Children's Home run by Voices Homes Ltd in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 1 Registered provider: Voices Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for one child 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 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The interim manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2025 Full Requires improvement Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child moved out of the home, at the beginning of April 2025, and another child has moved in. Comprehensive planning and assessment prior to them moving into the home enabled the move to be positive for the child. The stability and support in place are contributing to the child making good progress in all areas of their life. This includes with their overall health, both physically and emotionally . Staff are ambitious in supporting children to receive the best possible care and support to enable them to make positive progress, to grow in confidence and to feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of education and promote this well. As a result, the child’s attendance has significantly improved, providing greater opportunity to gain skills and qualifications for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s individual health needs are met well. When needed, staff support attendance at appointments, such as dental and optician appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that the views and wishes of the child are gathered and, wherever possible, acted on. When it is not possible to do so, this is explained clearly to enable the child to understand the reasons why. As a result of open and honest communication, the child feels consulted about their current care and is fully aware of their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is supported in line with agreements in place. This supports the child to maintain positive links with family and friends who are important to them.

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

The home has a strong ethos on safeguarding children and young people. Staff are clear about the risks for children and understand their roles and responsibilities in supporting them to keep safe. The child living in the home has settled in well. The child says that they feel that staff care, that they promote their safety and well- being and that they want them to do well in everything that they do. The child said, ‘I get on well with the staff and they listen to me. This is the best home I have lived in.’

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

When a child goes missing from the home, staff follow agreed procedures and search the local area and known places where the child may be. They report a child missing in accordance with the individual child’s risk assessment. Comprehensive reports are in place to reflect the action staff take to support the child’s safe return home. Independent return home visits are carried out to provide the child with the opportunity to discuss anything which is contributing to them leaving the home. This further supports the child to have a voice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 4 The home has been refurbished since the last inspection and maintenance issues have been addressed.

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

Clear plans are in place to enable staff to understand how best to support the behaviour of the child, including de-escalation techniques. The use of physical intervention is minimal and, when this is used, there are clear records in place to demonstrate the actions taken to de-escalate the child’s behaviour. However, the manager has not recorded their oversight on some of these records.

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

Regular health and safety checks are completed, including fire evacuations. However, fire doors are regularly propped open, which does not adhere to fire regulations to promote the overall safety of people in the home in the event of a fire.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a permanent manager has been appointed and they have applied to be registered with Ofsted. He is suitably qualified and experienced, has high aspirations for any child living in the home and has taken appropriate steps to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. This includes additional recording systems and evaluation of the home’s practice and, although still being embedded, there are clear signs of the positive impact this is having. This is particularly evident in the work around the missing-from-home reporting and the additional training provided to staff to enhance their skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is appropriately staffed to meet the needs of the child living in the home. Since the last inspection, one new member of staff has been recruited in line with safer recruitment practice. This contributes to children’s ongoing safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held each month, providing staff with the opportunity to review the progress that children are making. Additionally, the meetings are used to reflect on and identify any areas of development and to ensure that staff have the training and skills necessary to care for children safely. Further support to staff is provided through individual supervision sessions, enabling them to focus on their own specific training and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose meets regulations and contains relevant information about the home’s ethos and objectives. This document is provided on request. A children’s guide is also given to the child placed at the home, providing them with details about what they can expect while at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals are positive about the care children receive. The child’s placing social worker said, ‘The manager and staff are exceptionally good at promoting the child’s overall safety and well-being. Although the child has only been in placement for a relatively short space of time, the progress made is significant.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 5 The manager has taken action to address the requirements made at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 6

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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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

Due date 28 May 2021 paragraph (1) does not apply; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff do not prop open any designated fire doors. 1 August 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: 2794714 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 212 Oakland House, 21 Hope Carr Road, Leigh, Wigan WN7 3ET

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2794714 8 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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