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 provides care for up to two children who may experience social and/or 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.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025. The provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 3

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improvement to be good

Both children living at the home spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

There have been several changes in management and staff at the home since the last inspection. Children have experienced instability because of the use of a high number of agency staff. A new manager and full staff team are now in post, and improvements are noted in the care provided to the two children who moved in a few weeks before this inspection.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home. A child-centred approach was used to manage the moves effectively. The children are settling in well and forming positive relationships with staff. However, one child has moved out after short notice was given to the local authority. This did not allow for a smooth transition to their new home.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are understood, and staff ensure that they are registered with all relevant services. Referrals to specialist services are made when required to support children’s emotional well-being. Staff and the manager work closely with the provider’s therapist to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet children’s individual needs. However, on two occasions, welfare checks have not been carried out in line with a child’s plans when they expressed a low mood.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children’s education. One child has historically had very poor attendance at school. They are now being encouraged to attend school every day and are gradually building up to full-time attendance. Staff transport children considerable distances to school, fostering friendships and relationships among them. Independence skills are encouraged in an age-appropriate way. One child has received assistance in creating a CV and finding a part-time job.

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improvement to be good

Family time is promoted and encouraged. Children’s families and friends can visit the home, which aids a sense of normality for children. Children have access to a range of activities and are encouraged to develop new interests.

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improvement to be good

The home is a comfortable and safe environment for children. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. When children arrive with few belongings, they are given a substantial budget to buy the things they need.

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improvement to be good

The children now living at the home have moved in recently, yet staff display a good understanding of their needs and vulnerabilities. The children are beginning to build Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 4 trusting relationships with staff. There are now clear processes in place to guide staff practice and ensure that children are kept safe. When concerns have arisen, staff and the manager have responded appropriately and notified the relevant agencies.

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improvement to be good

There have been a high number of missing-from-home episodes for the child previously living at the home. Although staff have responded to these issues, they have not always managed them effectively, nor have they consistently followed the procedures.

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improvement to be good

The child previously living at the home has not always received the correct level of support from staff. When the child has been in crisis, staff have not always responded appropriately. As a result, some incidents have not been diffused effectively. Restraint is rarely used. However, there has been one occasion when the use of physical intervention has not been recorded. This has prevented any learning from being taken from the incident.

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improvement to be good

Staff receive a range of training in safeguarding matters. They know how to escalate safeguarding concerns, including to external safeguarding agencies. Allegations against staff have been managed effectively, and there has been a robust response from the provider and prompt information-sharing. However, staff recruitment has not always been carried out safely. On one occasion, a full employment history has not been obtained for a new member of staff.

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

The manager and responsible individual present at the last inspection have both since resigned from their roles. Additionally, there have been two further changes in the responsible individual. This instability has resulted in insufficient management oversight and a lack of challenge to staff practice when there have been shortfalls in the care provided to children. The provider has also been hampered by the loss of the whole staff team, resulting in a significant reliance on agency staff and staff from other homes.

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

There is now a new manager at the home. She is suitably qualified and experienced. She also has responsibility for another home in the organisation. The manager is supported by a competent deputy manager. They are assisted by a responsible individual who is dedicated to the organisation. The management team has a clear vision for the improvement of the home and staff team. The leadership team is in the process of implementing new systems to monitor the quality of care provided to children, and management oversight has considerably improved. However, these systems are not yet fully embedded.

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

There is now a full team of staff who are committed to the children. Staff members have been recruited from a variety of backgrounds. Some staff are experienced and qualified in residential childcare. New staff members complete an induction before being enrolled in a recognised childcare qualification. Staff have access to a wealth of training. The manager has ensured that staff have the necessary skills to support the children living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 5 Staff receive regular supervision sessions that are of good quality, allowing them to reflect on their practice and identify any emerging needs of the children. Team meetings are held regularly. The therapist attends these meetings, which serve as an opportunity for learning and conversation.

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

Staff and the manager work effectively with other agencies. The manager and deputy manager are strong advocates for the children and challenge other professionals when necessary. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 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

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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk management plans are regularly reviewed and are reflective of any current risks to the child. They should ensure that staff take all the necessary actions when children are experiencing mental ill health.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, ensure that staff follow protocols and guidance when children are missing from home. Specifically, they must search for children, report them as missing in a timely manner and collect them when they are ready to return. 24 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 7 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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; 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is a consistent team of staff who are suitably skilled and experienced to care for the children living at the home.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that incidents in the home are recorded. They must be evaluated fully, and any learning should be considered when making improvements to the care provided to children. Any auditing tools that are used to evaluate the care must be robust, and regular feedback must be gathered from children and external stakeholders. 21 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 8 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all possible measures are taken to avoid unplanned endings for children. This includes joint working with the local authority and other partner agencies to provide support to the child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a full employment history is obtained for all staff working at the home. Additionally, any gaps in employment must be fully explored and analysed. 21 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 21 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 9 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any use of physical intervention is recorded in line with regulation.

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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 10

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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

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2795393 11 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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