Children's Home run by CHILD VS CARE Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 1 Registered provider: CHILD VS CARE Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2025 and is owned by a private provider. It provides care for two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke to the child about their experiences of living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A manager has recently been appointed. She has applied to register with Ofsted.

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 are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leadership and management failings have led to inadequate care for one child. The child moved into the home despite full consideration not being given as to whether their needs could be met by a new and inexperienced staff team. Consequently, the child experienced significant harm when living at the home as the staff could not meet their needs safely. The child left the home in an unplanned way.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Another child has recently moved into the home. Although they have only lived at the home for a short time, the child is starting to make progress.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child says that they are happy, and they are building trusted relationships with staff. The child’s move into the home was well planned and they had the opportunity to meet staff beforehand. This ensured that the child had a welcoming and positive start.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support the child to maintain their health and hygiene. They understand and prioritise the child’s health needs.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s interests are encouraged and nurtured. This increases the child’s ability to form positive relationships outside of the home.

p.2

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

Shortfalls in safeguarding practices and decisions by managers led to one child experiencing significant harm. Staff did not know how to respond to the child’s presenting behaviours and failed to provide adequate supervision to the child.

p.2

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

One child has gone missing from this home, and physical intervention has been required to keep the child safe. However, records of these incidents are poor, and incident reports had not been completed. This limits management oversight of practice at the home and does not ensure that leaders are able to evaluate practice and ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. This is something that leaders and managers have taken action to address.

p.2

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

Under the leadership of the previous manager, risk management was poor. Improvements are now being made. However, not all known risks have been included in the child’s risk management plan, and the plan does not include guidance for staff to follow to keep the child safe. Although staff understand the child’s risks, this does not ensure that all staff know how to respond should incidents occur.

p.2

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

Leaders and managers have not ensured that all serious incidents are notified to Ofsted as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of practice at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 3 The suitability of the home’s location has not been updated to include consultation with external agencies. This does not provide staff with up-to-date information on any potential risks for children.

p.2

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

Safer recruitment practices have not always been implemented to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed at the home. This compromises children’s safety.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been changes in the management of the home since it was registered. The previous manager was dismissed following an investigation into their conduct. A new manager has been appointed.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to support the approach and ethos described in the home’s statement of purpose. They recognise these shortfalls and are making improvements.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of the care provided to children has been inadequate. Leaders and managers have implemented changes and are strengthening internal monitoring systems. They have appointed an independent person. The report from the independent person provides some external evaluation and challenge to leaders and managers. These changes are continuing to be embedded, and their impact is currently limited.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The child is cared for by a consistent staff team. The staff are positive about the support they receive from the manager and the responsible individual and about the changes that have been made at the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Regular team meetings have not taken place. However, a meeting has now taken place with the home’s therapist to create an opportunity for learning and reflection.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not always received regular reflective supervision. This does not give staff the opportunity to improve practice at the home and discuss the child’s progress. Leaders and managers are now embedding changes.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff had not received training or a thorough induction to ensure that they had the skills to carry out the role or to meet children’s needs. Leaders and managers identified this as a shortfall, and intensive training and revisiting inductions have now taken place to ensure that any training completed by staff reflects the home’s aims and objectives and further develops the team. Consequently, staff now have the necessary skills and knowledge to work consistently and effectively with the child. However, the home’s workforce development plan has not been updated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(e)) 19 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 5 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risks are clearly assessed. They must ensure that staff are provided with guidance and strategies to support them to reduce risks.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and 19 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 6 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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is robust oversight of the care provided.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that there are internal and external systems in place to monitor and improve practice and that systems are used to improve the progress and experience of children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; 19 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 7 make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the registered person keeps the child’s general medical practitioner informed, as necessary, about the progress of the care throughout its duration. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure care is provided in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff receive regular reflective supervision and ongoing training opportunities.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 19 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children only move into the home when it has been identified that their care needs can be met.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 19 September 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.8

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 19 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 9 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.8

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.9

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.9

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

p.9

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)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that safe recruitment practices are followed at the home. 19 September 2025

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is located in an area that supports the children’s safety, well-being and personal development. The location of the home should support its aims, objectives and ethos, as described in the statement of purpose. The registered person should ensure that the location risk assessment of the home is regularly updated with any feedback that has been received. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home’s Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.23)  The registered person should ensure that the workforce development plan details the process and agreed timescales for any core training. The plan should be kept updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working in the home and used to record ongoing training and the continuing professional Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 10 development needs of staff, including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the Children’s

p.9

Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of this information for continual development. The regulation 44 reports should be sent to Ofsted without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home’s Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 11

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: 2833368 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: CHILD VS CARE Limited

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 68 Daisy Bank Road, Manchester M14 5QP

p.12

Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2833368 13 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.12

Inspector

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.13

Inspector

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

p.13

Inspector

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

p.13