CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 1 CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester Registered provider: CFS Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is operated by a private provider in the northwest of England. The provider can accommodate up to three individuals in three single occupancy flats, and up to 35 individuals in seven shared or group living homes that are not limited to accommodating looked-after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 26 looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 or 17 were accommodated.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted at the same time as the organisation in November 2024.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 28 July 2025 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 30 July 2025 to 1 August 2025.

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Outcome

Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Children feel safe and supported while living in their homes. They can access support when required.

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Summary of findings

Some children are making progress to prepare them for independent living. Most children are accessing some form of education, employment or training. For those children who are not accessing education, employment or training, the provider is actively supporting and encouraging the children in finding opportunities through King’s Trust and similar services. This fosters children’s independence, self-worth and positive socialisation. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 2 The quality of the accommodation is variable. For most children, their environment and living conditions are homely, but for others living in one particular property, their home is not welcoming and need general maintenance and repairs.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers work well with other services and are invested in the children. The provider works with other professionals, to identify the best outcome for the children, when they have felt children’s needs cannot be met with the support they offer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage children to maintain good physical and emotional health. Children are supported to register with the doctor and other relevant health services. Not all children are registered with the dentist, but staff have links with the nurse for looked-after children to promote the children’s dental health. This helps children develop a positive self-view and resilience while moving into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children are accessing education and employment. For those children who are not accessing education, employment or training, staff actively support and encourage the children. They help them find opportunities through King’s Trust. This fosters children’s independence, self-worth and positive socialisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Professionals from social care agencies say that children are supported by staff to progress their development into independent living in line with their individual needs and starting point. This includes budgeting, cooking, improving personal hygiene and home conditions. However, the plans are not regularly updated for known or emerging risks and needs. Some children have shared that they have a positive relationship with staff and feel supported. They are aware of how to make complaints and are at ease with sharing their concerns openly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Some restrictions imposed by the provider hinder children’s ability to make progress towards adulthood. The children must request to use a cleaning product. They have been given ‘safety knives’ and must request access to sharp knives to undertake a daily living task such as cutting vegetables. There are no known relevant risks or vulnerabilities to justify staff restricting children from such items. Furthermore, the provider is not working in line with their statement of purpose, which does not mention any form of restrictions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

When children move into the home, this is done in a sensitive and planned way. This means that the children can feel reassured of the environment and surrounding area before moving in. Staff ensure that children are able to live alongside each other safely. They use a tool that provides information to evaluate risks and harm. However, no plan of action is identified for what should happen next.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage children to take part in positive activities, for example picnics and ice skating. This gives the children new opportunities to enjoy, build memories and build positive relationships with adults and peers. The children have access to Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 3 technology and wi-fi within the homes, which means that children can connect with people who are important to them. Some children are supported to keep in contact with family and friends in line with their safety plans and known risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

For children who have separated from their family and country of origin, staff are sensitive to their individual cultural needs. Staff are proactive in linking with the local Imams who visit the home to introduce themselves. In addition, to erase language barriers, the staff use an online interpreting system. This promotes the children’s sense of belonging, identity and self-esteem.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff report most significant incidents to Ofsted in a timely manner. Managers have informed professionals and escalate internally to other staff following safeguarding concerns. However, on two occasions these concerns have not been reported promptly to Ofsted. Professionals report that staff communicate openly with them and share relevant information. However, there are inconsistencies. For example, sessions to develop children’s knowledge are not always completed following incidents relating to safeguarding. This limits children’s opportunities to make progress and reduce risk.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff check on the children’s well-being when they have been missing and are supported to access an independent return home interview. Staff take steps to locate the child in line with their support plan. Professionals shared that the staff are proactive in informing and keeping them updated with such information. The children shared that they feel a sense of security knowing that they will be supported on their return home.

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How well children are helped and protected

The quality of the accommodation is inconsistent. Some of the premises are welcoming and homely but one of the premises is not welcoming and requires repair and maintenance. All the premises’ windows have restrictors and have CCTV. Leaders and managers acknowledge that repairs and maintenance have been a long-standing issue with slow progress, which they have taken steps to address.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children shared that the CCTV makes them feels safe and know that it is not invading their privacy as it is situated in the corridors, front, back and sides of the house. However, prior to and during admission, they were not informed of the use of CCTV and it is not in the young people’s guide. In addition, consent has not been sought from the children or from the local authority in respect of the use of CCTV. The lack of knowledge in the use of CCTV can impact on the children building trusting relationships and prevent the home being a welcoming and homely environment.

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How well children are helped and protected

When allegations are made against staff, leaders and managers take action and notify the local authority and Ofsted. They also complete detailed internal investigations. This promotes the children’s safety and well-being and sense of security. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 4 Leaders and managers adhere to safer recruitment procedures to ensure that staff are safe to work with children. The recruitment files are robust and satisfy the provider that adults are able to safely work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since registration, some children have been placed into accommodation where their needs have been high for the service provision. When these children do not settle and their needs increase leaders and managers inform local authority and end children's placements appropriately. Decisions to admit children are not always informed by sufficient information being gathered during the admissions process. In addition, the information that is gained is not always being robustly evaluated to see if the provider could appropriately support in meeting their needs. This reduces the likelihood of continuity of support for these children. The leaders and managers acknowledge the lack of robust admissions process and have set up new systems to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision. The supervisions allow staff the opportunity to discuss their well-being, development and progress, and are reflective. Staff say they feel positive about leaders and managers and can raise any concerns. This means staff feel valued and provides consistency for the children in their homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive a range of training, including trauma-informed practice, which helps them to understand their role and provides knowledge in meeting children’s needs. When additional training is required due to children’s changing needs, leaders and managers actively source additional training for staff. Staff have access to training which is valued by them and gives them the skills to work effectively and safely with children. This provides the children with a sense of security and self-worth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of risks and issues for children placed in their accommodation. They have good oversight of the service. They undertake regular audits, which monitors practice, but these are ineffective as they do not identify issues with the lack of recording in risks assessments, support and behavioural plans, and recommended sessions with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff do not always follow management guidance. Despite clear policies regarding children’s access to knives and cleaning products, staff continued to restrict these. This prevents children from developing safe practice with these items and progressing to full independence. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 5

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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

lead and manage the supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose. Regulation 4 2(a)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are not restricted to have knives and cleaning products which they need for day-to-day living tasks. 29 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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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

keep the child’s support under review, taking into consideration the plans for support, and relevant plans, to ensure that the child’s needs continue to be met and that the child is kept safe. Regulation 7 (1)(2)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff complete key-work sessions with children following safeguarding incidents as well as reviewing risk assessments and updating support plans. 29 August 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the supported accommodations should be homely and welcoming. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 29)  The registered person should ensure that they gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the accommodating authority in writing at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 30)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children 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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 7

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Supported accommodation provider details

Nominated individual: Application in Progress

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Denise Bolton

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Supported accommodation provider details

Address: 146 Bolton Road, Atherton, Manchester M46 9LF

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Inspectors

Shelley Chowdhury, Social Care Inspector Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: CFS Care Limited Greater Manchester 8 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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