Children's Home run by Pennine Social Care Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 1 Registered provider: Pennine Social Care Limited

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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 owned by a private company and provides care for one child who may have learning disabilities and/or experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025. The management arrangements are in the process of changing, with an acting manager overseeing the day-to-day running of the home. The acting manager is currently in the process of applying to become registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 3

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Summary of findings

The child is making steady progress due to consistent and caring relationships with staff. Staff understand the child’s needs and support the child’s communication, independence and wellbeing. Safeguarding practice is effective, with staff responding proactively to risks and maintaining a calm and nurturing environment. However, written risk assessments require further development to better guide practice. Leadership is strong, with a committed acting manager driving improvements and receiving positive feedback from professionals. Further development is needed to ensure staff supervision sessions focuses more on the child as an individual and that planning for adulthood starts earlier.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made notable progress in the home from their starting point. They benefit from long-standing, positive relationships with a consistent staff team who know the child well. Staff show genuine care and commitment, and they work hard to provide nurturing, individualised support that promotes the child’s development and wellbeing. This strong foundation has helped the child to feel settled and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s communication has improved steadily. The introduction of a symbol exchange system has supported this development, and it is readily available to use. Although the child is still developing confidence in initiating this system, staff use it skilfully and encourage it to be used in everyday situations. Alongside this, staff effectively interpret the child’s body language and verbal expressions and cues, ensuring the child can make choices and express their views consistently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Health needs are prioritised effectively in the home. Most appointments are up to date, and when gaps are identified, timely referrals are made to relevant professionals. Staff work collaboratively with external services to ensure the child receives appropriate care and support. This coordinated approach helps to promote the child’s overall health and the child’s understanding of their own needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All required documentation for the child is now in place and provides a clear framework for their care. These records are used to inform day-to-day care and ensure staff practice is consistent across the team. The home’s care plan offers a comprehensive overview of the child’s history, current needs and future aspirations. This supports staff to deliver informed and thoughtful care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a strong partnership between the home and the child’s school. Communication between both settings is effective and ensures that information is shared regularly about progress, concerns and achievements. Joint approaches to learning, such as developing independence, road safety awareness and communication tools, create consistency for the child. As a result, school staff report positive improvements since this joined-up approach has been established. Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 4 Family time is actively encouraged and well supported by staff. The child is enabled to maintain important relationships, which contributes positively to their emotional wellbeing. Feedback from family members is very positive, highlighting satisfaction with the care provided. Family members describe staff as kind, supportive and attentive, and report that communication from the home is strong and reassuring.

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

Incidents in the home are rare, reflecting the positive and trusting relationships between the child and staff. Staff know the child very well and are attentive to changes in the child’s body language and presentation. Staff are attuned to subtle cues, allowing them to respond at an early stage. Staff provide a calm and respectful approach, giving the child time and space when needed, which helps to reduce anxiety and maintain a safe environment.

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

Behaviour support plans are clear, accessible and guide staff effectively in responding to the child’s needs. These plans outline simple and practical steps, ensuring that staff can offer consistent support during times of emotional difficulty. While the staff team is experienced, the plans are also suitable for new staff, providing clear guidance on how to respond appropriately.

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

The child is supported to develop an increasing awareness of personal safety in the community. Staff work closely with education providers to ensure a consistent approach to learning, particularly around road safety. Through careful guidance and ongoing practice, the child is gaining confidence and understanding, and feedback from school highlights positive progress in this area.

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

Medication is managed safely and in line with established procedures. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of their responsibilities and carry out administration duties carefully. There have been no recorded medication errors. Plans to introduce competency assessments show a commitment to further strengthening staff knowledge and maintaining high standards.

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

There has been only one low-level incident since the last inspection, which shows overall improvements in stability and support. However, documentation relating to specific safeguarding risks requires further development. A more detailed assessment outlining identified risks and clear strategies to reduce them would strengthen current practice. This would also provide additional clarity for any new staff, ensuring continuity of safe care as the child prepares for future transitions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An acting manager has been in post since December 2025 and has started the process to become registered. They demonstrate a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. There is a well-considered plan in place to address any identified gaps and continue improving standards of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 5 The acting manager shows strong commitment to providing high-quality care and support for the child. The acting manager understands the importance of staff development and actively promote opportunities to enhance staff skills and knowledge. The child is central to the changes introduced so far, and early indications show continued progress and positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is consistently positive. They describe the acting manager as approachable and effective in their role. Improvements in communication and a stronger focus on independence have been highlighted as notable strengths since their appointment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training arrangements are well organised, with all mandatory and required courses up to date. Learning is tailored to reflect the child’s individual needs, helping staff to better understand their experiences and how to support them. This targeted approach contributes to improving the quality of care and promoting the child’s wellbeing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Arrangements for staff supervision sessions have improved and are more focused on practice and the general needs of children. Discussions are reflective and support staff to develop their skills. However, sessions do not consistently focus on the child as an individual, which limits opportunities to explore their specific needs and progress in greater detail. Strengthening this aspect would further enhance staff understanding and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Planning for adulthood requires further development. Preparation for transition has not started early enough, and as the child is imminently approaching adulthood, a future provision has not yet been confirmed. Although this reflects wider challenges in the system, it introduces uncertainty for the child and their family. Leaders and managers recognise this issue and should continue working to improve early planning and coordination. Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should work with children’s placing local authorities to ensure that each child’s move to the home is planned, and that each child is prepared for leaving the home both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should have a system in place for staff to receive supervision sessions of their practice. In particular, the supervision sessions of their practice allow staff to reflect on the specific needs of the children assigned to their care. ((‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph

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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: 2818955 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pennine Social Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rhodes Bank Chambers, 184-188 Union Street, Oldham OL1 1EN

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2818955 8 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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