Children's Home run by 4 Pure Heart Limited in Bury

Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 1 Registered provider: 4 Pure Heart Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time if the inspection, there was one child living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home registered in January 2022.

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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/or 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: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 8 and 9 June 2022. Following that inspection, Ofsted issued three compliance notices in respect of regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), regulation 13(the leadership and management standard) and regulation 14(the care planning standard). Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 2 Ofsted also issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home, with effect from 13 June 2022 to 11 September 2022.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on 3 August 2022. Following that visit, Ofsted issued two further compliance notices in respect of regulation 12and regulation 13.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the monitoring visit on 5 September 2022, it was determined that the provider had made sufficient progress to meet the steps in the compliance notices. The notice restricting accommodation at the home was lifted following this visit. Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 4

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inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice, care planning and the leadership and management of the home. These weaknesses have had a significant negative effect on the child’s safety and limited their experiences and progress.

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inadequate

The manager and staff do not understand the child’s individual needs because they do not have access to the child’s relevant plans, such as local authority care plans and therefore, the child is not receiving well- planned care that is addressing all their needs and promoting their safety and well-being.

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inadequate

Relationships between the child and staff are not always positive. When the child made a complaint about staff, it was not sufficiently addressed. The child told staff and the manager that they had felt scared due to the actions of the staff member. Despite this, no reassurances were given to the child to help them feel safe or repair the relationship with the staff member. Failing to listen to the child contributed to them feeling unsafe in their home.

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inadequate

The manager and staff have failed to meet all the child’s health needs. They have not provided the child with clear and age-appropriate information to support them to make healthy choices.

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inadequate

The child has made some progress academically since the last inspection. The child has moved to a secondary school. Although this has been a difficult transition for them, school staff say that the manager and staff are supportive and encouraging.

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inadequate

Despite concerns raised at the last inspection, the manager has failed to ensure that the home environment is maintained to an acceptable standard. Poor standards of hygiene in the child’s bathroom detract from the homeliness of the environment.

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

Safeguarding practice in this home is not sufficiently robust and does not promote the safety and welfare of the child.

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

Staff do not take effective action in response to missing from care incidents and do not act in line with the child’s risk management plan. On one occasion, there were significant delays in the staff searching areas where the child was known to spend time. These delays contributed to the child being missing for a 48-hour period. Dur- ing this incident, the child was exposed to and suffered harm.

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

The manager and staff did not act promptly when the safeguarding concerns were identified in respect of the child. The manager and staff did not ensure that the child received immediate medical attention. When the manager and staff did speak to a Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 5 medical professional, they did not follow the advice that they were given. This placed the child at risk of harm because a significant health need was not addressed in a timely manner.

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

Managers and staff do not demonstrate an understanding of the risks to the child from exploitation. Managers and staff did not demonstrate any professional curiosity when they found concerning information on the child’s mobile phone. They did not take appropriate action to protect the child or support the child to understand how to keep safe.

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

Risk management plans are ineffective as they do not contain sufficient information about the child’s known risks. Staff are not provided with clear risk management strategies. Therefore, staff are not taking sufficient action to reduce risks to the child.

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

The child has not received consistent help and support to develop their understanding of how to keep safe. Staff have not provided the child with appropriate advice and support about their sexual health, alcohol and substance misuse and harmful and exploitative relationships. This poor practice has contributed to the child experiencing harm.

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

The manager and staff have not supported the child to understand the impact of bullying. This lack of support for the child has had a detrimental effect on their peer relationships.

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

Records of consequences are not evaluated by the manager and do not include the child’s views about the consequence that they receive. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that this strategy is helping the child to learn from incidents.

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

Monitoring devices, such as door sensors in the home and tracking applications on the child’s mobile phone, are being used without the required permission or risk assessment in place. Therefore, the manager has failed to implement these measures in line with regulation or company policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered in January 2022. The manager has failed to sustain the improvements which were identified at the previous visit. Previous requirements have not been met, and shortfalls identi- fied previously have re-occurred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management monitoring is ineffective. Leaders and the manager have not imple- mented effective monitoring systems to ensure improvements in the quality of care provided to the child. For example, oversight of the child’s records has not identified shortfalls in staff practice or care planning. Poor staff practice has therefore re- emerged which does not promote the child’s safety or Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 6 welfare. Although the manager has reviewed the child’s records, they did not iden- tify and address shortfalls in staff practice. Insufficient review and evaluation of sig- nificant events places the child at risk of harm from continued poor staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not have the experience or knowledge to meet the needs of the child and keep them safe. For example, staff have not received training in child sexual exploitation and internet safety. Therefore, their ability to respond effectively to concerns in these areas is limited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not being provided with practice-based supervision. Therefore, their skills and practice are not improving. Staff are not being supported, through supervision or de-briefs, to reflect on training or significant events in the home. This does not support the development of good practice, and the quality of care provided to child is therefore not improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not recruited in line with safer recruitment procedures. Gaps in employ- ment history are not explored. The manager has not scrutinised or evaluated all the relevant information that is available to them, such as information on staff members Disclosure and Barring Service certificates. This does not evidence that the manager is determining staff’s suitability to work in the home. This unsafe practice could place children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Ofsted has not been notified of all significant events. This does not support effective monitoring and therefore compromises children’s welfare and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to the safeguarding concerns, Ofsted is of the view that if further children move into the home it would compromise the safety of the child already living in the home as well as any new children moving in. Based on the information outlined above, Ofsted has issued a notice restricting accommodation. Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 7

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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 children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to understand how the child's views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that children know that they have been listened to and that their views have been considered. 11 December

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

that staff help each child to— 11 December Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 8 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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children receive age-appropriate help and support around their sexual health.

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Requirement Due date

Further to this, the registered person must ensure that staff help the child to understand the impact of harmful substances, such as cannabis, on their health and wellbeing.

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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—

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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; 11 December Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 9 understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xiii))

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child's risk assessments clearly identify the risks to the child and the actions staff must take to reduce these risks. Further to this, the registered person must ensure that staff follow these risk assessments and take effective action to keep the child safe from harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that staff help the child understand how to keep safe. 11 December

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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— 11 December Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 10 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that staff receive training in matters which are relevant to the needs of children, including training in child exploitation, internet safety and drugs and alcohol misuse.

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Requirement Due date

Further to this the registered person must ensure that there is effective oversight of children's records and significant incidents.

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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 each child's relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that children's relevant plans, such as local authority care plans and child looked after health plans, are available for staff and inform the home's plans for the child's care. 11 December

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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 11 December Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 11 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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose clearly states the experience and qualifications of staff that work in the home. Further to this, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is shared with HMCI within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child's age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the use of door sensors and tracking applications on children's mobile phones. 11 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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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,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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)) 11 December Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 12 In particular the registered person must ensure that gaps in staff employment history are fully explored and that they verify staff qualifications by retaining a copy of their relevant qualifications.

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Requirement Due date

Further to this, the registered person must ensure that they explore the circumstances if staff have any criminal convictions to satisfy themselves that the person is suitable to work with children.

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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; and

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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)(b)(c)) 11 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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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

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; 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 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(vii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the records that are made in relation to consequences. 11 December Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 13 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;

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 44 (4)(c)(e)) 11 December

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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 children’s home: 2630055 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: 4 Pure Heart Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atlantic Business Centre, Atlantic Street, Broadheath, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5NQ

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Inspector

Emma Thornton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2630055 15 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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