Children's home run by Invigor Adolescent Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 1 Registered provider: Invigor Adolescent Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Good 14/06/2023 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Children’s overall safety, progress and experiences are compromised by poor safeguarding practice and inadequate leadership and management oversight.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s progress in education is variable. One child is regularly attending a vocational course in line with their learning style. However, other children do not benefit from clear education guidance or plans. When children have barriers to attending school, leaders and managers do not provide children with daily routines that promote or support their learning effectively. This limits children’s progress and educational outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not support children to lead healthy lifestyles. Leaders, managers and staff do not address the dangers of substance misuse and alcohol consumption. Specialist services are identified for children. However, staff do not encourage them to attend. As a result, the children’s health needs are not met.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers commission therapeutic services to address children’s emotional needs. However, the manager and staff have failed to integrate this support into daily care practices. Consequently, one child spends prolonged periods isolated in their bedroom, where they have written distressing messages on the walls. The bedrooms lack personalisation and are unhygienic, reflecting a failure to create a nurturing and respectful living environment. Leaders and managers have not taken adequate steps to improve these conditions, resulting in one child experiencing neglect.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff are not always able to meet children’s needs because of a shortage of available drivers and a lack of consideration for alternative transportation options. Due to this poor planning children miss important medical appointments and opportunities to spend time with their families. This undermines their sense of being valued and cared for and does not prioritise their well-being.

p.3

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

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected. Children are exposed to harm due to inadequate safeguarding practices and emotional harm due to neglectful conditions in children’s bedrooms.

p.3

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

The home environment is hazardous. Communal areas in the home require repair from damage, including light switches, door frames and panelling on the staircase. One child’s bathroom has a damaged shower screen and mould and dirt in the bath. This is a health hazard for children.

p.3

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

Children have individual missing-from-home plans. However, staff do not consistently follow them, and the response to children being missing from home is poor. When Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 4 children are missing from home, the response from leaders, managers and staff is inconsistent. On occasions, there have been a significant delay before a child has been actively looked for, leaving them at risk.

p.3

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

Staff do not consistently demonstrate professional curiosity when children are out in the community. They fail to take proactive steps to understand who children are spending time with or to identify potential risks associated with these contacts. When signs of serious concerns, such as exploitation are present, staff downplay these risks, even when other agencies have flagged them as significant concern. This does not demonstrate robust safeguarding practices and falls short of providing safe and protective care.

p.4

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

Staff do not effectively support children in understanding or managing their own behaviours. Some staff have expressed reluctance to use physical intervention as they lack the confidence to manage situations. This has then resulted in police being called to manage behavioural incidents. Despite evidence of children smoking illegal substances in their bedrooms, room searches are not conducted, leaving children exposed to further harm. Leaders and managers do not routinely review these incidents to evaluate their effectiveness or to identify changes in practice that could reduce risks to children.

p.4

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

Children say they do not spend much time together or have positive relationships with each other. Children often eat meals in their bedrooms and spend a lot of time in the community away from the home.

p.4

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

When children make allegations against staff, leaders and managers fail to respond appropriately. During the inspection, records relating to a specific allegation were missing, and the manager was unable to explain whether or how the matter had been addressed. This raises serious concerns about the suitability of adults working in the home and undermines the safety and welfare of children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not demonstrate a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. The registered manager relies heavily on the deputy manager to lead the home, without sufficient oversight and support to develop their practice and maintain oversight of care practices in his home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to take effective action to address all the requirements set out at the previous inspection and was unaware of several safeguarding incidents and shortfalls identified during this inspection. This reflects a lack of effective leadership and management.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Incidents in the home are not reviewed or evaluated effectively by the registered manager. There have been repeated incidents involving substance misuse and episodes of going missing from home. However, there is limited evaluation as to how the response to risk can be improved. This means that there is limited learning from incidents, which leaves children at risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 5 Leaders and managers do not ensure that the quality of care provided to children is reviewed and evaluated sufficiently. The oversight, review and evaluation of children’s progress is poor. There is no reflection or robust evaluation of effectiveness of strategies to promote children’s well-being when current plans have no positive impact on children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not had sufficient oversight of the home to be able to monitor and assess the quality of care that children receive. Their oversight of children’s progress is weak and inconsistent. When current plans do not improve children’s well- being, there is no meaningful reflection or thorough review of whether the strategies in place are working. This shows a lack of accountability and effectiveness in the leadership of the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The members of the management team were unable to locate essential care documentation, safeguarding records, and incident reports. Gaps in record-keeping and poor-quality documentation undermine consistent practice and compromise the effectiveness of safeguarding measures.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not updated the statement of purpose to include accurate details of the staff now working in the home with children. This document also does not include relevant information about the therapeutic approach used within the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not ensured that the team of staff have the necessary skills to support the children’s needs. The members of the current staff team are inexperienced, and none have the required qualification. This does not ensure that children receive care from qualified and experienced staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(b)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the appropriate training, skills, and knowledge to take effective action to safeguard children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered provider must ensure that allegations against staff are investigated appropriately and thoroughly. 25 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that monitoring systems are utilised to identify and address shortfalls in the quality-of- care children receive. In addition, the registered provider must ensure that staff have the relevant skills and training to care for the children living in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 25 September 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the out- comes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 25 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(v)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that all areas of the home, including children’s bedrooms, are clean and maintained to an acceptable standard at all times.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.8

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.8

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the 25 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 9 competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(v)(ix)(xi))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff are able to support each child’s needs without the use of police intervention, unless necessary and proportionate. Additionally, staff must help each child understand their behaviour and what is or is not acceptable.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 25 September 2025

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that supervision is completed in accordance with the statement of purpose. 25 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 10 The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose details the home’s ethos and how they seek to achieve that approach. In addition, the staffing structure of the home must also be included. 25 September 2025

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c)) 25 September 2025

p.10

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: 2680860 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Invigor Adolescent Care Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Warren Bruce Court, Warren Bruce Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1LB

p.11

Inspectors

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Hayley Smith, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2680860 12 regulates and inspects 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12