Children's Home run by Zen Care and Education Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 1 Registered provider: Zen Care and Education Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. Two children spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in post and has submitted an application to register with 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: 3 December 2024

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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: 2775561 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child had a well-planned move out of the home. One child moved in as an emergency admission. A lack of a comprehensive assessment of the child’s behaviours led to unsettled behaviours, which have affected children who live in the home. The manager has put in place plans to support all children during this period.

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improvement to be good

From their starting points, children are making progress with their educational attendance. Staff are proactive in encouraging and supporting children to engage in education. This supports children to improve educational outcomes in preparation for their futures.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are well supported. All children are registered with healthcare professionals and supported to attend appointments. An in-house therapist works with staff to identify approaches and strategies to meet children’s care needs.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy a range of activities and opportunities to take part in different experiences. Activities during the summer holidays included a trip to a theme park and a holiday on the coast.

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improvement to be good

Children are consulted on a regular basis about their experiences. They benefit from regular discussions with staff on a range of topics. This enables them to learn and share their views in an open and supportive way.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of children maintaining their relationships with those people who are important to them. They plan and support children’s time with their families and friends, in accordance with any agreed plans.

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improvement to be good

The home is a large house, which provides children with plenty of private and communal space. Ongoing maintenance ensures that the home is decorated to a good standard. Children’s views have been sought when deciding on the décor in the home. Externally, there is a large, paved area and front lawn for children to use. However, the path to the home is uneven and could increase the risk of slips, trips or falls.

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improvement to be good

When children are missing from the home, staff follow agreed protocols and procedures, making every effort to find children and support them to return to the home safely. However, the lack of assessment for one child led to an increase in the number of times another child went missing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 4 Staff work in partnership with professionals. One social worker said, ‘Staff do everything possible to support the safety of [name of child] when he is missing and support his safe return home. The manager is proactive in ensuring he has independent return home interviews, which enable him to share any concerns or worries he may have.’

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improvement to be good

Individual behaviour management plans are reviewed on a regular basis and discussed with the in-house therapist. Staff receive regular training and guidance in relation to supporting children’s behaviour and strategies. Staff skills are having some positive impact on children’s behaviours.

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improvement to be good

Rewards are used frequently as a way of recognising when children have managed difficult situations well. Consequences are used only when necessary and in line with each child’s behaviour management plans .

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the difference between a complaint and an allegation. The manager takes appropriate action, ensuring that the relevant people are informed and consulted. This includes the social worker and the local authority designated officer. Where required, the manager makes sure that comprehensive investigations take place and maintains clear records.

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improvement to be good

Health and safety checks are completed to support children’s safety. Regular fire evacuation tests mean that the children know the procedure to follow in the event of a fire. However, fire doors are routinely wedged open, and this does not adhere to fire regulations and could place children at risk of harm in the event of a fire.

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improvement to be good

The recruitment and selection of staff complies with safer recruitment practice to ensure that the staff appointed are suitable to work with children.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been a change of manager. The manager has relevant experience and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. The current manager has been in post for two months and shows a commitment to ensuring that children receive high levels of care and support. An experienced deputy manager supports her. They both share high aspirations for all children.

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

The manager ensures that all staff have regular supervision. Staff are encouraged to reflect on and develop their practice. The manager ensures that staff have clear action plans to identify areas of development. Staff say that they feel supported by the management and are keen to further develop their skills and knowledge.

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

Staff benefit from a range of training. This supports them to develop their skills and practice. The manager makes sure that all training is kept up to date and is keen to introduce informal training and guidance through staff meetings. Team meetings are held regularly and offer an opportunity for staff to discuss and share practice. The in- house psychologist also attends meetings to provide a therapeutic overview of the children’s progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 5 The manager encourages regular communication with all adults involved in the support of the children. Professionals say that they have positive working relationships with the manager and the staff team.

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

The manager undertakes regular monitoring, and this is underpinned by independent monthly monitoring visits. The independent visitor gathers the views of external professionals to provide further oversight of the care provided by the home. The manager understands the strengths of the home and the areas for further development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home— Due date 1 August 2025 Due date 28 May 2021 paragraph (1) does not apply;

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Requirement Due date

and the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff do not prop open any designated fire doors. 20 September 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.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that suitable assessments are carried out before agreeing to a child’s placement. Additionally, the suitability of a child’s placement must be considered alongside the risks and needs of the other children already living in the home. 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 7 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

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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the pathway to the property is maintained and even to minimise the risk of slips, trips or falls. 31 October 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that all risk assessments are clear, provide guidance and are up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 8

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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: 2775561 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Zen Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trafford House, Chester Road, Manchester M32 0RS

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2775561 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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