Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066072 1 SC066072 Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this visit. Two children spoke with the inspector about their experiences of living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place following an increase in safeguarding notifications from the provider relating to children’s behaviour. In addition, Ofsted received two complaints from children.

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This monitoring visit

The home has experienced some challenges, and the managers and staff have reflected on these. As a result, improvements have been made and are beginning to be embedded in practice. Lessons learned from challenging incidents have informed the guidance provided to staff, strengthening the care provided.

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This monitoring visit

The management response to allegations made by children against staff is generally effective. Leaders act promptly to involve relevant agencies and follow child protection procedures appropriately. However, children are not always made aware of the outcome of allegation investigations. This lack of communication does not promote children’s safety and welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Children have comprehensive individual risk assessments that are regularly reviewed and updated. These assessments provide staff with clear guidance on identified risks and the actions required to manage them effectively. Recording processes are robust and evidence the action taken and the follow-up work completed to help children learn to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066072 2 Children are only held when it is necessary to keep them and others safe. The manager maintains oversight of all incidents and debriefs take place with children and the staff involved. This process enables the manager to review the circumstances and evaluate staff responses. Physical intervention is only ever used as a last resort to protect children from harm, accident or injury and is proportionate to the child’s behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

When children go missing from the home, staff ensure that records reflect a rigorous and timely response. Staff are diligent in their efforts to locate children by searching locally and contacting family and friends. They liaise with the police and other relevant agencies to share information and promote the child’s safe return. Children are offered the opportunity to discuss any issues with an independent person. This gives them the opportunity to discuss the reasons for going missing, allowing staff to take action to reduce the risk of this happening again in the future.

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This monitoring visit

The manager makes good use of learning from serious incidents when children have displayed aggressive or challenging behaviours, to ensure that support strategies are adjusted accordingly. All relevant documentation is well organised, providing a clear account of the incident and the action taken by staff to keep children safe. This reflective approach has contributed to an overall reduction in incidents at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff carry out key-work sessions with children to help them understand more about their emotions and behaviours and the challenges they face. These sessions support children to learn how to keep themselves safe and recognise how their behaviour can impact on themselves and others.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have all completed training relevant to the needs of the children and this training is kept up to date. In addition, staff have completed specialised training to support children with their specific presenting needs. This ensures that staff continue to develop their practice and are equipped to meet the individual needs of the children in their care.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendations raised at the last inspection are restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Good 21/05/2024 Full Good 27/06/2023 Full Good 24/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066072 3

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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 registered provider must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(b) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that leaders and managers ensure that clear records are kept about any investigation into an allegation and that children are informed of the outcome of any investigation into an allegation they have made. 18 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff receive regular supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that incidents are evaluated with scrutiny, taking into consideration any possible learning outcomes that can be implemented in children’s risk management plans, or to support the development of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066072 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Meadows Care Ltd, Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC066072 5 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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