Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Bolton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC057718 1 SC057718

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2004 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have physical and/or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home specialises in providing care for children with autism and additional complex needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

p.1

Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: SC057718 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff are knowledgeable and understand the children’s risks.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Consultation with children has improved. Staff are making effective use of additional communication resources to ask children how they are feeling and what activities they wish to do.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans are regularly updated and managed effectively. Since the last inspection, the manager has worked closely with the provider’s positive behaviour support lead. They have carried out observations of staff practice. Additionally, the practitioner has visited the home to deliver training and discuss ways to enhance the children’s behaviour plans, as well as how to record debriefs for children following all interventions. One professional stated the team has experienced increased positivity and morale.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home is spacious and homely. Recently, staff have updated the lounge, and children are making good use of the communal areas in the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised according to their preferences. However, one child’s bedroom would benefit from being painted, as some of the walls are marked and appear worn. A recommendation has been raised to address this issue.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home has a suitably qualified and experienced manager. Staff say they work well together as a team and that management is supportive. Since the last inspection, the manager has introduced a new tracking sheet, which is enabling her to track documents and demonstrate where she has escalated the requests for these records.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager finds the external monitoring useful, and the independent person fully captures the whole visit. However, further work is required on aspects of the internal monitoring, as the review of the quality of care report does not include the views of children’s parents or carers and staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have received a range of training on topics such as pica, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy and physical intervention. This ensures that all staff have the knowledge and skills to support each child. Additionally, the manager has delivered a development day to senior staff. This focused on incident recording and reporting and training on the inspection framework. Plans are in place for this training to be disseminated to other staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have responded effectively to the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. These are met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC057718 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2024 Full Good 01/08/2023 Full Good 09/06/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC057718 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.4

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; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 1 May 2026

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is homely and meets children’s needs. This specifically relates to addressing the marked and worn walls in a child’s bedroom. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC057718 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider : The Together Trust

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address : The Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE

p.5

Inspector

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC057718 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6