Children's Home run by Oldham Children’s Social Care in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 1 Registered provider: Oldham Children’s Social Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home, who both spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 3

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improvement to be good

The home environment is poor. There is damage throughout the home, including in children’s bedrooms, which has not been repaired in a timely manner. This does not create a warm and welcoming environment for children or help them feel settled and safe.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to share their views, wishes and feelings. There are several resources available to help children share their views, and staff respond to them. However, one child said that they do not always feel that all staff listen to them. The manager is aware of this and is taking action to promote consistency in how staff respond to children.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and another has moved in. There are clear plans in place to support children moving in and out. The manager carefully considers the needs of children moving into the home, alongside those of the children already living there, taking into account risk factors and how staff can best support each child to ensure a smooth transition.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to develop hobbies and interests. There are a range of activities available for children, including art and crafts, days out to play parks and activity centres. One child who has an interest in music is being supported to attend weekly sessions at a recording studio.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to attend their educational provision. The manager collaborates well with educational professionals to review plans for children. However, one child is currently not attending school regularly and there is a lack of structure and routine to their day .

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments and plans are tailored to reflect each child’s individual needs and risks. There is detailed guidance and clear steps for staff to follow to enable them to meet children’s needs and manage risk effectively.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from home, staff follow the missing-from-home protocol. Staff are proactive in searching the local area and known addresses to try to locate the children. They work closely with professionals and family. Children are welcomed back into the home on their return, and independent return home interviews take place.

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improvement to be good

Staff have struggled to manage children’s behaviour, and incidents at the home have increased. Staff have struggled to help settle children. Consequently, one child has Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 4 moved out of the home because staff did not have the skills and experience required to meet their needs and manage their risks effectively.

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improvement to be good

The manager takes appropriate action to safeguard children when allegations and complaints are made. The manager refers to the appropriate agencies, including the local authority designated officer and the police. Children are informed about the outcome of complaints and allegations. Only adults deemed safe to care for children are permitted to work at the home.

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

There is currently a high level of staff absence, primarily due to their lack of skills and experience in managing complex and challenging situations, and staff feeling exhausted. This has led to increased reliance on staff from other homes in the organisation working at this home. While these staff members are familiar with the children, the lack of consistency has disrupted the stability for children and staff at the home.

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

An extensive training programme is available for staff, which is well attended. Training is tailored to the specific needs of the children living at the home. Staff say the training is useful to them in their role. External professionals attend some staff meetings to support staff development. The manager is continuing to develop the training offered to staff to increase their skills and knowledge so that they are able to meet the needs of the children in their care effectively.

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

Monthly team meetings take place, and all staff receive regular supervision. Supervision sessions and team meetings have a clear structure, taking into account the staff’s well- being, training and development, and children’s needs. Supervision sessions are reflective, and discussions are open and transparent. When concerns arise about staff’s practice, the manager extends probation periods for new staff and identifies actions to address gaps in practice.

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

The manager and staff have positive relationships with other professionals. They work collaboratively to ensure that children receive the right care and support. The manager challenges professionals’ decision-making about children’s lives when decisions are not in their best interests.

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

Leaders and managers have identified strengths and weaknesses in staff practice and leadership of the home. They have developed an action plan aimed at improving practice and consistency and have started to implement actions to improve the quality of care and leadership provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any damage to the home is repaired promptly. 7 January 2026

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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— 7 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 6 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the staff continue to work together as a team to embed their learning and build their resilience.

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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.

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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

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; help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are consistent routines and structures for children to engage in learning and education. 7 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 7

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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: 2833552 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oldham Children’s Social Care

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, Hobson Street, Oldham OL1 1HD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Whitbread

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Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2833552 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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