Children's Home run by Voices Homes Ltd in Oldham

Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 1 Registered provider: Voices Homes 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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025. He also manages another home in the organisation.

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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: 2836276 2

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improvement to be good

This area has been judged as requires improvement to be good due to the variable response to children who need help and protection, and due to some areas in leadership and management that need improvement. Children’s experiences of living at the home are varied. One child who has since moved out, did not make any progress due to their time spent out of the home. Another child currently living at the home, is making significant progress. Professionals spoken to, praised the staff in the home and provided examples of the positive difference the staff have made for this child as a result of the positive relationships they have developed.

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improvement to be good

When children move into the home, this is not always sufficiently well planned to ensure that staff are able to meet children’s needs. One child moved in on an emergency basis and poor planning meant that staff could not meet the child's complex needs. The manager recognised this after the child had moved in and worked with children’s services to identify a suitable home where the child’s needs could be met. The manager and staff have now improved the assessment and planning process, which includes an induction to provide children with information about the home before they move in. This has meant that children have more positive experiences.

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improvement to be good

Both children who have lived at the home have had legal restrictions in place to support their safety. Staff have worked hard to ensure that children’s voices are heard with regard to this process.

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improvement to be good

Staff use creative solutions to overcome barriers that might impact children’s participation in activities. As a result, children have opportunities to access group activities, such as kickboxing, visiting theme parks, going to restaurants and visiting museums.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand how important it is for children to spend time with the people who matter to them. The manager collaborates with children’s services and parents to ensure that contact is handled sensitively and more opportunities for family time are explored.

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improvement to be good

During the inspection, the child spoke positively about their time spent with staff. They appreciate the care and nurturing support from staff and the positive relationships they have formed with them. Staff capture the child’s voice through informal conversations and monthly formal meetings. Children have opportunities to personalise their bedrooms and share their ideas for its decoration.

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improvement to be good

Children access education with a clear plan to support their education needs. A plan is in place for the child living at the home to return to mainstream education. In the interim, the child is receiving tutoring to prepare for their GCSE exams. The child aspires to work in social care. They are looking into post-16 education options to explore this. Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 3 Children’s cultural needs are understood. This child is being supported to explore their faith. A plan is in place to support them to attend a place of worship.

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improvement to be good

Children’s physical and emotional health needs are met. Children help to cook with staff and enjoy nutritious meals. They are also encouraged to develop their independence skills. This includes maintaining clean bedrooms, using the washing machine and budgeting for shopping.

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improvement to be good

Systems for reviewing and evaluating incidents are inconsistent. As a result, management oversight is not always sufficient to ensure that the regulator is notified of serious incidents involving children in a regular or timely manner. The registered person has now implemented a new procedure and case management system to address this issue.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from care, staff work closely with partner agencies to ensure their safety. They follow detailed plans that have been created in partnership with the police and local authority. However, return home interviews are not always completed, leading to missed opportunities to understand the reasons behind children going missing.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage positive behaviour and use de-escalation techniques effectively. Children are rewarded for their achievements. Physical intervention is only used when necessary to keep children safe. When this does occur, the manager reviews the incident with the child and staff member to identify ways to prevent future incidents. Restorative approaches are used after crisis to help children find meaningful solutions and maintain relationships. When room searches occur, they are justified and agreed with the child.

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improvement to be good

Direct work is completed with children in line with their care plans. This includes topics such as safe relationships, sexual health and exploitation. These sessions help children to understand the risks they face in the community. Staff evidence children’s progress within their risk assessments to ensure that any restrictions remain proportionate and are fair.

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

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. They demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for children. They have made changes to the staffing structure and appointed a new deputy manager. This has helped to improve the consistency of staff supervision after a period of drift.

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

Pre-employment checks for new staff are not sufficiently robust. References are not always verified, and periods of time spent overseas by one member of staff have not Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 4 been fully explored. The manager recognises the need for stronger recruitment oversight, and systems are currently being reviewed to improve this process.

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

The staff team brings a range of skills and experience and is balanced in terms of gender. Professionals spoke candidly about the strong communication skills of staff and praised their professional approach.

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

All staff have access to a variety of training opportunities. Both children cared for by the staff have been subject to deprivation of liberty orders, yet only a small number of staff have completed training to fully understand the implications of these restrictions. Training has now been scheduled to overcome this gap. Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 5

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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 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children receive return home interviews following periods of being missing from home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that incidents are sufficiently evaluated by a manager. 19 February 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— 19 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 6 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is sufficient oversight of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home.

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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, 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. 19 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 7 (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should try, as far as possible, to verify references and to determine why the employment ended, especially if the person has worked with children or vulnerable adults. The registered manager must also be able to access employee records so that during an inspection, these records can be seen. 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. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive regular supervision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive training that is specific to the needs of the children living at the home. 19 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 19 February 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 8

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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: 2836276 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Voices Homes Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Suite 212 Oakland House, 21 Hope Carr Road, Leigh, Wigan WN7 3ET

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Inspector

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2836276 10 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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