Children's Home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for 2 children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Serious concerns were identified at an assurance inspection on 29 October 2025. Compliance notices were issued in respect of regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, under section 22A of the care standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

On 16 December 2025, a monitoring visit took place to monitor the compliance notices. It was decided that the provider had not taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. Further compliance notices were issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review if leaders and managers have taken sufficient action to meet the steps required within the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one child has remained living in the home. The child is provided with opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. The child said that they were happy with the support they receive but they would like to move out of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans have been updated. However, risk management plans do not include all known risks for the child or clear strategies for staff to follow. One Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 2 new member of staff was not aware of all known risks or the role of the local authority designated officer.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a concern relating to the child consuming multi-vitamins, which had not been stored correctly. The manager ensured that health advice was sought, and there was no impact on the child. However, this was not reflected on in the child's risk assessment.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a further concern for a child barricading their bedroom door. This resulted in the police being called. The manager has reflected on the incident with the team and shared additional guidance with the staff.

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This monitoring visit

When allegations have been made, the manager has shared concerns with local safeguarding professionals. Incidents have been notified to Ofsted required by regulation.

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This monitoring visit

Direct work has been undertaken with the child about fire safety, keeping safe online, knife crime and their emotional wellbeing. The child's records are written in a child-friendly way.

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This monitoring visit

The child is only held when it is necessary to keep them or others safe. A court- directed order is now in place. De-briefs have been undertaken with the child and the staff involved. Management oversight of these incidents is professionally curious and reflective.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed further training on the home's therapeutic model, ligature risks and online safety. However, staff have not received training specifically on court- imposed restrictions for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have attended a team meeting. This provided staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and share their skills and knowledge. This improves consistency in staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have internal and external monitoring systems in place, and changes are being embedded. The manager's oversight of incidents has improved but there are shortfalls in the child's records.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements raised at the last full inspection have not been considered during this visit. They remain in place and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 16 February 2026. It was deemed that sufficient action has not been taken to meet the compliance notices. The decision was made to issue additional requirements under regulations 12, 13 and 36. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2025 Full Good 25/06/2024 Full Good 02/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 4

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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 with 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;

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Requirement Due date

and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

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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; and that 17 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 5 the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments include children's known risks and that staff understand each child's individual needs and risks.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff understand what action they are expected to take to reduce known risks.

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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;

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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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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 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 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 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous 17 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 6 improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, training and skills to meet the needs of each child in their care.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that systems are embedded to monitor the care provided to children.

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 17 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b)) 17 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 7 The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 32 (1)(b)(c)) 17 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that should detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home's internal whistleblowing procedures. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.09)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff complete records in a way that is helpful to children and write them in a non-stigmatising way. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1263425 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Social Care Services Group, 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Annabella Foulkes

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1263425 9 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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