Children's Home run by Sphere Care Solutions in Salford

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 1 Registered provider: Sphere Care Solutions

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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 manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 14 October 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. The child’s transition to the home was well planned and staff are beginning to develop positive relationships with them. The manager has worked hard to address previous shortfalls in practice. As a result, training to expand the staff team’s knowledge base and support them to meet the child’s specific needs has been put in place.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff actively support and encourage the child to engage in education. The manager has worked with the wider professional network to agree a transition plan with the child’s school. As a result, the child is being supported to return to education.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has identified the team’s strengths and weaknesses and areas for development. The manager is supporting staff to understand the importance of clear and consistent recording. Staff have improved the quality of their recording, which has enabled appropriate updates and planned follow up work. However, this improvement is not yet consistent and therefore remains an area for further development.

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Findings from the inspection

Opportunities for the child to share their thoughts, wishes and feelings have improved. Staff record one-to-one conversations and complete focused direct work which supports the child to talk about and explore their feelings with trusted staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of the risks associated with the child and risk assessments and behaviour support plans are detailed and provide clear guidance for times when the child is unsettled. However, on some occasions the actions taken by the manager and staff have not fully reduced identified risks, including instances where the requirements of the child’s legal order regarding their smartphone were not fully followed. In addition, the child uses vapes in the home and this is not challenged appropriately by staff. The manager and deputy manager recognise these gaps and are developing a plan to strengthen practice, taking into account the child’s needs and the potential impact of any changes.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some incidents where the child has gone missing from the home. Staff make efforts to locate the child, working with their family and other professionals. When the child returns, they are warmly welcomed home. Where concerns about risk remain, staff respond well, including through effective communication with other professionals to consider how best to support the child to reduce the risks they face.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environment is clean. The child said they like the way the home looks, although they have shared that they would like fresh air in the home and some Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 3 repairs to their bedroom. In addition, the window restrictions currently in place do not allow the windows to be opened to allow air into the rooms. As a result, there is outstanding maintenance work required.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager continues to develop within her role. There have been some improvements to paperwork and staff practice. However, there remain areas of development, including ensuring that an up-to-date care plan from the placing authority is available to staff. In addition, the homes statement of purpose has not been kept updated or sent to the regulator when amended, meaning the information available is not always accurate or reflective of the home’s current arrangements.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff feel supported. Although there have been several changes within the team, staff speak positively about the future of the home. Some progress has been made in staff development, including access to training workshops. As a result, staff are beginning to make progress in developing their reporting skills and in understanding their responsibilities and expectations. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that factual and accurate recordings of incidents and missing-from-home episodes are completed.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure they comply with the requirements set out in the child’s specific legal order in relation to their mobile phone.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home environment is well cared for, and any damage is repaired as quickly as possible. 6 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— 6 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 6 children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they provide proactive support to help the child reduce and cease their use of vape products.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that care plans and information about children are accessible to staff. 6 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 6 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 7 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review and a copy sent to Ofsted within 28 days. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sphere Care Solutions

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 152a Deansgate, Bolton BL1 1BB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olugbenga Odebunmi

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Inspectors

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Julia Edwards, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2830751 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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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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