Children's Home run by V-CARE HOMES (UK) LIMITED in Redbridge

Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 1 Registered provider: V-CARE HOMES (UK) LIMITED Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 2

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inadequate

Children’s safety and welfare are compromised by poor leadership and management. This has resulted in an inadequate inspection judgement.

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inadequate

The care planning for children is poor. Leaders and managers have failed to fully assess children’s needs before they have moved into the home. Additionally, leaders and managers do not ensure that they have up-to-date care plans from placing authorities. As a result, children’s needs have not been met, and they have not settled in the home.

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inadequate

Children are not in education and do not engage in online learning. Staff do not encourage children to engage in educational activities throughout the day. When children have shown an interest in learning about specific topics, staff have not been proactive in promoting this and supporting children. As a result, children’s learning and development have been hindered, and they have not made any progress.

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inadequate

Children spend most of the time in their bedroom, and staff do not consistently encourage positive routines. This has led to children having poor routines, and they do not regularly participate in social activities.

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inadequate

Children are not given the opportunity to share their views, wishes and feelings about their care. Furthermore, in one house meeting, staff inappropriately discussed a child’s personal issues when another child was present. This impacts on children’s privacy and ability to talk to staff about issues. Additionally, the children have complained about a broken door that has not been repaired.

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inadequate

Staff encourage healthy eating and make routine health appointments for children. However, there is an issue with children not attending appointments. Furthermore, leaders and staff have not followed the recommendations from one child’s psychological assessment. The recommendations from the assessment give advice to staff about how to care for the child.

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inadequate

Children who live far from their family home are supported by staff to meet their families in the community. This helps them to maintain relationships with significant people in their lives.

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

Children’s risk management plans are poor. They do not clearly identify the level of risk to children or the strategies required to manage and reduce these risks. This demonstrates that leaders and managers lack an understanding of children’s needs. This impacts on staff’s ability to identify and manage risks appropriately. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 3 Leaders, managers and staff lack an understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They do not ensure that there are preventative measures in place to protect children from harming themselves. During this inspection, a microblade was found in one of the bathrooms that is easily accessible to both children. Furthermore, bedroom searches are not conducted regularly to ensure that children do not have items in their bedrooms to harm themselves. The responsible individual stated that this is due to the challenging responses and behaviours from children.

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

This does not keep children safe, and it increases their risks of self-harming.

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

Incidents and poor behaviour are not managed well. There are no behaviour management plans to promote positive behaviours. As a result, staff struggle to manage or de-escalate negative behaviours. Staff do not provide clear, consistent or appropriate boundaries for children. Staff often give in to children’s demands in order to appease them. Consequently, incidents of challenging behaviours continue to occur in the home.

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

Children are frequently missing from the home. When children are missing from home, staff report them as missing to the police and inform placing authorities. However, staff do not make extensive efforts to contact and locate children to check on their welfare or encourage their safe return home. Furthermore, when children do return home, staff do not show professional curiosity about where children have been. These are missed opportunities to identify vulnerabilities, and this increases children’s risk when they are outside of the home.

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

Key-work sessions are poor. Not all children have regular key-work sessions that are of good quality and meaningful. Staff do not consistently address with children their specific risks, behaviours and vulnerabilities. This does not support children to develop skills and strategies to manage their behaviours and difficult feelings. Therefore, key-work sessions are not supporting children to help them learn how to keep themselves safer, and they remain vulnerable to known risks and concerns.

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

Safe recruitment checks are not robust. References are not verified, and employment gaps are not scrutinised and explored. While Disclosure and Barring Service checks are in date, risk assessments for staff with convictions are absent. This does not safeguard children, and it potentially places them at risk from people employed to care for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management of the home are a serious concern. The registered manager has been absent without leave since December 2023. The responsible individual’s oversight of the home is not effective, and he does not demonstrate sufficient understanding of the Children’s Homes Regulations (2015). This has an impact on the leadership, management and stability in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to report two allegations made by children against staff. In both incidents, the local authority designated officer was not Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 4 informed of the allegations in line with safeguarding procedures. On one occasion, the child’s social worker was not informed of the allegation. Furthermore, allegations and other serious incidents, including police call outs, are not always shared with the regulator as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff supervision is poor. Supervision between managers and staff does not focus on children’s plans and needs. This does not enable staff to reflect on the support they need to give to children to help them make good progress. Managers do not focus on staff skills and development, which further hinders their ability to meet children’s needs and provide good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not feel supported. One member of staff said that they did not receive an induction and had to ‘figure it out for myself’. Staff report that the emotional impact of the work on staff is not recognised or managed well by leaders and managers. Some staff reported that they do not think that children are safe in the home. Staff did not demonstrate that they understand their responsibilities in protecting children or how to report concerns. This further undermines staff’s ability to protect children and care for them safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are held regularly. General safeguarding matters and missing-from- home protocols are discussed. However, there is a lack of focus on children’s individual needs and risks. This does not ensure that staff work consistently to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is not sufficient to meet the children’s needs. Staff are not provided with training to ensure that they have the specific skills and knowledge to support the needs of the children. For example, not all staff have completed mandatory safeguarding training. Additionally, there is no evidence that staff have been provided with training relating to self-harm or child sexual exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s records are not sufficient. Leaders and managers do not keep a record of children coming into the home or when they leave, as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to the concerns raised at this inspection, a notice restricting accommodation has been issued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 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, The 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; and

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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 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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 6 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand children’s risks and needs. Children’s risk assessments and safety plans must be accurate and followed by staff. This includes conducting regular bedroom checks when there are concerns about children and ensuring that the home environment is safe.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that there is a safeguarding culture that promotes children’s safety and well-being following incidents and allegations.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that missing-from-home protocols are followed and that they have clear oversight of missing-from-home episodes. They must also ensure that missing-from-home records include all relevant information.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that key-work sessions with children address their risks and needs, help to support positive change and reduce risks.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 7 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they lead in a positive way that promotes the best outcomes for children and supports staff.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they have sufficient knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations (2015) and appropriately follow safeguarding procedures for when children make allegations.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand the whistle-blowing policies and procedures.

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 8 (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they inform the relevant professionals and the regulator of any serious incidents and allegations.

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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;

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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) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that appropriate references are obtained, gaps in employment are explored and risk assessments are completed if required. 28 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff receive effective training and regular supervision that focuses on children’s needs, risks and progress. 28 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 9 that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they robustly assess children’s needs at the point of referral and continue to assess their needs while living in the home.

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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 express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children are given the opportunity to share their views in a way that is beneficial for them.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that discussions take place with children following incidents to help staff to understand children’s experiences and provide the most appropriate support to children. 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 10 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—

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children who are not in education are supported to access and engage in suitable structured educational and social activities. 28 March 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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is a clear record of admissions and discharges, as set out in Schedule 3. 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 11

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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 for children’s home: 2741744 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: V-CARE HOMES (UK) LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16-20 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shanmugha Subramani

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Inspector

Amena Begum, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2741744 13 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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