations

and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves. In particular, staff must consistently complete the young people’s scheduled key-work sessions to address any concerns or risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6SJ

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1183936 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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