Children's Home run by Orchid Care Ltd in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 1 Registered provider: Orchid Care 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 owned by a private company and provides care for up to 3 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 at the home, and they both were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 2

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Summary of findings

The home provides a good standard of care, and children are making clear progress from their starting points. Children feel safe, settled and supported by staff who listen to them and build positive relationships.

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Summary of findings

Safeguarding practice is effective, with staff understanding risks and taking appropriate action to reduce harm, including when children go missing. Leaders and managers provide clear direction and maintain oversight, with strong focus on staff development and consistent care.

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Summary of findings

Areas for development include improving the accessibility of care plans, strengthening independent monitoring reports, and supporting children to maintain high standards in all areas of the home, including personal spaces.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the children have not been living in the home for a long period, they are making meaningful progress from their starting points. Children say they are happy living in the home, highlighting the supportive and caring approach of staff. They describe feeling respected and understood, with one child saying that this is the best place they have lived since coming into care, which reflects positively on the quality of relationships being developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued within the home and is treated as an important priority. Children attend education provisions that are tailored to their individual needs and interests, ensuring they can engage more effectively. Staff work closely with education providers to promote both attendance and achievement, and they adapt their support to meet changing needs. Regular conversations with children about their education and aspirations help to reinforce its importance and encourage positive attitudes towards learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is appropriate focus on preparing children for their future, with increasing expectations placed on them to develop independence skills in line with their age and plans. One child is being supported in preparation for a move to semi-independent living, with a strong emphasis on practical life skills, such as cooking and managing laundry. Staff are also beginning to introduce discussions around more complex areas, including financial awareness and decision-making. Collaborative working between staff and external professionals ensures that clear plans are in place, helping the child feel more confident and supported as they approach the next stage of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Records of conversations, incidents and meetings are detailed and demonstrate a caring and thoughtful approach from staff. However, there is an opportunity to improve how care plans are written so they are more accessible to children. The current language Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 3 used is quite complex and would benefit from being simplified to ensure that children can better understand their plans. This improvement would further support children in feeling involved and informed about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, welcoming and maintained to a good standard throughout. It provides a comfortable and homely environment where children can relax and feel safe. The garden is well kept and is used regularly by the children, indicating they enjoy spending time in the space. However, one child would benefit from additional support to improve the cleanliness and organisation of their bedroom, as this will help them further develop their independence skills and maintain consistency with the overall standard of the home.

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

The home promotes an open and transparent safeguarding culture where children’s safety is prioritised. Staff have a clear awareness of both current and past risks, and they use this knowledge to inform how they support each child. Positive and respectful relationships enable staff to have meaningful conversations with children about staying safe and making informed choices. These discussions are tailored to each child’s level of understanding, helping them recognise the impact of their decisions and promote safer behaviours over time.

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

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of how to respond when children go missing from the home. Their approach is persistent and focused, and their efforts continue until the child is located and safely returned. Staff avail themselves of a wide range of resources, contacts and strategies to support the child’s safe return. When children return, they are welcomed in a calm, caring and reassuring manner that helps to rebuild trust and stability.

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

Where additional support is needed, staff actively seek involvement from external professionals to provide more specialised guidance. This includes support around issues such as child criminal exploitation and substance misuse. Although children may sometimes choose not to engage with this input, staff continue to offer and revisit opportunities for support in a patient and encouraging way. This ensures that help remains accessible and reinforces the message that support is always available when the child feels ready.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and provide clear guidance for staff in managing and reducing harm. They include comprehensive information about known risks, along with practical strategies for staff to follow in their day-to-day care. Historical risks are also recorded where relevant, not to define the child, but to ensure staff are prepared should patterns re-emerge. This approach supports consistency in care and helps staff respond effectively to changing circumstances.

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

Children understand how to raise concerns or make complaints if they need to. Staff regularly remind them of the process and encourage open communication about any worries or dissatisfaction. Although there have been no formal complaints, children feel Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 4 comfortable speaking to staff and are confident that their concerns will be taken seriously. This contributes to a positive environment where children feel heard, respected and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a clear commitment to providing high-quality care for children. The manager shows strong leadership through a focused and determined approach, ensuring that children receive consistent and supportive care. This is reflected in the positive culture within the home, where staff are encouraged to work in a respectful and nurturing way. As a result, children are making progress and benefiting from stable and caring relationships with the adults who support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager places a strong emphasis on staff development and learning, which has contributed to a confident and motivated staff team. Staff report feeling valued and supported, and there is positive morale across the home. Ongoing training and reflective opportunities help staff to continuously improve their practice. This focus on development ensures that staff are well equipped to meet the individual needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are purposeful and centred on the needs and progress of the children. Discussions focus on how children are doing, what support they require and how staff can further improve outcomes. These meetings provide an opportunity for staff to share good practice and strengthen consistency across the team. The learning from these discussions is reflected in care planning, ensuring that children receive thoughtful and well-informed support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is detailed and supports staff to reflect on their practice in relation to the care of children. These sessions provide a structured space to explore both strengths and areas for development, while maintaining a focus on achieving high standards of care. Staff are supported to consider all aspects of their role, including maintaining a safe and welcoming environment and responding effectively to children’s needs. Regular review of development plans ensures that staff progress is monitored and supported over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains clear oversight of the home and has effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care. Regular reviews of practice, records and outcomes enable the manager to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Actions are taken in a timely manner to address any shortfalls, supporting continuous development within the home. This structured approach helps to maintain a focus on improving children’s experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, there are areas where improvement is required in relation to independent monitoring. External reports from the independent person do not consistently provide a full and accurate picture of the home, including limited consultation with families and gaps in recorded information. Some reports lack detail regarding children’s experiences, particularly in relation to education. Strengthening the quality and depth of these reports Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 5 will provide a more complete evaluation of the home and further support the continued improvement of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should provide a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children and that is homely. In particular, ensure that children’s bedrooms are clean and tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact and opinion. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children

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Recommendations

in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2851386 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 168 Seymour Grove, Manchester M16 9GR

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2851386 8 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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