Children's Home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2797717 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services 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 operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2797717 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living in the home are siblings and have lived in the home for almost six months. They are settled and have started to develop a sense of belonging. Relationships between staff and children are positive. Staff provide the children with a high standard of care, and children are making progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to make progress with their education and are ambitious for them to do well. The manager worked effectively with other agencies to secure appropriate education provisions to meet the children’s needs. Alternatives are in place when children cannot go to school. One older child, who had not attended formal education for some time, is now attending college full time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Staff encourage and support children to attend health appointments and to lead a healthy lifestyle. They promote healthy eating and encourage children to take an interest in cooking and baking. One child is now involved in shopping and choosing food for the menus each week.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. After listening to the children’s wishes and views, staff ensure that the children regularly spend time with a family member who lives some distance away. Children’s friends visit the home regularly and have sleep overs. This has helped the children to feel more settled, secure and happy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities of their choice both inside and outside of the home, such as crafting, a drive to watch the sunset and day trips to the zoo or a theme park. Children enjoy spending time with staff. Their wishes and feelings are sought regularly, and staff respond appropriately to any issues or requests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious and modern home. The home is well maintained and is homely and welcoming. There is ample space for children to relax and spend time together or apart. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and personalised to their tastes.

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

Children say that they feel safe. Their risk and behaviour management plans are individualised and provide staff with clear information about what to do if risks arise. Plans are updated regularly, and staff help children to understand and contribute to them. Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are identified. However, there is not a system in place to monitor the children’s internet and social media usage. Inspection report for children’s home: 2797717 3 When children go missing from the home, staff take swift and appropriate action to ensure they return home quickly and safety. The frequency of incidents of children going missing has decreased recently. This indicates that children feel settled, safe and secure.

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

Staff are resilient and provide nurturing care to children to help them regulate and understand their emotions. They regularly develop and adapt their practice to help protect children. Regular discussions take place with children about topics relevant to them and their age and stage of development.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted in the home. Clear routines, boundaries and expectations are in place. Children work towards age-appropriate goals that they help to set. They receive help and support to understand and manage their feelings and behaviours. However, on one occasion, the police were called to help manage a child’s behaviour that resulted in the child being criminalised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is caring, child centred and committed to her role. She knows the children well and promotes a nurturing culture in the home. The manager prioritises the children’s welfare and is a strong advocate for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home. They feel valued and supported by the manager. Staff described her as ‘calm’, ‘fair’ and ‘approachable’. The manager and the staff have high expectations for themselves and the children. Staff work well together as a team to provide consistent and loving care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively and effectively with other agencies and professionals. A social worker said, ‘The home is brilliant. They set an example of how a home should be.’ A professional from another agency described the home as ‘outstanding’ and the staff as ‘brilliant’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from training opportunities; however, not all staff have been fully trained in how to hold children safely. Staff have not received training in all areas specific to the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff team meetings and supervision sessions are regular. They provide opportunities to focus on the children’s well-being and progress and reflect on practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. She knows the strengths and areas of vulnerability and takes action to address any shortfalls. The manager regularly monitors the quality of care provided to children. However, on one occasion when the police were called to help manage a child’s behaviour, the manager did not sufficiently evaluate the incident or identify any learning to help improve the quality of care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2797717 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that risks in relation to online safely for each child are known and minimised. 22 December 2025

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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 children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff complete training in restraint techniques prior to working in the home and training to meet the specific needs of the children in their care. In addition, ensure that systems are in place to fully review and reflect on incidents to identify any learning to improve practice. 22 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2797717 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should prevent unnecessary police involvement in managing behaviour and criminalisation of behaviours. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2797717 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Social Care Services Group, 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

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Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2797717 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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