Children's Home run by Rochdale Borough Council in Rochdale

Inspection report for children's home: 2852284 1 Registered provider: Rochdale Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home registered with Ofsted in July 2025 and is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 3 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

This is the home's first inspection after registration.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were 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 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: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2852284 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for children to move into the home is robust. Managers complete thorough assessments to understand children's needs and vulnerabilities. Professionals who know children well are involved in this process. Plans are adapted in response to children's needs. Children meet with managers, staff and each other prior to moving in. This supports children to live together safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a comfortable, modern home that has a family feel. Photos of children are displayed throughout the home. A sensory room provides children with a safe space to spend time when they experience difficult feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff work proactively with family members. The importance of children's time with family and friends is recognised. Staff support one child to spend regular, safe time with a friend who lives some distance away. Children are helped to understand their family dynamics sensitively and with care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have complex needs and are supported by staff who know them well. Staff are creative when talking to children about important topics. For example, staff use science experiments to help children understand why hygiene is important. Child-friendly resources help children learn and explore their emotions. Staff recognise when there are opportunities to have meaningful conversations with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health and educational needs are a priority for managers and staff. Children attend routine health appointments and access specialist support when this is necessary. Children attend school regularly and are making good progress. One education professional said that staff support and encourage the child to take part in all aspects of school life. This includes after-school clubs and themed days.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a variety of activities in the community and in the home. This includes swimming, bike rides and trips to a theme park. Children enjoy new experiences and have fun. Photos capture these experiences and provide children with memories of their time living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's records are carefully written in a way that vividly describe the child’s life. The quality of these records helps staff and children to understand their experiences.

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

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding arrangements and their responsibilities to protect children. When concerns arise, staff take effective action to keep children safe. Safeguarding professionals are informed, and there is a multi-agency response to concerns. Inspection report for children's home: 2852284 3 Assessments and plans are detailed and individual to each child. They provide staff with clear direction about how children need to be supported. Risk assessments and support plans are updated regularly and in response to emerging concerns. Staff understand and follow these plans.

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

Incidents at the home are managed well. Staff use therapeutic parenting approaches to de-escalate situations effectively. When one child displayed unsafe behaviour, staff responded appropriately, using low-level physical interventions to ensure safety. Staff talk to children after incidents to help them to explore their feelings. Children are helped to develop imaginative strategies to manage difficult emotions.

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

Children do not go missing from home. However, each child has a robust plan for staff to follow if they do go missing. Staff talk to children about the risks they may face in the wider community. This helps children learn to keep themselves safe as they grow and develop.

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

Staff search children's bedrooms if there are safety concerns. Records clearly evidence the reason for the search, and staff talk to children about why this is necessary.

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

Staff recognise the importance of good routines for children. Visual plans help children understand what will happen each day and who will care for them. Children are rewarded when they do well, and consequences are rarely used. This practice helps children to build confidence and feel safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aspirational about the outcomes for children. She knows the children well and is committed to ensuring that they receive nurturing care. Staff say that they are supported by managers and are proud to be part of a dedicated team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. They are used as a forum to share updates about children and consider staff wellbeing. Staff are encouraged to contribute to team meetings, and their feedback is valued and responded to. This helps to create a strong teamwork ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the home's strengths and areas for development. Managers have strong oversight of the work staff carry out with children. Auditing systems support the manager to identify actions, review the quality of care that children receive and improve staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Probation processes are used effectively and help staff to develop their skills. Staff receive regular supervision from a suitably experienced manager. Staff are supported to reflect on children's needs and their own practice. However, supervision records do not detail actions or timescales for completion. Inspection report for children's home: 2852284 4 New staff receive a thorough induction that includes training and guidance to fulfil their role. Staff access specialist training to help them meet children's complex needs. The in- house psychology team consults with managers and staff and provides guidance about how children need to be supported. As a result, staff feel confident to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A core team of staff provides consistent care to children, which promotes stability. Professionals speak positively about managers and staff. One professional said, 'Staff know the child well. They are nurturing, show emotional warmth and genuinely care. This is the best home for the child.' Inspection report for children's home: 2852284 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of supervision include actions, with timescales for completion. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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: 2852284 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Rochdale Borough Council

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU

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Inspector

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2852284 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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