Children's Home run by Alpine4care Services Ltd in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 1 Registered provider: Alpine4care 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in May 2025 and does not currently have a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home opened, one child has moved in. Two managers have left, and at the time of this inspection, there was no registered manager in post. The responsible individual is currently overseeing the management of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed effective relationships with the child and show care and understanding of their individual needs. The child’s personal development is actively promoted by supporting and celebrating their individual hobbies, interests and talents, such as roller skating and fishing. This helps to develop positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise that supporting the child’s return to education is a priority. After a period out of education, the responsible individual is working closely with the school to develop and implement a transition plan tailored to the child’s needs. Staff support the child to take part in informal learning opportunities, which is helping to build their confidence and strengthen their relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views are gathered in various ways, including children’s meetings and one-to- one consultations with staff. These consultations have included reflective and informative discussions about current topics in the media. As a result, the child feels listened to and their views valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support the child’s health needs by ensuring that they attend routine health appointments. Staff explore the potential barriers to the child attending the dentist and support them to understand the benefits of maintaining good dental health. This ensures that the child is fully supported to access appropriate health services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s social and emotional needs. They approach sensitive subjects carefully and at the pace of the child. The child’s social worker has noted that staff have helped the child to understand the reasons for their move into the home and the roles of professionals involved in their life. This has improved the child’s understanding and contributed to repairing strained relationships.

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

The child rarely goes missing from home. When they do, staff act quickly and appropriately to safeguard them. They make active efforts to locate the child and follow agreed protocols by informing the police, social care and other relevant professionals. When the child returns, they receive a warm, welcome home, and staff take time to explore their feelings and experiences with them.

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

Staff complete comprehensive reports following incidents. The child is spoken with to gain their views, and key-work sessions are linked to emerging risks and the child’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 3 individual needs. As a result, the frequency of incidents has decreased, indicating that the child feels more settled, safe and secure.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. However, there have been some delays in reporting allegations to the local authority designated officer. This impacts on professionals’ ability to monitor the home effectively and ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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

Staff use a range of de-escalation and support strategies to prevent the need for physical intervention. When physical intervention is used, records reflect that this is proportionate and necessary to keep the child safe. This includes details of the holds used and further clarity is provided when required. This helps to ensure that the child is safeguarded during times of crisis. However, not all staff have been trained in approved physical intervention techniques.

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

The child’s and local professionals’ views about the location of the home and local area have not been captured in the review of premises report. This is particularly important as the child is new to the local area.

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

Since registration, there have been changes to the management arrangements. The registered manager and an interim manager left after a short period of time. Senior managers took steps to ensure that this had minimal impact on the child. The home is currently being managed by the experienced responsible individual.

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

Staff know the child well and build trusting relationships with them. The child is consistently at the centre of staff practice. Staff listen to the child and take account of their wishes and feelings, ensuring that these shape their day-to-day experiences. Staff have not been provided with training to meet the specific needs of the child. This impacts the development of the knowledge and skills needed for staff to provide individualised care to the child.

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

The responsible individual and staff have developed positive relationships with the child’s social worker and their new school staff. This ensures that the child is at the centre of the wider support network. The child’s social worker is positive about the progress the child has made and the relationships they have built with staff.

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

Staff say that supervision is valuable and reflective, and they feel listened to and able to raise concerns. However, supervision and appraisals are not consistently carried out in the timescales set out in the home’s statement of purpose. This means that staff do not have regular opportunities to reflect, develop and progress.

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

Care plans and risk assessments are detailed and child focused. However, statutory documents are not received in a timely manner. As a result, staff do not have access to the most up-to-date information for the child, which has the potential to impact on the consistency of care and support provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that they consult with relevant persons and include their views when reviewing the location of the premises.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that staff are provided with training, to support the child's specific needs. 12 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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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 each child's relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1) (2)(c)) 12 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 5 In particular, the provider must ensure that there is an up to date care plan in place from the placing authority.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive regular supervision and an appraisal in line with the statement of purpose. 12 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children's home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that they consult with relevant persons and include their views when reviewing the location of the premises. 12 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all their staff have been adequately trained in the principles of restraint and any restraint techniques appropriate to the needs of the children the home is set up to care for as defined in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations’, page 49, paragraph 9.57)  The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager within the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 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: 2820362 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Alpine4care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office Suite 4, Rumer Hill Business Estate, Rumer Hill Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0ET

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Inspectors

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Julia Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2820362 8 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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