Clare Lodge

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 1 Clare Lodge Peterborough City Council

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Clare Lodge Secure Children’s Home, 8 Lincoln Road, Glinton, Peterborough PE6 7AW

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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 local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 16 girls aged between 10 and 17 who are placed by local authorities under section 25 of the Children Act 1989. There were 7 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Admission of any child who is under 13 years old requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this children’s home

The commissioning of health services at this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities. Inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted. The manager has been in post since 1 December 2025.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged ‘requires improvement’ at the full inspection carried out on 7 May 2025. After this inspection, 4 compliance notices were served under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 6, the quality and purpose of care standard and regulation 20, the restraint and deprivation of liberty standard. This monitoring visit Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 2 was to explore the action taken by leaders and managers to meet the steps set out in the notices. The compliance notices have been met.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and leadership team have implemented an action plan to address the safeguarding concerns raised at the previous inspection. Appropriate action has been taken in response to safeguarding incidents. When restraint incidents occur, the management team audits and reviews these to ensure that they meet legal requirements and are proportionate. Children are spoken to following incidents and are seen by health professionals. Audits identify shortfalls or discrepancies in reports. These improvements are at an early stage and require time to become embedded and demonstrate a sustained impact.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and leadership team have strengthened the monitoring and oversight since the previous inspection. Quality assurance systems have been reviewed and updated, and monitoring tools are now in use. These measures are intended to support safeguarding practice and promote a positive culture at the home. The improvements to systems and processes are at an early stage and require time to become fully embedded.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and leadership team have increased staff’s training, introducing ‘bitesize’ sessions on safeguarding. Whistleblowing and reflections from learning are discussed in team meetings and one-to-one meetings. In addition, further staff posts have been identified and are being recruited to. This will strengthen management oversight, reflective practice and learning outcomes once these roles are filled.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some improvements to the home environment. Effective management monitoring tools are now in place and being extended to ensure that repairs and improvements happen in a timely manner. Action has been taken to address processes and the culture around graffiti. General plans are in place to drive further improvements forward.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements set at the previous inspection in respect of the quality of care, protection of children, leadership and management and restraint have been met. The requirements set at the last inspection in respect of care planning, staff recruitment, notification of a serious event and recommendations in respect of records of single separations and children’s education have not been reviewed as part of this inspection. Therefore, these requirements are restated at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/07/2023 Full Good 29/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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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

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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that care planning supports the specific outcomes for each child and that all staff are working cohesively to deliver care in alignment with the agreed plans and formulations.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 9 March 2026

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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

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, 9 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 5 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that if an employee has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, the reason why the employment or position ended is verified, as far as reasonably practicable.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) 9 March 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for learning. They should ensure that staff receive the training and support they need to improve their subject and pedagogical knowledge. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 27-28, paragraph 5.11)  The registered person should ensure that children have a clear plan to continue their education, training or employment once they leave the home. Measurements of progress should include qualitative information such as how well the child is being prepared for the next stage. Plans should include rewards and recognition of achievements, improvements in attendance and, when appropriate, reduction in behavioural incidents including exclusion. The child’s personal circumstances, individual needs and educational history are relevant in considering what might

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Recommendations

constitute progress, but should not limit aspirations for them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.2) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 6  The registered person should ensure that records are made and kept of all uses of single separation in secure children’s homes. Children should be offered the opportunity to read and add a comment to the record of their separation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 50- 51, paragraph 9.65)

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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 secure 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: SC033362 7

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider: Peterborough City Council

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sand Martin House, Bittern Way, Peterborough PE2 8TY

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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033362 8 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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