Children's Home run by Mirador Care Limited in Trafford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 1 Registered provider: Mirador Care Ltd

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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 organisation and provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspectors’ spoke with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 2

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improvement to be good

The overall experiences and progress of the child are compromised by shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home.

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improvement to be good

The child does not fully engage in education. However, the manager and staff are persistent in their attempts to engage the child in education. However, there is a lack of structure to the day when the child is not in school. This means that there are missed opportunities for the child to develop and achieve.

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improvement to be good

The child is in good health and staff actively encourage and support the child to attend health appointments. However, medical advice has not been sought in a timely manner for all significant medical concerns. Staf talk to the child about using electronic vapes. However, this is not effective as the continues to use electronic cigarettes in the home. This does not help to promote the child’s health and well-being.

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improvement to be good

The home is nicely decorated. There are photos of the child around the home, and the child has personalised their bedroom. This supports the child to have a sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

The child is held in high regard by the manager and staff. Staff know the child well. The child is building good relationships with staff.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys a range of activities and different experiences. These include, go- karting, take aways, online gaming and spending time with friends. The child has proudly displayed their go-karting helmets in the lounge.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to see their family and people who are close to them. The staff maintain regular communication with parents and keep them updated about the child’s progress. This helps the child to maintain their identity and continue to see people who are important to them. One family member said, ‘Staff are welcoming, accessible and accommodating.’

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding processes are not always followed correctly. On one occasion, a significant safeguarding incident was not escalated appropriately. This is a significant shortfall that compromises the safety and welfare of the child.

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improvement to be good

The child’s risk assessment provides relevant information and outlines the steps staff should take in response to the child’s behaviour. However, some information included in the risk assessment is not up to date. This does not ensure that staff have access to the Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 3 most up-to-date information, guidance and strategies needed to support the child effectively.

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improvement to be good

The use of natural consequences supports the child to restore and rebuild relationships in the home and have a sense of ownership. However, on one occasion the child was not informed of a consequence in a timely manner and the effectiveness of the consequence was not recorded. This demonstrates that there are missed opportunities to understand and act on any lessons learned.

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improvement to be good

There have been no missing-from-home incidents. The child has left the home without permission on occasions; however, staff have responded appropriately. The staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedures.

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improvement to be good

Physical interventions have never been used. Staff are encouraged to use all available distraction or de-escalation techniques to prevent the need for physical intervention.

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improvement to be good

There is good multi-agency working. One professional said, ‘Staff send regular updates to all involved around any concerns; this allows all professionals to work together.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has high aspirations for the child in his care. However, the management oversight of significant incident records is not consistent and lacks effective evaluation, resulting in limited learning from incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager’s internal monitoring systems are not effective in identifying and responding to the weaknesses at the home. For example, the manager did not identify shortfalls in staff practice and recordings. This demonstrates poor management oversight and impacts on the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have not received training specific to the child’s individual needs. This includes a gap in training to enable staff to support the child around substance misuse and firearms. However, staff have received training in safeguarding, knife crime, self-harm, internet safety, and missing-from-home incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are supported through regular reflective supervision. Team meetings are held regularly and are an opportunity for staff to discuss the child’s needs, share good practices and address any challenges.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff speak highly of the registered manager and the support he provides to his team. One staff member said, ‘I want to highlight the exceptional leadership and the strong culture of learning the manager has adopted into our home.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 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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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to

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

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that systems are in place for concerns to be escalated appropriately.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s risk management plans are up to date, allowing staff to access all relevant information to reduce risk to children. 19 December 2025

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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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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to-

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ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child; 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 5 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on-

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research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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The registered person must ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place so that leaders and managers have effective oversight of staff practice and the impact on children’s safety and experiences.

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The registered person must ensure that following significant incidents, there is reflection and evaluation to promote learning from practice.

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The registered person must ensure that staff receive training which is specific to children’s individual needs and experiences.

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The health and well-being standard is that—

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the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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children receive advice, services, and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 6 well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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The registered person must ensure that medical advice is sought in a timely manner to support the health needs of the child.

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The registered person must ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being, in particular around the use of vapes and substances.

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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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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time, and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 7 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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has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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The registered person must ensure that there is a detailed record of any consequences and that this record also includes the effectiveness of the consequence.

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The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure-

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

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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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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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promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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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

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 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 8 exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible.

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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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(viii)(x)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff help children to engage in education as part of a daily structured routine and in accordance with children’s relevant plans.

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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: 2837555 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bartle House, 9 Oxford Court, Manchester, Lancashire M2 3WQ

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Inspectors

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Karen Andrews, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2837555 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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