Children's Home run by Sunbridge Childcare Ltd in North Tyneside

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 1 Registered provider: Sunbridge Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider to care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke to the two children living in the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out due to Ofsted receiving several regulation 40 safeguarding notifications. These indicated that there may be breaches in regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 The children’s welfare is not safeguarded or promoted so they have experienced significant harm while living in this home.

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Findings from the inspection

 Leaders and managers have failed to keep the children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

 Children and staff are placed at risk of harm due to inadequate fire safety arrangements.

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Findings from the inspection

 Poor care planning arrangements mean that the children do not make progress.

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The care of children

Children are not safe living in this home. They have experienced significant harm, and their overall experiences are poor.

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The care of children

The manager has failed to escalate her concerns to the children’s placing local authorities when the children’s behaviour continues to place them and others at risk. Children who repeatedly go missing from home, for increasingly extended periods of time, continue to be at significant risk. Despite this, the manager has failed to request an urgent review of the children’s care plans to ensure that suitable safety plans are in place.

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The care of children

Children do not feel valued or listened to. They said that they do not feel safe, and that they do not have positive relationships with the staff. Children could not identify an adult who they could speak to if they had any worries.

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The care of children

The provider has failed to ensure that the manager and staff are aware of the children’s wishes and feelings. They have failed to identify one child’s cultural needs and how these needs should be met. One child’s feelings about feeling unsafe and their religious beliefs were discounted and continually ignored by staff and the manager. Poor care planning arrangements mean that the children’s needs are not understood or met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 3

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The safety of children

The manager and staff do not have clear strategies on what action they must take to safeguard the children. This has exposed the children to harm.

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The safety of children

Children are not protected from harm. The staff do not conduct room searches of the children’s bedrooms in line with children’s plans. This failing means that the children who are known to set fires, continue to have access to lighters. These have been used to set fires in the children’s bedrooms. Children and staff are placed at further harm as children have access to knives. These have been used to threaten others.

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The safety of children

Children have been placed at serious risk of harm due to inadequate health and safety arrangements. The manager has failed to ensure that the children and staff can leave the home in an emergency. The children and staff are unable to leave the home via the main doors, which are fire exits, as they are locked. In addition, fire- fighting equipment is locked away and cannot be easily accessed by staff. This would prevent them from responding promptly should a fire occur.

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The safety of children

The provider has failed to ensure that the home environment is safe. The staff have failed to identify and address the considerable build-up of food and grease in the ovens. This poses a further risk of fire. In addition, the manager does not review any near-miss incidents to reduce the likelihood of actual harm to children.

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The safety of children

Staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities when the children go missing from the home. The staff fail to follow the children’s safety plans, and they do not follow the children when they leave the home. As a result of these failings, the children have been significantly harmed while they have been living in this home.

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The safety of children

Staff do not ensure that the children are educated about the associated risks of drug misuse, crime and harmful relationships. This means that the children continue to engage in behaviours that may pose a risk to them and others.

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The safety of children

Staff do not respond effectively to safeguarding concerns as they do not have the guidance or training to do so. The manager and her staff do not take appropriate action to ensure that the children are safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

During this inspection, Ofsted identified significant shortfalls in the provider’s safeguarding practice due to ineffective leadership and management arrangements. As a result of the shortfalls identified, a decision was made to suspend the registration of the home at an urgent case review on 2 February 2023. During a further case review on 6 February 2023, Ofsted took the decision to issue four compliance notices under regulations 12, 13, 14 and 25. In addition, a number of requirements have also been issued. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 4 The manager has failed to ensure that there is a sufficient number of trained staff available to care for the children and meet their individual needs. Therefore, the children have not been provided with sufficient support or supervision. As a result, the children have accessed knives and been able to leave the home during the night with them, without the staff’s knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has failed to ensure that there are suitable arrangements in place so that she can be assured that the staff follow the children’s safety plans. When the staff have not adhered to the children’s plans, the manager has failed to address this poor practice. This has resulted in the children being repeatedly placed at harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has not taken effective action when the children have made allegations or a complaint. Records of these incidents are not maintained or shared with all the relevant agencies in order to ensure that thorough investigations are conducted. This oversight exposes the children to the risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager does not have effective monitoring systems in place to scrutinise the staff’s practice and the records in the home. Consequently, the manager has failed to identify the punitive consequences that are used, and she cannot be assured that the use of physical intervention is fair and proportionate. This places children at further risk of harm, and does not support the children to understand and change their harmful behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has failed to improve the quality of care that the children receive in the home. The manager has failed to meet a number of requirements that were issued at the last full inspection on 14 and 15 June 2022. These have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 12 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 7 *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 12 March 2023

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or 12 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 8 the child requests a review of the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

* If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)) 12 March 2023

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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

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

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; 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)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)) 24 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 9 The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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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;

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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

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 (1) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 24 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 10 No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(f)) 24 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5)) 24 April 2023

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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

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 (c)) 24 April 2023

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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; 24 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 11 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))

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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)) 24 April 2023

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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

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Requirement Due date

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)) 24 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 3.16)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all the children’s case records are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunbridge Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Cedar Grove, Wallsend NE28 6PR

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Inspectors

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2638322 13 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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