Children's Home run by Forest-Dene Healthcare Services Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 1 Registered provider: FOREST-DENE HEALTHCARE SERVICES LIMITED

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in December 2025. At the time of this visit, no children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 10 and 11 June 2026. Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration following the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to confirm that the suspension was being adhered to, and to assess progress and action taken by the provider following the suspension. No children have lived in the home since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Significant shortfalls in leadership and management were identified at the last inspection, and these concerns have been acknowledged by leaders and managers. In response, the provider has appointed a consultant responsible individual to work alongside them. Despite this, the consultant does not have an active role in the day- to-day operation or oversight of the home. Consequently, there is insufficient independent scrutiny of the responsible individual’s and registered manager’s practice. The registered manager continues to supervise and guide staff, meaning that staff development and practice are being influenced by leaders who do not yet demonstrate a sufficiently robust understanding of safe and effective practice. This limits the provider’s ability to assure itself that improvements are embedded and that children consistently receive safe, high-quality care. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 2

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This monitoring visit

Some action has been taken to address risks associated with self-harm and ligatures. Leaders and managers have obtained ligature cutters and completed an environmental risk assessment. However, the assessment does not adequately consider whether staff can practically implement the actions identified in an emergency. In addition, the manager’s understanding of the measures required to mitigate these risks is not fully aligned with the guidance set out in the risk assessment. As a result, there is insufficient assurance that risks are being managed effectively and children may remain vulnerable to significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers demonstrate a willingness to reflect on practice and identify areas for development. However, much of this reflection is focused on service improvement rather than the experiences and outcomes of children. In particular, there has been limited consideration of the impact that leaders’ and managers’ actions had on a child previously living at the home. As a result, opportunities to learn from the child’s experience and to fully understand the adverse impact of decisions made have been missed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have completed file audits of safer recruitment checks to ensure themselves that staff are verified as safe adults. Despite this, information of concern remained overlooked.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a review of policies and procedures to support safe care of children. Some staff have completed additional training. While processes to check staff’s understanding have been identified by leaders and managers, this has not yet been completed. The responsible individual suggested that staff competency cannot be confirmed until a child moves into the home. This places children at risk of being cared for by adults who cannot safely meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Quality assurance processes have been identified by leaders and managers to improve management oversight. Some of these processes have not yet been implemented. The processes that have been implemented are not being used effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one requirement has been met. This relates to independent visitor reports being shared with Ofsted in a timely manner. Nine requirements have been restated.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, the suspension remains in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 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

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)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

risk management plans are individualised and tailored to children’s specific needs and risks, including strategies to mitigate risks; 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 5 staff are equipped to manage children’s behaviours safely, ensuring the wellbeing of children and staff;

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Requirement Due date

ligature and self-harm risks are assessed, with effective strategies in place to mitigate these risks;

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Requirement Due date

there is a consistent understanding across the staff team of how to respond when children go missing.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 6 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

staff receive training and development that equips them to understand and respond to children’s needs effectively;

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Requirement Due date

staff have a robust understanding of children’s needs and risks to support safe care;

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Requirement Due date

processes are in place to provide oversight of who is entering the home and which staff are caring for children;

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Requirement Due date

the registered manager has a clear understanding of recruitment processes, staffing arrangements, and their involvement in children’s care;

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Requirement Due date

processes are in place to ensure timely and effective management oversight of incidents.

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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

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d) (8))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that safer recruitment processes are in place to verify that staff are suitable to work with children, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible individual must act with integrity. 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 8 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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that the needs of the child are considered alongside local risks and experiences and skills of staff prior to a child moving into the home.

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Requirement Due date

children’s risks and vulnerabilities, along with the suitability of the home’s location and staff skills, are fully considered before children are admitted to the home;

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Requirement Due date

children are supported to move into the home in line with plans agreed by the local authority, promoting their emotional wellbeing and stability;

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Requirement Due date

children’s wishes and feelings are accurately recorded. 21 August 2026

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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. 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that repairs to the home are completed in a timely manner. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that damage to the home is repaired in a timely manner to reduce emotional impact on children.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, ensure that access to spaces to promote children’s emotional regulation is not restricted.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 10 medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that a true account of the children’s wishes and feelings are gathered and accurately recorded.

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Requirement Due date

children’s wishes and views are accurately recorded; 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 11 processes are in place to seek children’s views and wishes. Children must be supported to understand how their views have been considered.

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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.

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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

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

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. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(i)(v)(ix)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff understand and respond appropriately to children’s behaviours. 21 August 2026

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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: 2850470 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: FOREST-DENE HEALTHCARE SERVICES LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 9 Surmans Close, Dagenham, Essex RM9 4XE

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Inspectors

Siobhan Holmes, Social Care Inspector Hannah Shoreson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2850470 13 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

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

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