Children's Home run by Paramount Children’s Services Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 1 Registered provider: Paramount Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities. Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Two children spoke to the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 6 November 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/11/2024 Full Good 09/11/2023 Full Outstanding 18/01/2023 Full Outstanding 05/01/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved out and two children have moved in. Two children who left the home recently lived at the home for over two years. Both children made considerable progress. These children still visit and continue keep in touch with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop positive and trusting relationships with staff. This enables them to share their worries with the adults who care for them, which supports their emotional development and sense of stability. A child said, ‘[Member of staff name] has really helped me. She stays with me and treats me like her own.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are good arrangements to meet the health needs of children. Referrals to specialist services are made when required to support children’s emotional well-being. However, some children have moved into the home without all relevant information being available. This has limited staff’s ability to fully assess and prepare for their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager work in partnership with relevant professionals. This ensures that they have the knowledge and skills to meet the children’s specific needs. Staff respond to children’s needs with sensitivity, ensuring that children are kept safe and feel well cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have not always found it easy to engage in formal learning. The manager has worked proactively to identify suitable education provisions that meet each child’s needs. While progress has been made in relation to most children’s education, one child is not yet attending a school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their family and friends. This contributes positively to children’s sense of identity. Effective collaboration with children’s families played a key role in enabling one child to return successfully to their family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms in line with their individual interests. This gives them a strong sense of belonging. While the home is generally well kept, some areas are not as well maintained as they could be.

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

Children are kept safe by staff who are attuned to their needs and understand their strengths and vulnerabilities. When there are concerns related to self-harm, staff ensure that children receive immediate first aid and medical attention if required. The response is tailored to the child’s needs. Staff respond effectively to mitigate the risk of self-harm incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 4 When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and follow the home’s missing-from-home protocols to ensure their safe return. Staff show genuine professional curiosity to understand the reasons why children go missing from the home, which helps them shape their ongoing support for children.

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

When allegations are made against staff, the manager takes swift action to address such matters professionally. The manager shares information promptly with all external safeguarding agencies, including the local authority designated officer, as well as conducting internal investigations when required. This promotes a culture of openness and transparency, ensuring that children’s safety and welfare remain central to all decision-making.

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

Risk management plans are thorough and detailed for most of the children, reflecting their individual needs and known risks. However, for children who have recently moved into the home, some plans lack sufficient detail due to delays in information-sharing from the placing local authority. This impacts the staff’s ability to fully assess and understand the needs of children.

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

Children are supported by staff to understand their right to complain and are encouraged to speak up when they have concerns. This supports children feeling listened to and enables them to express themselves. Concerns raised through complaints have been fully explored. Although some concerns were recognised, they did not raise safeguarding issues.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour by adopting a therapeutic and nurturing approach. Consistent relationships and a strong understanding of each child’s individual needs support children to express their emotions in healthier ways. When consequences are used, which is rare, they are proportionate and understood by the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and brings a wealth of experience to the role. Their practice is very child focused and demonstrates a clear commitment to improving outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a dedicated and stable staff team who have shown resilience when responding to challenges. The team’s stability and strong relationships have supported children to feel safe and secure. A staff member said, ‘I know I will get the guidance and support I need.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide variety of relevant training. The manager is committed to enhancing staff skills and knowledge through tailored training provided in line with the children’s emerging needs. This is further enhanced through input from the organisation’s psychologist, which deepens staff’s understanding of the impact of trauma on the children’s lived experiences. This gives the staff confidence in their roles as children’s primary caregivers. Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 5 Staff receive regular supervision sessions which provide them with support, guidance and opportunities to reflect on their practice and the children’s needs. Staff appraisals take place annually and are enriched with feedback from children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are an opportunity for the manager and staff to come together and share information, knowledge and skills. This helps to support consistent practice across the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established effective systems to monitor and evaluate staff’s practice. This contributes to a strong culture of continuous learning and professional development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are provided with clear strategies to manage and reduce risk.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the use of sensors on children’s bedroom doors must be regularly reviewed. 29 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when there is insufficient information available to fully understand a child’s needs and associated risks, that this is escalated Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 7 without delay to the placing authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3)  The registered person should ensure that each child has an up-to-date care plan from the local authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)  The registered person should ensure that when a child is not participating in full-time education, they are supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained, by addressing

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Recommendations

areas where paintwork is worn and replacing flooring and carpets that are damaged. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2606062 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Paramount Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 89 Briony Avenue, Hale, Altrincham WA15 8PZ

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Inspectors

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Shauna Morley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2606062 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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