Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC040733 1 SC040733 Registered provider: Salford City Council

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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 run by the local authority and provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Two children spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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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: 3 December 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: SC040733 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2024 Full Good 16/08/2023 Full Good 31/08/2022 Full Good 03/05/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC040733 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two of the children have remained living at the home since the last inspection. A third child who had previously lived at the home has returned at their request as they said that this was somewhere they had enjoyed living and felt safe. The child was welcomed back into the home by staff who knew and understood their needs well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment has undergone substantial improvements and redecoration. The children were supported to move into another home owned by the local authority for several weeks with the staff team, while the refurbishment took place. Children say that they felt included in this process and were able to have a say with aspects of the redecoration, including their bedrooms. One child said, ‘It was quite emotional coming back to the house, it felt like a new home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently support children to overcome barriers in attending their educational provisions and help children to understand the importance of improving attendance and regular revision. Staff and teaching professionals work closely together to promote learning in and out of the home, with children working towards their final years in school and exploring job opportunities in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well understood and they are empowered to take control of their own medication in line with their age and understanding. Children’s routine health appointments are up to date and, as a result, children’s oral hygiene has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time in the community with their friends and, where appropriate, can have regular time with their families, including overnight stays. Staff take time to get to know children’s families and friendship groups and understand the importance of these relationships for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children’s independence in line with their age and development. Children know how to do their own laundry and are learning how to budget, shop and cook for themselves, with staff support.

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

Staff share a consistent and dynamic approach to reducing risks for children. Helping children to understand how to keep themselves safe is at the forefront of staff practice. Staff have positive and trusting relationships with children and, as a result, children regularly engage in direct work with staff around recognising and reducing their individual risks.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are very well managed. Staff always do everything they can to find children and follow their missing-from-home risk assessments and protocols. It is clear that staff know the children very well and understand what triggers to look out for and strategies to use to help reduce further incidents of children missing from the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040733 4 Incidents in the home are well managed and staff use appropriate de-escalation strategies that work for children individually. There have been no incidents resulting in physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff help and support children to understand and learn from conflict or challenging situations. However, the knowledge and strategies that staff use to manage behaviour are not always reflected in children’s written plans and documents. On one occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of a

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

Children are often praised and rewarded for positive behaviour and achievements. Incentives are devised with children’s input in line with their interests and are used creatively to motivate children. Consequences are rarely used. However, when they are used they are often ineffective and are not always fully evaluated by the manager.

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

The manager recruits staff from a variety of backgrounds and is fully involved in the recruitment process. However, she does not always fully explore staff employment history, in particular when staff have worked overseas. This is a shortfall in safer recruitment practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and nurturing manager who ensures that the staff team provide consistent warmth, care and nurture for the children. Children identify the manager as someone they trust and can approach for support or help should they need it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that the manager is approachable, supportive and ever present. Staff say that they feel valued and are given extensive opportunities to learn and progress. Supervision takes place regularly and is reflective, child-focused and practice-led. Staff conduct or any practice issues are appropriately addressed, and guidance or additional support is provided to staff who may need it. Staff appraisals are thorough and used to celebrate staff achievements and the relationships they have built with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regularly held and well attended. Children are discussed in detail and examples of good practice are shared across the staff team. Staff have the opportunity within meetings to reflect on practice and areas for development. External professionals are also welcomed into team meetings to support staff with any concerns for the children or areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from external professionals is overwhelmingly positive and praises the advocacy and support the manager provides to and on behalf of the children. One social worker said, ‘She is not afraid to challenge when needed and makes sure she gets the best possible outcomes for children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has extensive oversight of the home, reviews and evaluates consistently, and ensures that any identified actions for children are completed. She has systems in place that allow for regular review of staff practice and a clear development plan for the home with realistic and aspirational goals for both children and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040733 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)) 5 December 2025

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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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d)) 5 December 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted of all serious incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 4.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s records are kept up to date, relevant and include input from children where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19) Inspection report for children’s home: SC040733 6

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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: SC040733 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 5DA

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Inspector

Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC040733 8 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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