Children's Home run by Nurture Childcare Services Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 1 Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services 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 run by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2020. The manager role is currently vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living at the home at the time of this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 30 April and 1 May 2024. Due to the serious and widespread safeguarding failures and poor leadership and management of the home, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The suspension notice had immediate effect from 1 May 2024 to 23 July 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the suspension notice. Inspectors found that the provider has complied with the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

A new, experienced manager has been appointed. The manager has experience of running effective children’s homes. Leaders and managers have ensured that their roles and responsibilities are more clearly defined to ensure that decision making is more effective. However, this has not yet been implemented and the impact of this is not yet evident. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 2 Staff have now received training in ligature safety, allegations, safeguarding and child protection to increase their knowledge and understanding of managing risks to children. However, there is limited evaluation of the impact this training has had on staff.

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This monitoring visit

A new ligature procedure and policy is in place. This gives clear guidance to staff in the event of an incident of self-ligature.

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This monitoring visit

Action has been taken to address shortfalls in staff recruitment. Whilst there remains a vacancy for a deputy manager, there is adequate staffing in place should the home reopen.

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This monitoring visit

The boiler has been repaired rather than replaced. The repairs appear to be basic and do not offer assurances that it is safe. A safety certificate has been requested but not made available at this time.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has recently reviewed and updated the statement of purpose and has completed a detailed action plan to address the requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection. The incoming manager demonstrates a dedicated approach to ensuring the actions from the full inspection will be actioned.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the overall monitoring of the home. The responsible individual and operations manager review incidents and day to day management through a comprehensive weekly audit. Safeguarding incident analysis and evaluation will be reviewed by senior management to ensure that this they are effectively analysed and evaluated.

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This monitoring visit

Revised matching documents helps staff consider any potential risks before children are placed in the home. There are clearer and strengthened systems in place for leaders and managers to consider known risks and needs of any other children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not identified weaknesses in practice, such as those found by inspectors. Safeguarding incidents, identified at the full inspection, have not been evaluated. This means that vital learning has not been considered and steps to prevent incidents reoccurring are not in place.

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This monitoring visit

The safety and security of the home such, as the use of a door alarm system is confusing. There are multiple sensors on the external doors some of which are not active. This makes it difficult for staff to know which alarms are activated.

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This monitoring visit

The home is in the process of undergoing a full renovation. This includes new doors, windows and carpeting. However, this is still ongoing and therefore children are not currently able to be admitted to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 3 Inspectors did not consider the requirements set at the full inspection as part of this visit. These were restated at this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

However, the provider has not taken sufficient action to ensure that the risks to children are reduced. Therefore, the suspension notice remains in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Inadequate 22/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 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 with 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

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

This specifically relates to the needs and risks of children being assessed prior to joining the home, the information is assessed and evaluated and the care is amended to manage and mitigate the risks.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to the home being suitable secure to ensure that when children wish to leave the home there are suitable alerts in place for staff to be able to respond quickly and safely to ensure further harm is prevented. 2 July 2024

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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; 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 6 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—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(b)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff ensuring the home is a safe and homely environment and repairs are completed in a timely and safe manner.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to any safeguarding practice such as room searches are completed and recorded effectively.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to staff being trained and being confident to follow safeguarding protocols such as missing from home plans to avoid children being at risk of further harm.

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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—

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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)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring children receive appropriate educational provision and includes informal learning opportunities.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 7 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to children’s health, both physical and emotional are being assessed and reviewed regularly and that any concerns that arise are managed in a timely way with the aim of reducing the concerns. 2 July 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—

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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

that staff— 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 8 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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 9 (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to children’s emotional and behavioural needs being assessed, evaluated and there is a plan in place to manage any areas of need that arise.

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (c)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to not locking rooms in the home unnecessarily or for disproportionate lengths of time.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 2 July 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—

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff are trained and competent in meeting the individual needs of children such as ligature training or PACE training.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring there is sufficient overview of the running of the 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 10 home. That there are processes in place to help understanding the changing needs and risks within the home and there is a swift response to this.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to staff having regular and effective supervision and any safeguarding needs are managed and any amendments to protocol or policy are considered.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to the needs of the children being shared, discussed and analysed as a whole team to ensure any changes of need are managed consistently and safely.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered manager ensuring there is sufficient staff to avoid full time staff working for significant lengths of time.

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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 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)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that the transition in and out of the home are planned where possible, safe and ensures the child has a positive experience.

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Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to the needs of the children being identified prior to making a decision about whether the staff can meet their needs. the needs of the children and the paperwork completed by the placing authority must be available when decisions are being made. 2 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 11 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

This specifically relates to ensuring that when children make allegations against staff this is reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer. When allegations are made against staff these are recorded, investigated and evaluated effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 12 intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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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; 2 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 13 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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii) and (c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the recording of any incidents of physical restraint are recorded in line with regulation 35. This includes a narrative of antecedents and the steps taken to reduce or deescalated incidents. Children must be given the opportunity to understand and reflect on why this intervention was used and how it impacts on their wellbeing.

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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: 2591479 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspectors

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591479 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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