Children's Home run by Netheredge Care Limited in Kirklees

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 1 SC489226 Registered provider: Netheredge Care 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 privately operated. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. Two children were spoken with during the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Inspection date: 3 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified some serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of one child at this assurance inspection. Leaders and managers do not always have effective care plans in place prior to children moving to the home. There are not always sufficient staffing levels in the home to safely respond to potential safeguarding incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

There are significant shortfalls in the implementation of safety plans intended to ensure one child’s welfare during the time they were away from the home. Leaders and managers were aware of risks associated with missing episodes for the child prior to them moving into the home. However, they failed to ensure that there were adequately effective plans in place to manage these risks when the child was not in the home and particularly when the child’s whereabouts were unknown. On several occasions, the child was left for extended periods without being seen by staff while away from the home. Although staff followed missing processes, the lack of a pro- active approach to locate the child increased the risk of the child going missing and affected their overall safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Concerns were identified regarding staff sufficiency and staff practice in the home. In some instances, staff did not know the child‘s whereabouts when they left the home, and safety plans were not adhered to. This has resulted in the child going missing on two occasions, both of which occurred the day after prolonged missing- from-care episodes. These patterns highlight inconsistent practice and ineffective oversight for this child.

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Findings from the inspection

Although significant concerns have been identified in relation to one child, there is evidence of some progress while they lived in the home. The child developed positive relationships with staff and said they feel safe in the home and that staff take good care of them. There was an improvement in both their school attendance and their educational attainment. The feedback from the child’s mother was overwhelmingly positive of the care provided to the child from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children engage in education and have made improvements in their attendance. Education is prioritised in the home. Staff promote learning through structured incentives, which the children respond to. These efforts have contributed to progress and improved educational outcomes for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

One child is developing necessary independent living skills, supported by staff. Children continue to build valuable memories, develop personal skills, and form positive relationships with staff. This contributes positively to children’s sense of stability and belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

Recorded conversations with children are written with warmth, nurture, and care. These entries reflect attention and engagement from staff. They provide a record of Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 3 each child’s journey and demonstrate the investment staff have made in supporting children during their time in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work well with other agencies to support the needs of the children. While challenges have arisen in aspects of joint working, the manager has demonstrated professional leadership. She has appropriately challenged external professionals and escalated concerns when professionals’ actions have not met required standards. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Good 12/06/2024 Full Good 08/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/09/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 within 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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that comprehensive safety plans are in place at the point of each child’s admission, detailing all known risks identified prior to admission and providing clear guidance for staff to follow to reduce the known risks. 26 April 2026

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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. 26 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 6 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

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 effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Netheredge Care Limited

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 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 children looked after, 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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