Children's Home run by Orchard Adolescent Care Group in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 1 Registered provider: Orchard Adolescent Care Group

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in January 2026. The 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

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2026.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted. The care and experiences of children and young people are poor.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 2

p.1

Summary of findings

The shortfalls in help and protection and the leadership and management of the home have affected the child’s overall experiences. This has resulted in an overall judgement of inadequate.

p.2

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have not ensured that the child is safe or adequately cared for. Although the child has made some progress since living in the home, significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice have negatively impacted their experiences.

p.2

Summary of findings

Leadership and management are inadequate. Leaders and managers have failed to share important safeguarding information in a timely manner and have not taken appropriate action to address concerns about staff practice raised by the child and individuals in the staff team.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Not all staff have the experience, skills and knowledge to care for the child. Some staff are new to the home or are employed by an agency. Consequently, the child has not been supported by a consistent staff team.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff promote the child’s education plans. Staff understand the barriers to learning and work with education providers to overcome them. The child has recently joined a new school. The staff are sensitive to this, and plans are in place to support attendance.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support the child to make positive life choices and develop a healthy routine. They ensure the child attends routine health appointments, which promotes their wellbeing. However, leaders and managers were unaware of actions set at the child’s looked after review and had not supported the child to receive a required immunisation.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Important conversations are not regularly held with the child to support them to understand the risks and consequences of matters such as racism, threats of harm and knife crime.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child has positive relationships with some staff and is supported to enjoy a variety of activities, such as go-karting and playing pool and football.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have advocated for the child regarding family time and have supported the child’s emotional wellbeing following phone calls with people who are important to them.

p.2

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

Safeguarding practice is inadequate. Leaders and managers failed to share information with the police promptly following a significant incident, instead doing so several weeks Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 3 later and only when directed by the child’s placing authority. This lack of timely action placed the child, staff and members of the public at risk.

p.2

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

Risk and support plans are not robust. They do not fully reflect the child’s known risks and vulnerabilities or provide clear, practical guidance for staff to follow to keep the child safe. Plans rely on generic statements rather than detailed measures to mitigate identified risks, and significant safeguarding information is not consistently recorded to ensure all staff are fully informed.

p.3

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

The child’s support plans are inconsistent. Risk plans state that there have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home; however, incident reports show 2 occasions when the child was missing. On one occasion, staff failed to follow the correct procedure and did not report the incident to the police. Also, the child did not have the opportunity to speak with an independent person following their return.

p.3

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

Leaders and managers have not ensured that all staff have received the necessary training to support the child effectively. Not all staff have completed training in subjects such as harmful sexual behaviour, knife crime, suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviour. Consequently, the child is being cared for by staff who do not fully understand their needs or how to support them effectively.

p.3

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

Complaints raised by staff and children are not addressed promptly. A concern raised by a staff member was not dealt with immediately, and leaders and managers were unable to demonstrate that a complaint made by the child had been fully investigated or that an outcome had been shared with them. This does not support the child to feel safe, valued or listened to.

p.3

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

Staff rotas are not consistently maintained. They do not always include the full names of staff on duty or accurately record the hours worked. Changes to staffing arrangements are often not updated, meaning there is no clear or reliable record of who has worked with the child. This also fails to demonstrate that agreed safeguarding plans and staffing ratios are consistently followed.

p.3

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

There are significant shortfalls in safer recruitment practices. Leaders and managers have not ensured that all adults working with the child have been appropriately vetted and deemed safe to do so.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has been in post since the home was registered and is experienced and suitably qualified. However, he has not established a stable or sufficiently trained staff team capable of providing consistent care for the child. New staff are inducted quickly and begin working in the home before completing all training relevant to the child’s specific needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not maintained effective oversight of the home. They have failed to ensure that all significant incidents are shared with Ofsted and have not Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 4 completed independent audits since the home opened, as required by regulation. This limits external scrutiny and oversight of practice.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not received consistent support from the manager. Supervision is not taking place regularly for all staff, which is a missed opportunity to identify concerns, support professional development and reflect on the child’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose has not been reviewed since registration. It is out of date and includes inaccurate information about staffing arrangements.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders lack a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and have been ineffective in prioritising, challenging and driving improvement.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and the manager did not review the suitability of the home’s location and premises before the child moved in or following the imposition of police bail conditions. This limits the ability to assess and manage risks in the wider community.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders were aware of some of these concerns before the inspection, and an internal investigation into staff practice and safeguarding issues had been started.

p.4

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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 5 ‘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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all known risks for the child are appropriately assessed, with clear strategies in place for staff to safeguard the child.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all relevant agencies are informed of incidents, allegations and concerns as appropriate, so that they have the necessary information to assess risk, safeguard the child and make informed decisions about their welfare in a timely way. 28 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is a consistent staff team to support the child and that all staff have completed training specific to the care needs of the child.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they consistently review the location of the premises, clearly evidencing how risks are mitigated.

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

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;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.6

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)(f)(g)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place to identify and address shortfalls in staff practice, so that the child is safe and the quality of their care is continually improved. 28 June 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 28 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 7 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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

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)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff recruitment files confirm compliance with safer recruitment practices and regulation 32, and any identified shortfalls are addressed promptly to ensure only suitable and safe adults are working with the child.

p.7

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.7

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)) 17 July 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

p.7

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 8 (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive effective, regular supervision.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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)(b)(c)(e))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all significant incidents are shared with Ofsted. 17 July 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.8

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.8

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.8

Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b) (4)(a)(b)(d)(e)) 17 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 9 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the independent person scrutinises the quality of care and records a clear and factual account of their findings and that all reports are shared with Ofsted.

p.8

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children s home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that rotas include the full names of all staff who work in the home and the actual hours worked. 17 July 2026

p.9

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.9

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: 2876679 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Orchard Adolescent Care Group

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 16, Holroyd Business Centre, Carr Bottom Road, Bradford BD5 9BP

p.10

Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2876679 11 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.10

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11