Children's Home run by Trafford Borough Council in Trafford

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 1 SC032496

p.1

Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. One child spoke with the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2017.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

This home is led by an experienced and knowledgeable registered manager. The registered manager has taken swift action to address shortfalls and previous requirements made. However, two have been reissued as further work is required.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There has been a significant decrease in serious incidents during this inspection period and police have not had to attend the home to manage children’s behaviour. Paperwork that provides strategies for staff to follow when children are distressed is now much more comprehensive and useful. This has enabled staff to successfully de-escalate challenging situations. Staff say that their manager supports their wellbeing through difficult times.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been significantly fewer episodes of children going missing from home. When children have gone missing, staff have tried to contact them regularly overnight. This helps to alert staff sooner if children are in danger and reminds children that their carers want them home safe.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have worked well with other professionals to share information when children are at risk of harm. When children are not safe in the local area, managers have appropriately advocated for them to be moved to a different area. One child was moved the same day when an alternative home became available. Despite the quick turnaround, the child was still taken to visit their new home before committing to the move.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have held regular conversations with children to help them understand how to keep themselves safe and healthy. They have provided more resources to children to help them understand risks and have planned some conversations based on children’s presenting needs. However, there are some serious topics which have still not been sufficiently explored with children. The requirement for this has been reissued.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers regularly seek and record children’s wishes and feelings. When children have struggled to manage their own emotions, the registered manager speaks to them when they are calm to seek their perspective on what happened. The manager is applying learning from these conversations into practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children continue to make progress in their education and all children in the home have achieved their educational goals such as sitting their exams, being accepted into college and completing vocational courses.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have identified training for staff to meet the presenting needs of children. Staff say the training that they have been provided with has been useful. Staff understand their responsibilities when safeguarding concerns arise. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 3 Management monitoring has improved significantly. The registered manager is making good use of internal and external monitoring systems and has oversight of all safeguarding incidents. While the registered manager is beginning to provide much more in-depth evaluation of significant incidents, this is not yet fully embedded and consistent. The requirement for this has been reissued. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2024 Full Good 20/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards.’ The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.5

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; 28 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 6 have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child is provided with proactive keywork sessions that are planned based on children’s presenting needs and feelings.

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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)(g)(i)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that incidents are evaluated to establish patterns and trends and identify areas of learning for staff in order to make continuous improvements. 28 October 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 0TH

p.7

Inspector

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC032496 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

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 .

p.8

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8