Children's Home run by Emerge Care and Therapeutic Solutions Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 1 Registered provider: Emerge Care and Therapeutic Solutions Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and provides care for up six children who may be experiencing emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is currently applying to register with Ofsted. The registered provider has appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Following a full inspection in June 2025, this home was judged inadequate. Poor practice was identified in the management of a serious incident, during which there had been a fire in the home. The staff team did not have the skills, ability or confidence to diffuse and manage behavioural incidents with children. Leaders and managers did not always have effective oversight or identify when staff practice had fallen below acceptable standards. The home environment was poor in some areas, and two bedrooms had been deemed unfit for use by the fire service. A restriction of accommodation notice was issued under section 22A of the care standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review whether action taken by leaders and managers to address the concerns raised means that the restriction of accommodation can be lifted, and if they have taken steps to ensure that children’s experiences have improved.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there has been an improvement in the home environment. It is more homely, and the children have had some input in choosing the decoration and soft furnishings. There has been a large amount of work carried out, with some rooms being redecorated and recarpeted. Essential repairs required after the fire Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 2 have been completed. The prohibition notice issued by the fire service has been lifted, and there are five bedrooms now available for children. However, the level of cleanliness in some areas still needs to be addressed, and repairs and the replacement of carpets in some areas are ongoing.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have had refresher training on fire procedures. The manager ensures that procedures are reinforced during team meetings and supervision sessions. The circumstances involving the fire have been addressed by leaders and managers. Changes have been made in the staff team to ensure that there are experienced staff working on each shift line, and a deputy manager has been employed to support the manager and staff.

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This monitoring visit

There are now robust protocols in place in the home for the management of medication, including staff’s personal medication. Staff have had training on the administration and storage of medication, and their competence has been assessed by the manager.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received training on behaviour management and de-escalation techniques. There have been further behavioural incidents. Staff have been able to diffuse these effectively and have not had to resort to using the police to support them. There has been a focus on building positive relationships with children, and staff are working in a more therapeutically informed manner.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and responsible individual have effectively addressed some of the concerns raised at the last inspection. However, some issues still require management oversight and assessment of risk. There has been one physical intervention during this period, where a child alleged that they had been hurt. Processes in relation to this have not been robustly followed and investigations into the actions of the staff have not been conducted in a timely manner. Furthermore, the manager has identified that staff have not acted in accordance with safeguarding procedures and notified the on-call manager when this incident happened.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements made at the last inspection have not been fully explored and therefore are restated. In addition, two further requirements have been made. It is not felt that sufficient progress has been made. Therefore, the restriction of accommodation notice will remain in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2025 Full Inadequate 10/06/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and 7 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 5 that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that allegations against staff members are responded to appropriately and that safeguarding procedures are followed in full.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff respond to fire alarms in accordance with the procedures and protocols set out in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff attempt to diffuse and manage behavioural incidents in accordance with their training and children’s plans before seeking assistance from the police. Furthermore, direction given by managers should be effective and provide support to staff to diffuse incidents.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff provide effective supervision of children at all times, in accordance with their plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not fully explored during the visit and therefore is restated.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 14 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 6 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)(f)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that they have good oversight of children’s records and that incidents are fully evaluated to assess and improve staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make sure that children’s risk management plans are all of consistent quality.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29 (4))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders should ensure that the manager of the home has the skills and knowledge to identify safeguarding issues and challenge staff practice accordingly. 14 August 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 7 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

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff provide education to children on healthy and appropriate social and sexual relationships.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that positive routines and boundaries are in place in the home for children. This includes education on vaping and rules being in place in the home to prevent their use. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 8 The registered person must ensure that positive relationships are encouraged between children and staff. Where this is not the case, efforts must be made to promote and repair the relationship. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that effective procedures are in place to manage group living dynamics between children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff strive to create a therapeutic and homely environment.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated.

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when accepting new children into the home, the impact on children already living in the home is fully considered. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that children’s needs and the ability of staff to meet these are rigorously assessed before children move into the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated. 21 August 2025

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 9 In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is maintained to an acceptable standard of cleanliness throughout, including the children’s bedrooms. Repairs to the home must be carried out in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated.

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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;

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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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)) 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 10 This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated.

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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. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that notifications contain sufficient detail to allow the regulator to make a full assessment of incidents and how the level of risk has been addressed.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated. 21 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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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

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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 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that door alarms on both internal and external doors are only used to 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 11 meet a child’s individual needs and should also be subject to rigorous assessment.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff duty roster of persons working at the home is accurate. Specifically, that it contains a record of the actual hours worked and which members of staff have been on shift.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was not explored during the visit and therefore is restated. 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 12

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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: 2751128 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: EMERGE CARE AND THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Office, 5 Rockside, Stoke on Trent ST7 4PG

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Inspectors

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2751128 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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