Children's Home run by Rocksteady Care Ltd in Kent

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 1 Registered provider: Rocksteady Care Ltd

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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 owned and provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, there were no children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The post of registered manager has been vacant since 24 April 2026. A new manager has been appointed, but they have not yet started work in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 22 and 23 April 2026, a full inspection was carried out at the home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified regarding safeguarding arrangements and the leadership and management of the home. These failings significantly compromised children’s experiences, progress and safety, placing them at risk of harm. Following the inspection, the provider was issued with a notice suspending the home’s registration. Children are not permitted to live in the home while a suspension notice is in effect.

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This monitoring visit

An initial monitoring visit took place on 1 July 2026. The purpose of the visit was to consider the progress made following the full inspection and to monitor compliance with the suspension notice. Inspectors found that the threshold for suspension continued to be met because insufficient progress had been made.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this latest visit was to consider the progress made following the monitoring visit on 1 July 2026 and to monitor compliance with the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

No children have lived in the home since the suspension notice was issued, demonstrating that the provider has complied with the requirements of the suspension notice. The threshold for suspension continues to be met. Insufficient Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 2 progress has been made since the full inspection in April 2026 and the monitoring visit in July 2026.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager position remains vacant. There are significant concerns regarding the recruitment of the newly appointed manager. The single reference obtained states that the candidate was dismissed from their previous role. Despite this, and without further exploration the provider has continued with the appointment. Furthermore, there are no records of the interview or evidence that the managers previous employment history was considered as part of their recruitment. Given the home’s history of serious leadership failings, the provider has not demonstrated sufficient rigour in considering whether the new manager is suitable, and capable of driving the improvements required.

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This monitoring visit

Serious concerns remain regarding the home’s leadership arrangements. The provider has stated that the responsible individual is not currently working in the home and that this has been the case since the previous monitoring visit. However, this was subsequently contradicted as staff reported that the responsible individual continues to provide them with daily oversight of the home and has been involved in the recent recruitment and interview process for new staff. These conflicting accounts raise concerns about the accuracy of information provided to the regulator and the clarity of leadership arrangements. Consequently, there is insufficient assurance that leadership arrangements are transparent or that suitably authorised individuals are leading and managing the home.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team remains inexperienced, and staff lack confidence in key aspects of their roles. The provider has been unable to recruit experienced and qualified staff. Planned training has not always been completed as intended, due to staff availability and competing commitments with agency work. This leaves gaps in staff knowledge and practice. Previous inspections found weaknesses in staff confidence and their understanding of restraint. Despite this, refresher training has not taken place. Leaders have not taken sufficient action to ensure that staff have the skills, knowledge and confidence required to provide safe and effective care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not ensured that staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Given the inexperience and lack of confidence of some staff, this reduces opportunities to provide the guidance, challenge and support needed to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

External scrutiny of the home is not sufficiently effective. Regulation 44 visits by the independent visitor do not provide the level of scrutiny and challenge necessary to identify weaknesses or drive improvement. As a result, these visits do not provide leaders with a reliable basis for understanding the home’s strengths and weaknesses.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have recently appointed a deputy manager. However, arrangements to support their induction are yet to be confirmed. At the time of inspection, the Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 3 induction programme had not been finalised, and leaders were unable to clarify what the deputy manager’s induction plan would look like. This lack of planning does not provide assurance that the deputy manager will receive the support, guidance and oversight necessary to develop their understanding of the role and contribute effectively to the improvements that the home requires.

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This monitoring visit

Safer recruitment practice remains ineffective. Leaders failed to demonstrate sufficient professional curiosity when concerns were identified as part of the new manager’s recruitment checks. In addition, recruitment checks are not consistently completed or appropriately recorded. Storage of staff recruitment documents on personal mobile phones does not provide assurance that records are securely maintained or subject to effective oversight. This weakens safeguarding arrangements and undermines confidence in the ability of leaders to ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children.

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This monitoring visit

There are serious concerns regarding the financial viability of the home. During this visit, the provider confirmed that significant debts have affected the operation of the home. This has resulted in a failure to carry out basic business functions, including maintaining payments to essential service providers. These difficulties raise concerns about the provider’s capacity to maintain effective oversight and ensure that the necessary resources are available to support the safe and sustainable operation of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not taken sufficient action to address health and safety concerns in the home. A fire risk assessment carried out in July 2026 identified that the home was not compliant. At the time of this visit, the identified shortfalls had not been resolved. This delay in making the necessary improvements limits assurance that leaders are effectively monitoring and addressing potential risks to children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the full inspection were not fully considered during this visit and have therefore been restated. Two new requirements regarding health and safety concerns and financial viability have been raised.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/04/2026 Full Inadequate 01/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/04/2024 Full Good 30/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(d)) 3 November 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 3 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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. 3 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 6 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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(c)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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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

a description of the measure and its duration; 3 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 7 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. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 3 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. 3 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 8 (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 3 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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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 necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(i)(ii)) 3 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 9 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 3 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (4)) 3 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month-

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to the HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a)) 3 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 10 After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire. (Regulation 25 (1) (a)(b)) 3 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

An individual is not financially fit to carry on a home—

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Requirement Due date

if the individual has made a composition or arrangement with the individual’s creditors and the individual has not been discharged in respect of the composition or arrangement. (Regulation 26 (1) (8)(a)(b)) 3 November 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a return home interview following any incidents when they have been missing from the home and leaders and managers should challenge local authorities if this is not provided. In particular, leaders and managers should take account of the information provided when assessing further risks and put arrangements in place to protect children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 11

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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: 2644283 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rocksteady Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: King Arthurs Court, Maidstone Road, Charing, Ashford TN27 0JS

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Inspector

Ben Wilson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2644283 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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