Children's Home run by Proactive Care (Manchester) Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 1 Registered provider: Proactive Care (Manchester) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024. This was the home’s first inspection since registration.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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 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: Not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has recently moved into the home. They had opportunities to visit the home and meet with staff before moving in. The child has been helped to settle in well. They enjoy spending time with staff both inside and outside of the home. However, another child who moved into the home moved out again within two weeks. The child did not have a positive experience of leaving the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and the child are positive. Staff talk about the child with warmth and enthusiasm. They are focused on meeting the needs of the child and building a trusted relationship with them. The child is provided with different ways in which to share their wishes and views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to take part in different activities, and their interests are nurtured. The child is learning new, age-appropriate skills, such as budgeting and cooking. Staff are meeting the child’s cultural and religious needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s healthcare needs and support them to attend health appointments. The manager advocated to ensure that missed immunisations will now be carried out. Staff have access to the organisation’s therapist to help ensure that the child’s emotional health needs are being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to spend time with people who are important to them. They are supported to see their family at the home and in the community. Staff regularly speak with family members and have built a positive relationship with them for the benefit of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their education. The child’s attendance has significantly improved since they moved into the home. Staff are ambitious for the child to do well. A member of staff from the child’s school spoke very positively about the support and care provided by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a modern and spacious home. It is warm, comfortable and homely. The child’s bedroom is well furnished and decorated to their tastes. Staff support the child to feel secure and to have a sense of belonging.

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

The child’s risks and vulnerabilities are known and understood. The child’s risk plans are individualised and detailed. They provide clear information for staff so they know what to do should a risk arise. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding processes and know what to do if they have a concern. However, at times, when the previous child lived in the home, staff did not follow strategies to manage the child’s behaviour effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 3 Staff are trained in a therapeutic model that is used in their day-to-day practice for the benefit of children. They are also supported by an in-house therapist. Staff regularly reflect on their practice with the therapist both individually and during team meetings.

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

Positive behaviour is routinely encouraged, and creative ways are used to reward the child, which they respond well to. Regular discussion takes place with the child about topics relevant to them and their age and stage of development.

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

Appropriate and clear boundaries and expectations are in place, providing a consistent and stable environment. Staff help the child to understand and manage their feelings and behaviours safely. Consequently, the frequency of the child going missing from home has significantly reduced since moving in. There has been no need for staff to physically hold the child to keep them safe.

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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: good

The manager is committed, caring and dedicated. She prioritises the welfare of the child and is working hard to maintain a stable, loving and well-run home. She is fully involved in the child’s life and is a strong advocate for them. A new responsible individual has recently been appointed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home. They feel valued and supported by the manager. Staff described her as supportive and approachable. The manager and the staff have high expectations for themselves and the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff team meetings and supervision sessions are regular and well organised. They focus on the child’s well-being and progress and provide opportunities to reflect on practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff experience a thorough induction programme, with face-to-face and online training. Staff continue to receive regular, good-quality training to help keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Specialist training is sought when needed to ensure that staff are equipped to meet the needs of the child in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively and effectively with other agencies and professionals. One professional from the child’s placing authority said that communication from the home is ‘brilliant’ and that the support and care given to the child is ‘really impressive’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is highly organised and has excellent oversight of the home. She regularly monitors the quality of care provided to the child. She knows the strengths and vulnerabilities of the home and takes action to make improvements. However, the home’s statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the staffing arrangements in the home and rosters do not record actual hours worked by all staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 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 within 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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must ensure that there is sufficient staffing available in the home and that all staff are confident and competent to manage children’s behaviour. 22 April 2025

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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.

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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 and apply the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that details about staffing arrangements in the home’s statement of purpose accurately reflect day-to-day practice in the home. 22 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 22 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 5 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff duty roster records actual hours worked. 22 April 2025

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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 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 for children’s home: 2795393 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Proactive Care (Manchester) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Houldsworth Business & Arts Centre, Houldsworth Street, Stockport SK5 6DA

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 7 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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