Children's Home run by Oldham Children’s Social Care in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2833552 1 Registered provider: Oldham Children’s Social Care

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 15 and 16 July 2025. This visit took place to review the progress the provider had made following an urgent condition notice being issued. The condition issued was that the provider may only provide care and accommodation for up to two children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, staff have received further training in areas of identified needs. There are clear plans in place to test staff knowledge to ensure that learning is understood, to improve staff practice. This includes the use of quizzes and questionnaires.

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This monitoring visit

Although there have been no instances of children being under the influence of substances, staff are aware that medical advice should be sought if this is a concern. Additionally, staff have received training from external services in respect of substance misuse. The management team has also liaised with the allocated looked- after children’s nurse.

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This monitoring visit

When children are out of the home without agreement, staff now follow missing- from-home protocols. Staff search local areas and contact friends or family members. However, on one occasion, staff had not spoken to a child who had been out with friends for the duration of the day. Despite the child not being in touch all day, staff did not search for the child or contact family or friends earlier to check on their welfare. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2833552 2 The management team has introduced new auditing tools to identify any trends, patterns or concerns. Identified actions from these audits seek to minimise risk and improve the quality of care children receive. Additionally, at the time of inspection, management oversight had identified shortfalls in respect of staff speaking to children when out of the home.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 9 September 2025. It was agreed that Ofsted will remove the urgent condition notice and are not taking any further enforcement action. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2833552 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2833552 4

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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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that staff are aware of appropriate actions to take when a child is out of the home and not in contact. 10 October 2025

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2833552 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oldham Children’s Social Care

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, Hobson Street, Oldham OL1 1HD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Whitbread

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Inspector

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2833552 6 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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