Children's Home run by Golden Future Care Limited in Bolton

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 1 Assurance inspection

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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 run and operated by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. Both children spoke with the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is currently vacant. However, a new manager has been recently appointed. There is currently no responsible individual in post.

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Information about this children’s home

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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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: 2823275 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

The children living in the home have positive relationships with staff who know their needs and vulnerabilities well. The home is a safe and welcoming environment. Thought has been given in how to use the spaces in the best way for children. Children are able to personalise their bedrooms.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making progress in education and their health needs, including emotional well-being, are attended to. However, there have been some difficulties in maintaining harmonious relationships between the children. This has resulted in instability for one child who has moved between a number of properties for a few weeks. Positively, during this time the child was able to keep their staff team that they know well. However, the placing authority has not been kept fully up to date with all actions that the provider has taken.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have been kept safe and incidents have been generally well-managed by staff. When children display unsafe behaviours, staff intervene quickly. Physical intervention is rare and is used as a last resort. When this has been used, it has been proportionate and necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. The correct processes are followed when there are allegations against staff. Information is shared with safeguarding partners and the regulator to ensure transparency in decision-making. However, safe recruitment checks have not been carried out for all members of staff. The provider has taken some steps to remedy the shortfalls but a full review of staff files is yet to be completed.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been a number of changes in management and the staff team. Despite this, staff state that they feel supported and staff morale appears to be high. A new manager and deputy manager have been appointed who are both experienced in residential care. They have a clear plan for the improvements that they wish to make and have started to embed some of these. However, not all staff have had recent good quality supervision sessions that support them to reflect on their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Recording in the home is of a good standard. There are some systems in place to monitor the quality of care afforded to children. However, the statement of purpose still does not detail the experience and qualifications of the staff team. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 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 within the given timescales.

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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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the 14 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 5 matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(d) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d) (8))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff have an enhanced DBS certificate before working in the home. Where overseas checks are required, these must be completed.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, leaders and managers must ensure that a full employment history is obtained for all staff. Any gaps in employment must be fully explored and analysed.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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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)(b)(ii)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children are provided with stability. 13 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 6 Additionally, leaders and managers must ensure that they work in accordance with the placing authority plans. Any challenges to plans must be made in an appropriate manner.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the home’s statement of purpose reflecting staff’s qualifications, skills and relevant experience in caring for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that supervision sessions take place in line with the organisation’s supervision policy and focus on the needs and progress of children. Discussions that have taken place must be evidenced in supervision records.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 7

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Inspectors

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Sonja Vega, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2823275 8 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

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