Children's Home run by Nestlings Care Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 1 Registered provider: Nestlings Care 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 operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties, and/or may have a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023. However, they have not been in the home since August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspections: 27 November 2023 and 14 December 2023

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on the 27 and 28 November 2023. The inspector, identified serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home. This had a detrimental impact on children’s experiences and progress.

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This monitoring visit

Due to these concerns, a notice restricting accommodation at the home was issued with immediate effect from 28 November 2023 until 19 February 2024. Two compliance notices were issued under Section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was completed on the 14 December 2023. This visit was carried out to monitor the compliance notice set in respect of regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. The provider had failed to take sufficient action to meet the steps in the compliance notice and further shortfalls were identified in the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 2 leadership and management of the home. A further notice under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, was issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor and review actions taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices relating to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that the provider had not taken sufficient action to meet these compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Shortfalls remained in respect of safeguarding practice. Staff were not provided with clear guidance and strategies to reduce risks. Furthermore, staff did not follow the agreed strategies within risk management plans to keep children safe. For example, one child’s risk management plans state that sharp objects should be removed immediately. However, during the visit, it was identified that one child had ligature cutters in their possession. The child had taken these a few days prior to this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Managers had not ensured that staff had clear guidance relating to how often they were required to have visual observations of one child. The expected time frame varied between staff on shift and managers. This did not ensure that staff were acting consistently and in line with agreed care plans to keep the child safe.

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This monitoring visit

The management oversight of children’s records and significant incidents remained inconsistent. Managers did not have a good understanding of day-to-day events and care practice in the home. This limited the manager’s ability to take effective action to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Despite a further compliance notice issued to address shortfalls in staff skills and knowledge, leaders and managers had not ensured that all staff had completed training that is specific to the children’s individual needs. One member of staff had not completed all relevant training.

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This monitoring visit

One child was at risk of significant harm or fatality due to a refusal to take their medication. Although the provider had raised this with the local authority, no immediate action had been embedded into practice to combat this risk.

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This monitoring visit

Physical intervention practices were poor. Records stated that incidents had occurred for several hours. There was no information in the record to indicate the length of the restraint or who was involved. There was no effective management oversight of these records. Despite being raised at previous visits, sufficient action had not been taken to monitor and improve physical intervention practices.

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This monitoring visit

Police assistance had been requested on a regular basis to manage the escalating behaviour of one child. This had led to the child being criminalised, despite a recent mental health capacity assessment indicating that the child does not have capacity. This does not demonstrate good parenting. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 3 Since the last monitoring visit, several staff have left the home and staff from other homes within the company have joined the team. Agency staff continue to work most days. Poor recording means that it is unclear if there had been sufficient and suitable skilled staff to care for the children and keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted received safeguarding information from the police about a serious incident in the home. This is subject to a police investigation. Additional information has been shared by the police about an individual who has been working in the home, who may not be suitable to do so. The provider failed to notify Ofsted without delay about the incidents or the safeguarding concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Given the concerns highlighted above, Ofsted took immediate action and suspended the registration of the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/11/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children’s relevant plans and documents are obtained from the placing local authority to inform care planning to meet the children’s needs. 29 February 2024

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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

and 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 ensure that staff— 29 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 5 ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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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; regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. The registered person must ensure that children can see the results of their views being listened to and acted on, and that these are detailed in the children’s records.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access 29 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 6 educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff support children to attend school as detailed in their relevant plans. When a child is unable to attend school, the staff need to support children to engage in home learning and independent study, and provide them with educational activities. Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that there are consistent routines and boundaries in place for the children.

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff support the children to engage in activities within and outside of the home on a consistent basis. 29 February 2024

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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— mutual respect and trust; 29 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 7 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that each child is provided with individual sessions that are planned and based on the child’s presenting needs and feelings. Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that there is clear evidence within the records of the impact of individual work sessions completed with children by staff. This can then be used to help further inform the children’s assessments and plans.

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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. 31 December Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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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)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children live in a home that is clean, tidy and maintained to a good standard throughout, especially the children’s bedrooms.

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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 requires the registered person to ensure—

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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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are sufficient staff to care for the children in line with their respective plans. 31 December

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 29 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 9 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; 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)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments and plans are understood and followed by all the staff team. Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that the staff help the children to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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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 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

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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain an effective leadership team. Furthermore, leaders and managers must maintain effective oversight of children’s care, children’s records and significant incidents. 29 February 2024

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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— 29 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 10 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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are always cared for by a consistent staff team who understand their individual needs, and who work as a team to provide consistency of care for the children.

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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 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff continue to be provided with training that is specific to the children’s individual needs, such as de-escalation training, managing epilepsy and seizures, physical intervention, and first aid. 29 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 29 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 11 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is up to date, and a copy of the revised statement is sent to HMCI within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children’s records detail the correct time for the administration of medication. Furthermore, the registered manager should ensure that staff follow the company policy for the recording of the administration of medication to children. 29 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that new staff complete an appropriate induction. 29 February 2024

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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

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children’s records are up to date and contain accurate information. Furthermore, the registered person should ensure that the staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful and clear recording. 29 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 12

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that an independent return-home interview takes place within 72 hours of a child returning home when they have been missing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the individual therapeutic approaches identified by the psychotherapist for each child are incorporated into their assessments and plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia of their time living at the home. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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: 2731922 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nestlings Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 4, 1 Derby Street, Leigh WN7 4PF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Thompson

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Inspectors

Dawn Walker, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Mrs Michelle Edge, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731922 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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