Children's Home run by Jules Private Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 1 Registered provider: Jules Private Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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/or 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: 11 September 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/05/2024 Full Inadequate 06/06/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not maintained the home to enable the children to live in a nurturing environment, and staff have failed to identify potential hazards around the home. Most of the walls and doors in the home had not been cleaned. Children’s bedrooms were in a poor condition, with broken furniture and discarded food items. There was an unpleasant odour in one child’s bedroom. Bedding was also found to be unclean. Cleaning fluid was left in a child’s bathroom. Children’s basic care needs are not being met, and children are not supported to feel valued or helped to learn important life lessons in relation to keeping their living space clean and hygienic.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to advocate for children to ensure that they have a suitable education place to attend which meets their needs and abilities. They do not provide any educational activities in the home. Children are not given routines or boundaries. These failures have had a negative effect on children’s experiences and progress. Staff do not always support children to get involved in activities to support their interests or hobbies. Children do not have any planned activities in the home or community. Staff often rely on children to identify what they want to do. Children spend their time alone in the communal areas or in their bedroom. For example, during the inspection, one child was consistently seeking the attention of the manager. When the child requested to play on their electronics they were supported to do so. During this interaction, the child presented as unregulated and appeared to be in distress. The inspectors were informed

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

that this is a normal response when they are playing with their electronics.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that effective matching of children takes place. This has had a significant effect on vulnerable children. One child has felt the need to intervene with their peer during incidents of challenging behaviours. They have been involved in a physical intervention, supported staff to find the missing child and has repeatedly contacted emergency services due to their concerns relating to staff or the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite the shortfalls identified, the children say that they are happy and have positive relationships with some staff.

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

Some staff have not yet built positive relationships with the children to enable them to help and support the children. This has resulted in children’s reliance on identified staff, including the manager. Meaningful work is not conducted with the children to help them to progress and improve their relationships over time.

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

Children’s individual risk management plans fail to provide staff with clarity on what actions they should take to reduce risks to children and keep them safe. Risk Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 4 management plans do not contain all the relevant information to help staff to support the child. Some known risks are not included in the plans.

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

Children do not receive the agreed staffing levels required by placing local authorities to keep them safe, provide a good standard of care and to ensure their safety and well- being. At times, children have been left alone and without appropriate levels of supervision.

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

Leaders and managers were unable to demonstrate that staff have been safely recruited. For example, when interviewed, three staff had duplicate responses recorded against their answers for the same questions. Another member of the team was offered a position at the home four days after completing their application form. The provider signed their contract seven months later. Leaders have not always considered the abilieis of the staff at the point of recruitment. This can result in inconsistencies in children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual does not have oversight of the home, or the registered manager’s care practice, and does not provide staff with the leadership that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual failed to identify the shortfalls that were found during this inspection. Monitoring and review systems are ineffective. There is a lack of rigour with internal monitoring systems. Staff do not always receive the support that they need to improve their practice. In addition, recording is poor, and staff and children do not receive debriefs after incidents. This prevents staff from learning and improving their practice which could better support children. The manager acknowledges that improvement is needed. However, the plans that are designed to drive improvement are not in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers lack an understanding of the training and development needs of the staff team. Not all staff have the training or skills to meet the children’s needs. Managers have not identified this or taken action to address the shortfall. The staff team lacks experience in children’s residential care. Only the manager has level 3 and 4 qualifications in residential childcare. The responsible individual has failed to provide staff with necessary practice guidance to help them achieve the aim set out in the statement of purpose to help children to reach their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has failed to ensure that staff and children are aware of the procedures in case of a fire. The inspectors found that fire doors that were not closing effectively and one child and staff had not completed a fire drill. This places children and staff at an increased risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff morale is not consistently good. However, staff feel supported by the manager. Staff say that they enjoy coming to work and caring for the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 5 Partnership work with some external agencies requires improvement. Leaders and managers did not inform the placing authority when a child moved into the home. Incident reports have not been shared in a timely manner; on one occasion a concern was shared by the child’s parent. One placing authority said that the relationship between the child and the manager was positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

None of the requirements set at the last inspection have been met. At this inspection, these have been restated, together with further requirements. Ofsted has also issued compliance notices. Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 6

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that if relevant documents are not received from local authorities the matter is escalated with that particular local authority. 12 September 2025

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff use the preferred therapeutic approach of the home. 12 September 2025

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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. 3 August 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 7 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

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 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 designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand risk, take action to support children so that risks are reduced, and that written plans are updated to include relevant information.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the relevant training to meet children’s needs and keep them safe.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children and staff participation in fire drills so that they are familiar with escape routes in the event of an emergency.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children reside in a clean and hygienic environment.

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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— 3 August 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 8 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that effective monitoring and review systems are implemented and maintained, and that records are accurate.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that leaders assess the skills and knowledge of the manager and staff team.

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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— 12 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 9 the name of the child;

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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;

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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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that consequences are recorded and contain all required information.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that leaders and managers have appropriate oversight of consequences and incidents when children have been physically held, identifying any shortfalls in practice and acting on these.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. 12 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 10 The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (3)(4))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all complaints are recorded and acted on.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children are consulted in relation to the outcome of a complaint so that their views are considered.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that records are kept of consultation with professionals about complaints.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)) 12 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that fire drills and practices that include exiting the home in an emergency take place, and that they include children and staff. 12 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 11 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; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, 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)(b) (3)(d)) 12 September 2025

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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 (7)(a)(b)) 12 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months. The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65 paragraph 15.2) Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 12

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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: 2659026 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Jules Private Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Business Box, 3 Oswin Road, Leicester LE3 1HR

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Inspectors

Corline Parker, Social Care Inspector Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2659026 14 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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