Children's Home run by Trusted Care Services Group Limited in Manchester

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 1 Registered provider: Trusted Care Services Group 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 registered with Ofsted in September 2024 and is owned by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspectors were unable to speak to the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since July 2025 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 25 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspectors have 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: 2751230 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has experienced a period of instability in staffing. Several staff have resigned or been subject to disciplinary procedures, and there have been concerns about professional boundaries not being respected. Staff currently working at the home have started to develop a trusting relationship with the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The sudden departure of staff has led to emotional instability for the child, resulting in a disruption to their routine. Although the previous inspection noted steady educational progress, this has become inconsistent since the commencement of the new term following the summer break.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received training in behaviour management strategies, with a particular focus on safe holding techniques to ensure the child’s safety when necessary. Through the effective use of de-escalation methods, staff have successfully managed situations without the need for physical intervention.

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Findings from the inspection

Several concerns have arisen regarding the child’s misuse of cannabis and e- cigarettes. These issues have been escalated to the child’s social worker, and a multi-agency response has been coordinated through strategy meetings involving the police. One notable incident involved the child requesting the return of a confiscated e-cigarette that had not been disposed of due to an ongoing complaint under police review.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have engaged the child in key discussions about safeguarding issues and have received training that is relevant to the child’s needs. However, not all conversations with the child are recorded. As a result, the learning and outcomes for the child remain unclear.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans are not being revised in response to significant incidents. The latest recorded update predates the previous inspection, despite several events occurring since that time. This raises concerns regarding staff’s awareness of current risks and their responsibilities in managing behaviour effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff supervision is now occurring with consistency. However, notable gaps remain. In particular, supervision sessions have failed to address concerns relating to staff members’ employment histories that were identified but not resolved during the last full inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The workforce development plan is out of date and includes the details of staff who are no longer employed at the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 3 Some areas of the home require updating. There is a significant mould issue in the shower cubicle, and the hallway and dining room floors are torn.

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Findings from the inspection

Several key documents could not be seen during the inspection because the manager, who holds the key to access the cupboard, was away from the home. The responsible individual did not have access either.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has now applied to register with Ofsted and is awaiting their formal interview. Staff say they feel supported by leaders and managers, and they enjoy working at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Several requirements have been met, two of which relate to behaviour management. Several new requirements have been raised. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 5

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that employment checks are carried out in a thorough manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 18 December

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 18 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are prepared and ready to access education.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments are up to date to provide staff with details about the most recent risks. 18 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 18 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 8 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff supervision sessions are practice based, reflective, and include discussions about any relevant employment matters.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

does not satisfy regulation 28; or is not, or

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Requirement Due date

does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they apply to register with the regulator within the required time frame. 18 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce- related requirements of regulation 16. The plan should detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, as well as how to manage poor performance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Trusted Care Services Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3, 2 The Colony Buildings, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow SK9 4LY

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Inspectors

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Danielle Allen, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751230 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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