Children's Home run by Birchwood Children Services Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 1

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to five children with specialist educational needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since January 2024.

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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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This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 2 and 3 July. Due to the concerns identified during this inspection, Ofsted issued four compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, regulation 14, the care planning standard and regulation 32, the fitness of workers.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s compliance with these notices.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, inspectors identified further serious shortfalls in the leadership and management arrangements at the setting and poor practice relating to safeguarding and risk management.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, children have made allegations against staff. These allegations were not appropriately responded to. Two senior staff members were made aware of one allegation. However, there was a delay in sharing this information with the management team to enable appropriate actions to be taken. This does not demonstrate that staff have a good understanding of safeguarding practice and processes. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 2 Staff have completed some training to enhance their knowledge and skills. However, staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and protecting children. This does not demonstrate that leaders and managers have evaluated the impact of this training in order to develop staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans contain inaccurate and conflicting information.

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This monitoring visit

Records do not demonstrate that safeguarding incidents are well managed, and there is limited information about the actions staff need to take to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

One child was subject to a court directed order. This order required two staff to be in place to keep the child safe. Since the last inspection, the child has been missing from home. Staff did not take sufficient action to prevent these incidents occurring. As a result, staff did not adhere to the court directed order that enabled them to prevent the child from leaving the home. This places him at risk in the community.

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This monitoring visit

The leadership and management arrangements are not sufficient. Leaders and managers do not ensure that there are robust systems in place to review and evaluate the quality of care provided for children effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The manager does not demonstrate that he has sufficient oversight of the setting. He could not provide relevant information in relation to the actions he had taken to ensure that children’s care is safe and supports them to make progress.

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This monitoring visit

Internal and external monitoring of the home are ineffective as weaknesses in staff practice have not been addressed and managed. In addition, quality assurance processes, including audits, have not identified shortfalls in staff practice and the management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

It is Ofsted’s view that the provider has not taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to the monitoring visit taking place. The organisation submitted their voluntary cancellation form for the setting. The provider is working closely with local authorities to plan for the children moving to new homes. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/07/2024 Full Inadequate 31/05/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 4

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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

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)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that all staff take sufficient action when there are concerns of substance misuse and that all risk management plans contain strategies for staff to follow to reduce the risk of harm to children. 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 5 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;

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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

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

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

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)) 30 August 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; 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— 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 6 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home.

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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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. (Regulation 14 (1) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(e)(i))

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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

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification, and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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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) (3)(a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff have up-to-date DBS checks, all references are present and any gaps in employment are explored.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection. 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 7 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—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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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; and

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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)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that care is delivered in line with the home’s aims and objectives as set out in the statement of purpose. Additionally, that the home is made homely, walls are painted where there are marks and attention is given to ceilings where there is mould.

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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 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; 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 8 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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; and

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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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to the registered person ensuring that children have clear plans in place around their educational needs and for how staff will support them to attend education on a full-time basis.

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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

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI and make a copy of it available upon request to—

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the home’s statement of purpose must be kept up to date and contain accurate information. 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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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 intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 9 allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the locks being removed from the gym and kitchen doors.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and

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Requirement Due date

provide each employee with a job description outlining the employee’s responsibilities.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b)(c)) 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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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; Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 10 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)(a) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to the registered person ensuring that all information in records of debriefs with staff is consistent with the information in the restraint record. Furthermore, when a child makes a complaint, that this is treated seriously, and prompt action is taken to address it.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 11

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Recommendation

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations’, Page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: 2667746 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birchwood Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Regent house, Regent Street, Blackburn BB1 6BH

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Sally Croft, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2667746 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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