Children's Home run by CHILD VS CARE Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 1 Registered provider: CHILD VS CARE 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 up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to both children about their experiences of living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

At a full inspection on 8 April 2026, the home was judged as inadequate. Compliance notices relating to Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’, and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’, were issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken to meet the steps required within the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the same two children remain living at the home. The children and professionals raised no concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Not all risk management plans have been updated. Risk management plans that have been updated do not include all known risks for the children or clear strategies for the staff to follow. One child’s risk assessment did not include clear guidance on how long the child can spend out of the home, and the staff were also unclear. This was addressed during the inspection after further clarification was received from the child’s social worker.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not always take appropriate or consistent action when children are missing from the home. Staff are unclear on timescales for reporting children as missing to external agencies. This has led to delays in action being taken. Furthermore, staff Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 2 have not always looked for the child when missing and have been reliant on emergency services to locate and return the child home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have contacted health services when there has been concerns for a child’s emotional wellbeing. Action was taken to safeguard the child from further risks.

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This monitoring visit

Direct work has been undertaken with the children on knife crime and risks associated with being missing from home. However, no additional direct work has been undertaken on fire safety.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are not vigilant in managing risks of substance use in the home. One child’s bedroom smelt of cannabis. Incident records did not demonstrate how staff manage incidents of substance use. Furthermore, staff do not demonstrate that they are professionally curious regarding new or emerging risks for the child. Concerns were identified that one child had access to a second mobile phone. However, this was not explored with the child and leaders and managers were not aware of the concerns. These shortfalls do not ensure that children are effectively safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no new allegations or complaints since the last inspection. Staff have a good understanding of the whistleblowing process, and the updated policy has been shared with the staff.

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This monitoring visit

There have been changes in the management structure as the registered manager is not currently in work and is due to leave their employment. A new manager has now commenced their employment. The interim responsible individual continues to support the staff and the children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not followed up the outcome of an external professional referral for support for a child. This does not ensure that children have access to support when required or that staff receive additional guidance on how to meet children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received additional training on topics including radicalisation and ligature. There is training that is still required to equip staff with additional knowledge and understanding. However, plans are in place to address this.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers do not have effective internal monitoring systems in place. They are unable to access all parts of the recording system due to technical issues. This limits opportunities to evaluate the care provided to children and opportunities for reflection and learning.

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This monitoring visit

Not all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted, as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of safeguarding practice.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 3 Following the visit, a case review was held on 11 May 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 Regulation 12 and 13. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2026 Full Inadequate 14/10/2025 Full Good 12/08/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 5

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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

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

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

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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

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff understand what action they are expected to take to reduce known risks and ensure staff take action to always safeguard children. 19 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 6 Additionally, the registered person must ensure children are educated on risks and any referrals made to external professional services have an outcome.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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’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; and

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Requirement Due date

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)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure there are effective monitoring systems in place to monitor the quality of care and that all incidents are reviewed.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff continue to undertake training to improve their skills and knowledge. This also includes professional curiosity. 19 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 19 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 7 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to have all their health needs met.

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Requirement Due date

This was not fully reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated. 19 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 19 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 8 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the 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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the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work;

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the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that safe recruitment practices are followed in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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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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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 19 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 9 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure, 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;

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii) (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, debriefs must be undertaken with the child and staff. The manager must evaluate each physical intervention.

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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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

There is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 19 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 10 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 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure the statement of purpose is factually correct in relation to staff training and include the use of agency staff.

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

and 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))

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated. 3 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 11

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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: 2833368 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CHILD VS CARE Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 68 Daisy Bank Road, Manchester M14 5QP

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2833368 13 regulates 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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