Children's Home run by Sphere Care Solutions in Salford

Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 1 Registered provider: Sphere Care Solutions

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 14 October 2025

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff provide nurturing care to the child living in the home. As a result, the child has developed some positive relationships with staff. However, shortfalls in the safeguarding practice and leadership and management of the home have impacted on the quality of care the child has received.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child is provided with a clean and comfortable home environment. There are photos of the child, staff and their shared experiences displayed in the home, reinforcing the child’s identity and connection to the home. The child’s bedroom is personalised with LED lights and a flag that represents their identity.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child has positive relationships with the manager and staff. Staff are nurturing in their approach. This supports the child’s progress and emotional wellbeing.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support the child to attend education. When the child does not attend school, staff assist them to do educational activities in the home and in the community. The child recently completed an online course funded by the home and achieved a certificate in car mechanics and repair.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support the child to develop independent life skills to prepare them for adulthood, including cooking, doing laundry, time management and budgeting. Staff have supported the child to create a CV which they have handed out to local businesses. They recently attended a job interview.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff supported the child to overcome barriers to going to the opticians. Staff spoke with the child about this to understand the issues. The reassurance from staff resulted in the child attending further appointments.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff recognise the importance of the child maintaining relationships with significant people in their lives. Family-time arrangements are well supported. Staff provide a range of opportunities for the child to engage in activities aligned to their interests, including going to the funfair, gym and football dome.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child says that they feel safe in the home. The manager and staff have a good understanding of the child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 4 Staff take action to access medical care for the child following incidents of self-harm. On one occasion, the child sought support from staff about their self-harming, which helped staff to provide emotional support to the child. However, despite this being a known risk for the child, staff are not vigilant regarding items the child has access to in their bedroom. The child has been able to obtain items that pose a risk to them when spending time with others out of the home. Furthermore, on one occasion, there was a delay in staff reporting an incident of self-harm.

p.3

improvement to be good

Incidents of the child being missing from home have reduced. However, staff responses to incidents when they do occur are not consistent. On one occasion, there were delays in staff reporting the child as missing, in line with their plan. This delayed the child being located and returned home. The child disclosed that a serious incident took place at this time which caused them significant harm. This shortfall in staff practice was identified by the manager and addressed with the staff member following the incident.

p.4

improvement to be good

Risk management plans include all known risks. However, they do not include strategies and guidance for staff to follow for all known areas of risk. They do not include guidance for staff on how to respond to the child if they return home under the influence of alcohol. This leaves the child vulnerable to harm, as staff do not have the guidance needed to safeguard the child if an incident were to occur.

p.4

improvement to be good

Debriefs are undertaken with staff and the child after incidents. The manager has oversight of these. However, the manager does not always identify potential shortfalls when the child raises concerns about staff during incidents and when records lack the required information.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff engage the child in direct work following incidents. Staff use a range of tools, including newspaper articles, online resources and past experiences. However, work has not been undertaken on all areas of risk for the child. Staff have not supported the child to understand the risks posed to them online. Furthermore, checks are not undertaken on the child’s devices to ensure that they are not accessing any harmful material.

p.4

improvement to be good

Responses to allegations against staff are poor. The manager did not identify the child’s concerns on 2 occasions and did not report the concerns to the relevant safeguarding professionals. This left the child at risk. Furthermore, these were not notified to the regulator.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not always ensured that all recruitment checks are completed before staff start work in the home. For example, reasons for staff leaving previous employment and gaps in employment histories had not been identified or explored and employment references and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates have not been verified. This left the child at risk of being cared for by unsafe adults. Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is child focused and therapeutic in her approach. She is committed to the child and knows them well. However, management oversight of the care being provided is not consistent. The manager has not identified when the child has made allegations against staff during incidents. This means that strategies were not put in place to safeguard the child. In addition, Ofsted was not notified and concerns were not shared with the relevant safeguarding agencies.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Shortfalls in safer recruitment were not identified by the manager. Action was taken to rectify shortfalls when these were identified by the previous responsible individual before they left the organisation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff talk positively about the support they receive from the registered manager. They receive regular supervision, which provides opportunities for them to reflect on their practice and identify any additional training or development needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff benefit from regular team meetings. These provide staff with opportunities to reflect on the care being provided to the children and any concerns.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Monitoring systems to review the quality of care being provided in the home are not always effective. The manager has not consistently identified shortfalls in staff practice. She has not identified shortfalls in recording, for example, when an incident form did not include all relevant details of items found following a bedroom search.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has developed good working relationships with other professionals. This means that there is a multi-agency approach to caring for the child.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is ambitious for the home, the staff team and their development. Managers created a QR code to allow staff and visitors to provide feedback on the home. They use this feedback to improve the home. For example, they purchased new cushions and a rug to make the home feel more homely.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have access to a suitable range of training, delivered both online and face to face. However, not all staff have completed the mandatory therapeutic model training. This impacts on their ability to be able to respond to the child therapeutically. Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the child’s individual risk management plans provide staff with clear, accessible guidance to support risk reduction regarding substance misuse. They must ensure that staff follow the child’s plans when missing from home and that meaningful work is completed with the child to help them understand how to keep safe. 10 June 2026

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 10 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 7 This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff receive all the training referenced in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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,

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that gaps in employment and reasons for leaving previous employment are explored and employment references and DBS certificates are verified. 10 June 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)) 10 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 8 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that allegations made by children against staff members are referred to the local authority designated officer.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that Ofsted is informed of any allegations made by children against a person working in the home. 10 June 2026

p.8

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: 2830751 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sphere Care Solutions

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 152a Deansgate, Bolton BL1 1BB

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olugbenga Odebunmi

p.9

Inspector

Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2830751 10 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.

p.9

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 . 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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10