Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 1 Registered provider: 4d Care Ltd

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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 privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023 and holds a relevant management qualification. The registered manager was absent for this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

On 5 May 2026, a full inspection was undertaken at this home. Significant concerns were raised during the inspection. An inadequate judgement was given. This led to compliance notices being issued related to Regulations 12, 13 and 35 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. In addition, a notice restricting accommodation was issued.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to assess the actions taken by the provider in response to the concerns set out in the compliance notices and to assess whether the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation. Other requirements that were not monitored at this inspection have been restated.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, no children have moved on from the service. No children have moved in. Therefore, the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

Despite some improvements seen at this monitoring visit, the provider has not taken sufficient action to address the concerns previously identified. The compliance notices have not been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 2 Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured that safeguarding incidents have been appropriately escalated. This includes ineffective information-sharing with the local authority designated officer. On another occasion, a safeguarding concern was shared with a social worker, but no appropriate action was taken when that concern led to an out-of-office reply. Although this did not lead to harm, it led to a child being exposed to a potential risk for a period of time.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured effective oversight of incidents. Following a recent incident, leaders’ oversight has not identified discrepancies in the records or the potential safeguarding shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

On occasions, staff have not followed children’s risk assessments. When this has happened, leaders and managers have not consistently identified this. The quality of risk assessments is also variable. One child’s risk assessment is much improved. However, another child’s risk assessment is missing important information. Leaders complete two risk assessments for each child; one is written for the child and one for staff. On the whole, the language used in the risk assessment written for the child is appropriate; however, concerns remain in relation to the language used in the risk assessment for staff. Risk assessments are not always updated at the same time, and this can lead to inconsistencies in guidance offered to staff.

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This monitoring visit

Physical intervention records generally include the basic information required by regulation. Records are primarily captured electronically. All but one physical intervention recorded since the last inspection has included a management review. However, the actions leaders have identified have not happened and so additional information needed is not captured.

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This monitoring visit

Some records made since the last inspection contain inappropriate or punitive language. In the week before this monitoring visit almost all staff had completed training around the use of language, but the impact of this is too early to assess. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/05/2026 Full Inadequate 21/10/2025 Full Good 19/03/2025 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 24 July 2026

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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 24 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 5 promotes their welfare.

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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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must ensure that—

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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")— 24 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 6 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))

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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,

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Requirement Due date

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

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 24 July 2026

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

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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)(c)(e)) 24 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 7 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 1271979 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8a New Road, Mepal, ELY, Cambridgeshire CB6 2AP

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Inspectors

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Ashley Hinson, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 9 and inspects 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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