Children's home run by Sphere Care Solutions

Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 1 Registered provider: Sphere Care Solutions

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Full inspection 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 company. It is registered to care for one child who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living here at the time of inspection. Two children have lived here since the home was registered in June 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in place. The previous registered manager of the home left the company in September 2025. A new manager is in place and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 2

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inadequate

Significant shortfalls in the safeguarding practice and leadership and management of the home have led to poor outcomes for children who have lived in the home.

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inadequate

The home has not been maintained to provide children with a nurturing or welcoming home environment. Action was not taken to repair damage to one child’s bedroom or redecorate to remove stains on the ceiling which remained evident from the last child living there. Additionally, there is damage in the bathroom that has not been repaired. This does not provide children with an environment that makes them feel valued.

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inadequate

Children who have lived in this home have not been provided with opportunities to be enrolled in education. Action was not taken to provide alternative provisions when they did not attend school, and no attempts have been made to support children to engage in informal educational activities. This does not enable children to achieve their full educational potential. The interim manager had challenged one child’s local authority to request updated educational plans for the child.

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inadequate

Staff and managers have not provided children with sufficient activities outside of the home. One child who lived here for two months was only taken out on three occasions. This does not enable children to explore their interests, develop their skills, or build their self-esteem.

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inadequate

Staff do not support children to develop independent living skills that they need in preparation for adulthood. While staff have done a lot of work to help children learn about cooking and cleaning, there has been no focussed work to ensure that children are ready to live independently. This meant that one child who moved out as a young adult had not had any support to learn about key skills, including: employment skills, managing budgets, or navigating relationships.

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inadequate

Staff and managers do not demonstrate that children are valued. When one child was detained suddenly, staff made no efforts to reach out to them. No attempts were made to contact the child or make contact with the placement in which the child was to check on their welfare. This does not help children to feel that people care about them.

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

Shortfalls in safeguarding practice means that children have not been effectively safeguarded. Staff do not have the skills the support children’s complex risks and vulnerabilities. Staff did not provide support to one child who was at significant risk Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 3 of exploitation. Support was not provided to the child to help them understand the risks posed to them or how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff are not confident in managing children’s behaviour. When faced with challenging behaviour, staff have on occasions retreated to another room or ignored indicators of the child going missing from the home to prevent ‘antagonising’ the child. This does not provide children with the security that the adults who care for them can support them through big emotions.

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

Incidents of children being physically held are rare. However, when incidents have occurred the quality of these records are poor. Some records were left blank, and others did not provide any information about the intervention used. One child who had lived in the home was not held at all; however, police were called on four separate occasions to manage the behaviour of the child. This is placing children at risk of criminalisation for behaviour that staff should be able to manage. The regulator has not been consistently informed of the use of police to manage the child’s behaviour.

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

When a child raised concerns about the behaviour of staff, some action was taken to respond. However, on one occasion, the concerns were not shared with the designated person for safeguarding, and the child was not given an outcome of the complaint. On another occasion, concerns were shared with the appropriate professionals. However, records of the incident that the allegation stemmed from, were insufficient, and were completed a full month after the incident had occurred.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff share information with police quickly to enable the child to be found. However, on one occasion there was an unnecessary delay in reporting the child as being missing. Action is not always taken to locate children when they are missing from home. Staff did not undertake sufficient action to locate one child who was missing for a prolonged period despite the significant risks posed to the child. The manager did not identify these shortfalls in staff practice when reviewing the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is currently no registered manager in the home. An interim manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted. Some of the shortfalls identified during inspection have been identified by the interim manager, but there has not been sufficient action taken to address these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The interim manager is currently overseeing this registered home and an additional home within the organisation that is awaiting registration. As a result, the manager has not been present in this home on a regular basis and has not afforded the level oversight that is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Records demonstrate that the manager reviews safeguarding incidents. However, her evaluation of incidents has frequently focussed on the child’s behaviour rather than Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 4 staff practice. This means that shortfalls in practice are not always identified and limits opportunities for staff to learn and reflect on how they support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive consistent supervision from the manager. This means that they have not had sufficient opportunity to discuss their practice or share ideas on how to care for children. Similarly, staff have not had any reviews of their performance since starting in their roles. This does not allow for the manager or staff to identify their strengths and areas of development that are needed. Staff do benefit from regular team meetings and training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When staff have been recruited, leaders and managers have not consistently followed safer recruitment practices. This does not ensure that all staff working in the home are safe to work with vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Records in the home are inconsistent. Some records are thorough and detailed, while some are of poor quality or missing entirely. The home also lacks records that are required by regulation which detail children’s moves in and out of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff complete regular, meaningful direct work with children to help them understand their risks and develop strategies to reduce these.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the appropriate training, skills and experience to manage all risks and meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff take action to report children missing in line with their plans, that action is taken to search for children when 01 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 6 they are missing from home and ensure that strategies are in place to prevent children from going missing from home.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all incidents are recorded to include all relevant information and the actions taken by staff.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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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ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account

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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; 01 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that arrangements are in place to ensure that there is a manager in place to oversee the home at all times.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that systems are in place to oversee the quality of care in the home and that action is taken to address any shortfalls in staff practice.

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Ensure that staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s Statement of Purpose.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff receive regular reviews of their performance to identify strengths, areas of improvement, and development needed.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; 01 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 8 within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all records for behaviour management have all required documentation. The manager’s evaluation must consider staff practice and whether the situation was managed appropriately.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that details of any complaints to the home are fully recorded and include action taken and outcomes of the complaint. 01 March 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

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; 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. 01 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 9 (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all allegations, police involvement and/or serious incidents are reported to the regulator. 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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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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help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children not attending education have a regular routine and education timetable, and are consistently supported to complete educational activities while not in school. 01 March 2026

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

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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 staff— 01 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 10 help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vi)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children who have a plan for semi-independent living are fully supported in developing their independent living skills.

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are provided with opportunities to take part in planned activities outside of the home. Also ensure that children are supported to explore their individual hobbies and interests. 01 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and 01 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 11 positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child feels valued by staff.

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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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that photographic identification is in-date and valid, and that all gaps in employment are fully explored. Additionally, when necessary, that an overseas certificate of criminal history is provided prior to employment. 01 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s files are kept up to date and all key documents are available. Documents and forms recorded by the home must be fully 01 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 12 completed at the relevant time and must include staff signatures.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the dates of children’s admission and discharge from the home are clearly recorded. 01 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home maintains a clean and well- kept environment which supports children’s physical, mental and emotional health. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 33 paragraph 7.3)

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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: 2817946 13

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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

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2817946 14 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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