Children's Home run by Strive to Care Limited in Tameside

Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 1 Registered provider: Strive to Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider manages this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. All children spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection, and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive an exceptionally high standard of care from staff who know them well. The positive and trusting relationships that staff have built with children enable them to thrive. Consequently, children make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives and are supported to develop a strong sense of belonging in the home and a positive sense of self. Professionals state, ‘Staff always put children at the centre of what they do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is welcoming and decorated to a high standard. Children’s photos and certificates of achievement are proudly displayed on the walls throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and children take pride in keeping them clean and tidy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s education is prioritised. The manager works with social workers and virtual schools to ensure that children receive the resources and encouragement they need to achieve their full potential. Staff plan fun competitions in the home to support individual learning and build children’s confidence in their education. Attendance for all children has improved, which has enabled them to make considerable progress from their initial starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There are excellent transition plans in place for children moving into the home to support the move and a period of settling into their new home. The manager carefully considers the needs of children moving into the home. They assess their needs alongside the needs of the children already living in the home and the skills and experience of the staff team. The manager ensures that they speak to children’s network and meet children before they move into the home. This helps children to feel welcomed into the home. However, not all children have statutory care plans containing relevant information and signed by relevant professionals on admission. This does not ensure that the home’s manager or staff can act on behalf of the local authority in the delivery of day-to-day care for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views and wishes are strongly promoted in the home. Children have an advocate and children’s views are gathered through weekly conversations with the manager and monthly children’s meetings, which the children are encouraged to chair. This allows children to contribute to day-to-day decisions about their care, resulting in them feeling listened to and understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help the children to develop life skills that are appropriate to their age and level of understanding. Staff encourage children to take on responsibilities and develop life skills, preparing them for a successful transition to adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to maintain active and heathy lifestyles. Staff help children with their diet and exercise and help them to understand the impact this has on their physical and emotional well-being. As a result, children are heathier and happier. Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 4 Children enjoy various activities, such as fishing, bike rides, skating, walks and the cinema. They are also encouraged to attend groups and activities individually, in line with their personal interests. This has enabled children to form friendships and become part of local groups outside of the home. This has helped children to become part of their local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote children’s identity, supporting their religious and cultural needs. This helps children to maintain a sense of self and their connection to family and faith.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support the children’s relationships with people who are important to them. Staff make every effort to build relationships with the children’s families and support the relationships between them and their children.

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

Children are supported to develop extremely positive, caring and trusting relationships with staff. This provides children with a strong sense of safety and security in the home. Children identify staff as trusted adults and approach them with their concerns. Staff respond to children’s concerns warmly and sensitively.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the effects of trauma. Staff work sensitively and creatively to support children to process their care experiences in a safe and constructive manner. Staff benefit from relevant training and clinical guidance, which equips them with the skills to address the complex emotional needs of the children. Staff talk to children sensitively about issues that are affecting them, including friendships, relationships, faith, identity, emotions and future plans. Children are empowered to develop their own sense of identity and express their views.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture within the home. Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures.

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

Staff have an exceptional understanding of the children’s individual risks and strategies to support them. The children’s risks are documented in risk management plans that direct and support staff to prevent and reduce risks. The manager and staff consult with children on their risk management plans. This enables children to reflect on difficulties and learn to identify triggers and coping techniques. This has reduced risks for children.

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

Staff complete direct work with children on internet safety and relationships. This enables children to recognise risks and keep themselves safe when using social media or gaming online.

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

Allegations are investigated quickly and fully. Children’s social workers are notified to ensure that children have the right support during the investigation process. Referrals are made to professionals to allow for independent oversight. Children are told about the outcomes of investigations. This reassures children that they are being listened to. Work is completed with staff and children to rebuild relationships following allegations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 5 Incidents of restraint rarely occur. When restraint is used, it is to protect children and others from harm and is carried out by trained staff. Children can discuss incidents with someone who was not part of the incident. The manager reviews incidents to ensure that the action taken was reasonable. Work is completed with staff and children to rebuild relationships following restraint.

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

There has been one occasion where a child went missing from the home. There are detailed missing-from-home plans in place, and staff have an exceptional knowledge of missing-from-home procedures. Staff keep in contact with children throughout missing episodes, to encourage children to return home, and staff search for them. This shows children that staff care about them and their welfare. Children are welcomed when they return to the home, and staff ensure that they are safe and well.

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

Consequences are rarely used in the home. When in place, they are restorative and help children to gain an understanding of other people’s experiences.

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

The manager is proactive in ensuring that children have access to specialist services for support in areas such asylum and mental health support. Staff ensure that services are kept informed of any relevant information and that multi-agency meetings are held if issues arise. This enables the child’s network to be collaborative and proactive. Staff encourage children’s engagement with specialist professionals. This means that children have access to the adults who are most able to help them with their specific issues.

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

There have been no changes in the staff team. Communication between staff is clear. Therefore, there are consistent boundaries in the home. This enables the children to feel secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s manager and deputy are highly motivated and ambitious in their vision for children. They have high expectations of staff and are committed to improving outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive high-quality, regular supervisions from the manager and deputies. Supervisions have a strong focus on outcomes for children. They are reflective and detailed, with clear actions set. The manager has an exceptional understanding of the team’s strengths and areas for development. Annual appraisals have a clear focus on development and are used to plan personal progress. Staff feel fully supported by the management team to develop in their role, and they enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The deputy manager and home’s clinical psychologist are creative in their approach to supporting outcomes for children and how research is used to influence practice. The staff and deputy reflect on research and training in team meetings and supervisions. This ensures that the home’s model of care is embedded in practice and empowers staff to use what they have learned in their discussions with children and speak to children about what works best for them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 6 Professionals are highly complimentary about the care provided in the home and the progress that children are making. Communication from the manager and staff with professionals is excellent. They are regularly consulted about the care that children receive. This ensures that children receive consistent care and are supported to achieve their potential. Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 7

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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 registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that statutory care plans are in place for all children living in the home, which contain relevant information and are signed and dated by relevant professionals on date of admission. 9 June 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: 2749584 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8, Cunningham Court, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 2QX

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 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 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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