Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 1 Registered provider: Family Care Associates Ltd

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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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to 4 children who have physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection, and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Good 20/02/2024 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live at the home for several years and make exceptional progress. They receive care from a core team of committed staff who have a deep understanding of the children and their needs. Care is child-centred and highly individualised. The quality of the relationships between staff and children and the support provided to children significantly enhances children’s experiences and provides a solid foundation from which they thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff foster a culture of high aspirations and encouragement that leads to improvements in children’s health, education, and independence. Staff are sensitive to children’s needs and vulnerabilities and strive to improve children’s quality of life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant progress in their physical health and independence. Some children with limited physical mobility learn to ride a bike, skateboard, and dress themselves independently. Staff ensure that specialist equipment is available for children who need it. One child is now able to safely prepare food using this equipment. These achievements greatly improve children’s confidence and future life opportunities. Additionally, children learn the importance of a healthy lifestyle, return to a healthy weight, try new foods, and enjoy preparing meals or making their own snacks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make substantial and sustained progress with their communication skills. Staff use various communication aids to help children share their views, wishes and feelings. Children learn to understand words for their emotions and tell staff how they are feeling. Some children who were pre-verbal develop their verbal communication skills and can now hold conversations with others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise children’s education and help them understand the benefits of going to school. They also provide learning opportunities for children at home, and show an interest in children’s education, talking to the children about their school day. As a result, children make excellent progress with their education. Children who have missed a lot of time at school, have much improved attendance. Staff communicate seamlessly with school staff to share information daily. These arrangements help to ensure that children receive consistent responses from all adults, and children say that they love attending school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from very well-planned moves into the home, including children who move in quickly. Plans are child centred and reduce any concerns or anxieties children may have. The manager meets children in advance of them moving in and children visit the home. Children are given the opportunity to say how they want their bedroom to be decorated and to spend time with their peers in the home. This helps children to begin to build relationships and become familiar with their environment. The manager carefully considers the needs of the child moving in as well as the needs of the children already living at the home. This considered planning helps children to settle quickly and Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 4 promotes a sense of belonging. One child who has recently moved into the home has expressed that they do not want to leave. Additionally, children experience meticulously planned moves out of the home to adult provisions. This helps them to settle into their

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to enjoy time with their families. Staff recognise the importance of these relationships for children and work with children, their family members, and professionals to ensure that family time arrangements are a positive experience. Parents enjoy coming to the home and spending time with their children. Parents and family members say this helps them to feel involved in children’s care and describe this care as ‘the best’ and ‘amazing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children engage in community activities and develop social skills. Staff support children to volunteer in the community and attend local clubs that they are interested in. These include drama, swimming, games clubs and skateboarding. These experiences help children to develop friendships and have memorable experiences. Photos adorn the walls of children and staff having fun together, trying new experiences and celebrating special occasions. Children contribute to their memory books which capture each child’s journey at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from living in a comfortable, spacious, and well-maintained home. They have a great sense of fun, and their laughter fills the home. They personalise their bedrooms and are central to the decisions made about life in the home.

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

Children develop trusting relationships with staff. Children can identify staff that they know will help and support them. Staff ensure that the environment is safe for children. The ground floor and outside space contribute to helping children make independent choices.

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

Staff provide children with predictable routines and there are appropriate staffing ratios. This helps to ensure that children receive safe and consistent care. Children have individualised plans that are reviewed regularly. Plans have clear guidance and strategies to help staff keep children safe. Children contribute to their plans and tell staff how they want to be helped. This helps children feel safe and protected.

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

Children’s plans include long and short-term goals that help children to develop self-care skills and become more independent. Staff have conversations with children that help children to be safer in the home, for example using kitchen equipment safely. Additionally, children develop their social and independence skills outside of the home. This includes with with children relating to road safety and safe relationships in the community.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted. Staff benefit from regular consultation with a behaviour support practitioner. This support improves staff’s knowledge about how to respond to children’s behaviours and risks. The manager works in partnership with the behaviour Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 5 support practitioner to review incidents and consider more effective strategies to help children. As a result, incidents have reduced and the need for physical intervention to keep children safe is rare.

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

There have been 3 medication errors since the last inspection. The manager has refreshed medication processes and improved recording procedures to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence. None of the errors had a negative effect on children’s health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified manager. She leads by example and has a is visible presence in the home. The manager consults with staff and children about changes that benefit them and has effective monitoring and audit systems that help her to make continuous improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have invested in recruitment and a reliance on non-permanent staff has significantly reduced. Children know which adults are in their home day-to-day and benefit from the predictability and stability these arrangements provide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Practice-related supervisions with staff take place regularly and are well recorded. Supervisions sessions promote continuous learning and development. This extends to non-permanent staff. Team meetings are child focussed with agreed actions, so staff are responsible and accountable. Staff say that they feel well supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works collaboratively with professionals and family members to meet the children’s needs. Family members visit the home regularly which provide opportunities for consultation and feedback about the quality of care their children receive. Professionals describe communication as excellent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits the home on a regular basis to provide external monitoring. However, there is a lack of feedback gained from professionals and family members during their visits. This limits opportunities for gathering impartial feedback that could contribute to changes that would benefit children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose for the home is well written but does not include information about the layout and access to the home for children with physical disabilities. This prevents stakeholders from having relevant information to assess whether the layout of the home is suitable for their child to live. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose accurately reflects how the home can meet a child’s needs. In particular, the statement of purpose should include detail that children with physical disabilities may not be able to access the first floor of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ Page 15, paragraph 3.6)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home to make continuous improvements. In particular, the registered person should support the independent visitor to gain feedback from parents and relatives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards,’ page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2664826 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor Offices, The Unit Berry Way, Euxton, Chorley, England PR7 6RA

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Inspector

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 8 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 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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