Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 1 SC378187 Registered provider: Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a small independent organisation, Platinum Services, and has been registered since 2008. The home provides care for up to two children who need emotional support as a result of trauma they may have experienced.

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This monitoring visit

On 30 November and 1 December 2021, Ofsted carried out a full inspection. The home was judged to be inadequate and two compliance notices were issued, under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

On 17 January 2022, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit to the home. The purpose of this visit was to review the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices. The inspector found that the provider had not met the steps set out in the compliance notices. On 21 January 2022, Ofsted reissued the compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

On 21 and 22 March 2022, Ofsted undertook a full inspection. The home was judged to be inadequate for a second time. The inspector found that the provider had not met the steps set out in the compliance notices issued following the monitoring visit on 17 January 2022. On 25 March 2022, Ofsted reissued the compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

On 8 April 2022, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit. The purpose of this visit was to review the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices. The inspector found that the provider had not met the steps set out in the compliance notices. On Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 2 14 April 2022, Ofsted reissued the compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

A further compliance notice was issued under regulation 29 (continuing professional development: registered person and responsible individual). This had an end date of 1 May 2022 and so was not reviewed at this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not assessed hazards in the home that present a risk to children who are known to self-harm using a ligature. For example, door closing hinges were found above the inside of children’s bedroom doors and there are long pull cords in the bathroom. Managers failed to identify this as a concern and have not acted to protect children from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff still do not follow children’s risk assessments. For example, a child’s risk assessment was revised after she went missing from school. Clear guidance was provided to staff that they drop off and collect the child from the school’s reception area, to reduce the risk of her going missing from school. Staff failed to follow the guidance because they waited at the school gates for the child. Subsequently, the child went missing again. As a result of staff not following guidance, they left the child vulnerable to the risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken some steps to increase staff’s awareness of what they need to do if a child makes an allegation against a member of staff. However, these steps do not go far enough, because the written guidance to staff about what they must do is still not clear. As a result, the risk remains that staff will not take all the necessary action following an allegation made by a child.

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This monitoring visit

Managers’ oversight of the home is still not effective. Despite additional management support being provided to the registered manager, managers including the responsible individual have failed to adequately oversee the day-to-day running of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers’ review of records has not identified shortfalls in staff practice. For example, they have not identified or addressed shortfalls with staff when they did not follow guidance set out in a child’s risk assessment. Furthermore, the registered manager has not followed up practice shortfalls previously identified in staff’s supervision. This ineffective monitoring and a lack of action by the managers does not demonstrate their ability to reinforce and embed good practice into the quality of care that children receive.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, some progress has been made. The registered manager has reviewed a child’s safety plan. The child spoke about the impact of the safety plan and how this has improved her well-being. She said, ‘I am now spending more time at home and feel the staff have listened to me. I am happier when I’m at home and spend less time in my room alone and more time with staff.’ Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 3 Additionally, staff have removed locks from kitchen cupboards. As a result, there are no unnecessary restrictions placed on children’s access to these in their own home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this inspection, two new requirements were raised, under regulation 26 (fitness of registered provider) and regulation 28 (fitness of manager). Requirements under regulations 5, 6, 10, 11, 25, 29, 32, 33 and 46 raised at the previous inspection were not reviewed at this visit as their end dates had not passed. These will be reviewed at a future inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2022 Full Inadequate 30/11/2021 Full Inadequate 26/11/2019 Full Good 02/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 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, 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that any safeguarding incidents are referred on to other professionals if there are concerns for the safety of children.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to ensuring that the registered manager challenges the local authority when necessary if return home interviews are not completed for children, and that they promptly share information with wider agencies such as the local authority designated officer if an allegation has been made.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2022

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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

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that the home environment is clean and tidy and homely for children and that children have free access to all areas of the home, including the garden.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 7 This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring, as far as possible, that children receive regular dental, optical and other health checks as required, and that where there are gaps in meeting this need for children, medical advice and other ways of meeting children’s health needs are sought to support them.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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— that staff—

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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

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; 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)(v)(ix)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that staff understand children’s complex needs based on their experiences and that they support them with their behaviour based on this understanding, using a nurturing approach to their care. 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 8 The registered person must also ensure that positive relationships between children in the home are actively encouraged.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 that staff:

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff follow risk assessments and assess risk and identify and remove hazards.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been raised again because it has not been met at this inspection. 1 May 2022

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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 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 9 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

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;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff receive regular practice-related supervisions and appraisals of their skills in line with the home’s own policies.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that they have a system in place to be able to monitor the quality of care and have a clear understanding of how to improve the care offered to the children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that they have a good understanding of the care children are receiving in the home and that this should feed into their quality of care review.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been raised again because it has not been met at this inspection.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that actions outlined as required by fire experts to manage the risk of fire in the home are taken to ensure the environment is safe from the risk of fire.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must— 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 10 have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i)) 1 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

*If the registered provider is an organisation, the organisation must ensure that the responsible individual undertakes such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the responsible individual has the skills needed for supervising the management of the home.

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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) (2) (4))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that both the responsible individual and the registered manager have had the necessary continued professional development and training to enable them to have the skills to effectively oversee the care of the children in the home and the practice of the registered manager.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 11 The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that there is written explanation for all gaps in employment for staff and that where any staff member has previously worked with children or vulnerable adults, verification of their reasons for leaving such employment is sought.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that staff have appraisals of their performance completed with them at least annually.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that the risk assessment completed in relation to the location 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 12 of the premises considers and mitigates for the risk posed by the adjacent children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Union House, 111 New Union Street, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 2NT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leonard Pattinson

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 14 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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