Children's Home run by Chamberlain Residential Care LTD in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 1 Registered provider: Chamberlain Residential 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 operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no manager in post. The home has not had a registered manager since 7 October 2023.

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This monitoring visit

Following the last full inspection on 6 and 7 August 2024, a notice restricting accommodation was issued, in addition to two compliance notices, under regulations 12 (the protection of children standard) and 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found serious and widespread failures in relation to keeping children safe. They also found that the leadership and management of the home were poor.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the provider’s progress. The inspector found that the provider had taken sufficient action to address the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, all three children have moved out. Two children, who are siblings, moved as planned, in line with their care plans. Prior to leaving, the children enjoyed a leaving party. Managers and staff did their best to encourage a positive ending for them.

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This monitoring visit

One child left following an incident. This was the decision of the child’s placing authority. The incident occurred during a meeting between the child, staff, including the previous manager and the child’s social worker. During the incident, the previous Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 2 manager and staff failed to intervene. As a result, they failed to ensure the child’s safety and the safety of others present.

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This monitoring visit

Before the children left, managers did review the format of their risk assessments. Strategies to keep children safe were more specific to their individual needs. However, during one incident staff failed to follow one child’s risk assessment. The child had returned to the home after being missing. The child was under a high level of supervision. This was due to the risks posed to them if they went missing. Staff left the child unsupported and unsupervised. The child gained access to the office and the home’s safe. Due to poor staff supervision, the child went missing again.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers are focusing on rebuilding the staff team. They have recruited a new manager pending the necessary safer recruitment checks. However, only two permanent staff members remain. Therefore, the home does not have enough staff to care for the number of children it is registered for.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining staff have received face-to-face training. This is in relation to safeguarding, reporting and recording. The external training facilitator said that staff engage well. Managers have a training plan in place, and this is ongoing. There is a recruitment drive and some staff interviews have taken place.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers are creative when developing staff practice. They use mock scenarios and risk assessments to develop staff skills. They say that they are ‘going back to basics’. The remaining staff have been redeployed to work in other homes within the company. Since then, there have been no concerns about their practice. Senior managers have sought feedback from the children who live in these homes, in addition to the home’s managers. The feedback has been complimentary.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems are improving. Senior managers have investigated poor staff practice. They have taken appropriate action when necessary. This has resulted in disciplinary action. Since the full inspection, seven staff have left the organisation. This has been due to resignation, failed probations and dismissal.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have evaluated the systems in place to monitor children’s online safety. They identify a need for more robust monitoring of children’s online activity. However, this remains a work in progress. New systems are being considered but have not yet been purchased.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has changed its independent visitor, with the intention of improving the external monitoring of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Serious incidents are not always consistently reported to Ofsted or the local authority designated officer. When serious incidents are reported, important information has not been included. This compromises external oversight of the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 3 Since 23 August 2024, no children have lived in the home, therefore any progress is limited and remains untested.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements raised at the last inspection (with the exception of the requirements made under regulations 12 and 13) were not explored as part of this monitoring visit. They will be reviewed at the next inspection. The notice restricting accommodation will also remain in place. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Inadequate 12/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 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 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—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 6 (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with adequate clothing, footwear and necessary personal items to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that staff protect children’s privacy and practise confidentiality with regard to children’s personal information.

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Requirement Due date

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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s health and emotional well-being is promoted. Children must be supported to develop healthy lifestyles; their placement plans should reflect this, and be regularly reviewed. 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 7 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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; 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 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)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review the risks posed to all children living in the home. This includes liaising with the children’s placing authorities.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments set out a clear, accurate and current reflection of all risks posed to children and the action staff should take 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 8 to reduce risk. They must ensure that staff implement the actions identified in children’s risk assessments, to protect children from harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the systems they have in place to ensure safe use of the internet and social media for children. They must also ensure that work completed with children about online safety is routine, creative, age- appropriate and tailored to their learning needs.

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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;

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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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 9 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the new manager receives a planned and thorough induction into their role.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there is effective management oversight of the home. They must ensure that the quality of care children receive is continuously monitored. This includes senior oversight of children’s care plans and how they are being implemented and monitored by the manager and staff. Care plans must consider children’s learning needs and health needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must develop effective monitoring and review systems. They must ensure that staff understand the quality of care to be provided to children and their experiences and take swift action to address any identified shortfalls.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive adequate training which equips them with the skills to meet the needs of the children they care for. They must ensure that the effectiveness of training in staff practice is monitored and evaluated.

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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; 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 10 that arrangements are in place to—

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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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(d)(f)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must seek to review children’s needs in conjunction with their placing authority, when concerns arise in respect of placement suitability. They must also take into account the needs of all children living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children receive appropriate clothing, items and equipment in line with their wishes and feelings. They should also be helped to understand decisions made in their best interests.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff appropriately support children’s emotional well-being during their transition from the home. They must ensure staff understand that they must not approach this in any way which could cause children unnecessary anxiety.

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a home with another individual or other individuals, otherwise than in a partnership, if that individual and each other individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

A partnership may only carry on a home if each partner satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5). 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 11 An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

each director of the organisation, except for a director who is the responsible individual, who is involved in the carrying on of a home by that organisation satisfies the requirements in paragraph (6); and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (2) (3) (4)(i) (5)(a) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must appoint a suitably experienced and qualified person to manage the home. They must also ensure that the appointed responsible individual has been safely recruited, has adequate oversight of the home and has the skills to take effective action to improve the quality of care children receive.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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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 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 12 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. (Regulation 40 (1)(a)(b)(d) (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all serious events are notified to Ofsted and all other relevant professionals. They must ensure that they provide the full details of these events in a timely manner.

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Managers and staff should ensure that information about children is always recorded in a way that will be helpful to them and is non- stigmatising. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2721038 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chamberlain Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 109 Sledmore Road, Dudley DY2 8DZ

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2721038 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 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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Inspector

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