Children's Home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited in Wigan

Inspection report children's home: 2737713 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. They spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living there.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 16 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2737713 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2737713 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled. They say they like living in the home and they feel listened to and well cared for. Staff talk about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. Children are supported to make progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection one child has moved in and out of the home. This was the first time they had lived in a home, and they did not get the opportunity to visit or meet with staff before moving in. The manager is taking action to ensure the experiences of any new children moving into the home are positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. They advocate for children to receive the educational support that they need. When children are not able to attend school full- time, staff help them to complete work in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are promoted. Staff encourage and support children to attend health appointments as required. Staff motivate and educate the children to lead a healthy lifestyle. Children are provided with a healthy diet and opportunities to exercise and keep active.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children have fun and enjoy a range of activities. Children’s interests are nurtured, and they are encouraged to try new things and to visit new places. Children are enrolled in clubs that they enjoy. Staff take photographs of fun times with the children, so children have positive memories of their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to spend time with people who are important to them. One older child is supported to have overnight stays with their family. Staff regularly speak with family members. One family member said, ‘staff know what they’re doing and care for [name of child] well’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a large home. Their bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and adequately furnished. Communal areas are comfortable and provide space for children to play and relax. Children are provided with toys, and games which they love to use. Staff ensure children experience a family environment and a sense of belonging.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say that they feel safe and secure living in the home. Their risks and vulnerabilities are well understood, and their risk plans are individualised. Clear advice and guidance are provided for staff so they know how to respond should risks arise.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When one child went missing from home regularly, staff worked quickly and tirelessly to try and locate them. Staff follow individual plans for each child and communicate Inspection report children's home: 2737713 4 effectively with other professionals to share information. This helps to reduce the risks to children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have regular conversations with children about topics relevant to the children’s safety and well-being. Children receive help and support to understand and manage their feelings and behaviour safely. However, there have been times when staff have not followed behaviour support strategies as detailed in children’s plans. On one occasion staff called the police unnecessarily to help manage a child’s behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted in the home. Staff use creative and fun ways to reward children, which children respond well to. Children are actively involved in planning and working towards their goals and incentives.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safer recruitment practices are in place to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is kind and child centred. He is involved in the children’s lives and is a strong advocate for them. The manager works proactively and effectively with other agencies and professionals for the benefit of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are shortfalls in management oversight which negatively impact on the day to day running of the home. On occasion staff feel unsupported by leaders and managers and are unclear about the expectations of the on-call management role. The manager does not always adequately monitor, and review practice and his workforce development plan does not contain all the required information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff team is resilient and committed. They work well together and feel supported by one another.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are provided with training opportunities; however, some staff have not completed mandatory training including safeguarding and physical intervention. The manager has taken action to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervision; however, staff had not had their practice formally reviewed within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager holds team meetings regularly and ensures they are structured and focus on the needs of the children. Staff reflect on their practice and discuss ways to improve outcomes for the children in their care. Inspection report children's home: 2737713 5

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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, 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 within the given timescales.

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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

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff receive training to meet the needs of the children living in the home. In addition, the registered person must ensure that practice is thoroughly reviewed, and changes are made to make improvements in the quality of care provided. 07 March 2025 Inspection report children's home: 2737713 6 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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the skills to effectively manage behaviour and reduce the need for formal police involvement. 07 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Recommendations

 The responsible person should ensure that children moving into the home are prepared and have a positive experience. ('Guide to the Children's Home regulations including the quality standards.') Paragraph 11.8 page 57  The responsible person should ensure the homes' workforce plan contains all the required information. ('Guide to the Children's Home regulations including the quality standards.') Paragraph 10.8 page 53

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the 'Social care common inspection framework'. This inspection was Inspection report children's home: 2737713 7 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'. Inspection report children's home: 2737713 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Social Care Services Group, 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2737713 9 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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