Children's Home run by Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 1 Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support 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

This home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in December 2024. This is the first inspection after registration.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, two children were 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: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive consistent, loving, and nurturing care from a stable staff team. Staff are child centred and treat the children with dignity and respect. The two young siblings who live in the home are making progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are overwhelmingly positive. Staff talk about the children with love, pride, and enthusiasm. Children enjoy spending time with staff inside and outside of the home. Staff regularly take children out to different activities, and children are thriving as they experience new and fun opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their learning and education. Both children regularly attend school. One education professional said that the staff are ‘highly efficient and knowledgeable,’ and the child is more settled in school now they are living at the home. Children who are pre-verbal are supported with their communication. Staff use a range of innovative ways to help them understand and talk to the children. One child who did not speak before living in the home is now using words and putting short sentences together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s healthcare needs and support children to attend health appointments. The manager has advocated on the children’s behalf to secure appointments with specialist health professionals when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff transport children to and from time with family members several times a week. They have built positive relationships with parents for the benefit of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious home that is welcoming and well-furnished throughout. Their bedrooms are comfortable and personalised. There is ample room for the children to play, relax and spend time together or apart. There are lots of different toys for the children to play with. The walls display colourful posters and photos of the staff and children. The manager is taking action to make the garden a safer and more child- friendly place to play in. Staff have created sensory spaces around the home, including a sensory garden that the children enjoy using.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture in the home. The safety and well-being of children are at the centre of staff practice. Children benefit from high levels of care and staff supervision. They do not need to be held to keep them safe and they do not go missing from the home.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are known and understood. Children’s risk and behaviour plans are individualised, detailed and clear. They are updated regularly and Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 3 provide useful information to staff about how to keep children safe in a way that meets each child’s particular needs.

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

Staff know the children well and they can identify likely changes in behaviour. Staff use this expertise and knowledge of children to provide child-centred responses to children’s behaviours. As a result, children are increasingly calmer and more settled living in the home.

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

Staff use creative and fun ways to reward children, and positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Appropriate and consistent boundaries are in place, providing a stable and secure environment for children. Children respond positively to the daily routines that staff consistently put in place. One child who experienced disrupted sleep before they lived in the home, now sleeps through the night.

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

Children are encouraged and supported to take risks that are appropriate to their age and level of understanding to help them to develop their confidence and social skills.

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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 knowledgeable, caring and dedicated. She prioritises the welfare of the children and is committed to providing a stable, loving, and well-run home. The manager is fully involved in the children’s lives and is a strong advocate for them. She has high expectations for herself, staff, and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and are proud to work there. One staff member said that she adores the children and described their progress since moving into the home as ‘unbelievable.’ The staff team work well together and maintain a consistent approach to their practice. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager instils a culture of learning and development in the home. She encourages staff to bring new ideas and ways of working to the team. Staff have access to a range of training to ensure that they have the skills needed to effectively care for children. This includes access to additional support from external agencies and bespoke training when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively and effectively with other agencies and professionals. One education professional said that communication from the home is ‘excellent,’ and the team are ‘dynamic and highly enthusiastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular and effective supervision sessions and team meetings. They provide opportunities for staff to reflect on their own practice and on the children’s progress and ongoing needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 4 Staff say that there is a supportive culture in the home. One staff member said that the manager is ‘approachable, understanding and knowledgeable’ and that ‘she is one of a kind.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the safeguarding lead regularly monitor the quality of care provided to the children. The manager knows the strengths and vulnerabilities of the home and takes swift action to make improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 5

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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: 2794494 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorns to Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Acorns To Oaks Children’s Care & Support Limited, Suite 3, 125-129 Witton Street, Northwich CW9 5DY

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 7 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 8 Inspection report for children’s home: 2794494 9

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