Children's Home run by Sphere Care Solutions in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 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 company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were no children living in the home at the time of this visit.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post, and they have applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At a full inspection on 1 and 2 April 2026, the home was judged as inadequate. Shortfalls were identified in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Due to significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice in the home, Ofsted made the decision to suspend the home’s registration during the inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 13 May 2026 to monitor the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice and to determine whether sufficient action had been taken for it to be lifted. It was found that sufficient action had not been taken to address all the shortfalls outlined in the suspension notice. Therefore, the suspension remained in place.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor whether sufficient action has been taken since the last visit to address the shortfalls outlined in the suspension notice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There have been further improvements made to the home environment. New furnishings and artwork have been purchased. Appropriate action has been taken to address all maintenance issues, and items have been removed to ensure that the home is free of hazards. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 2 Staff have completed all mandatory training and have benefited from additional training focused on key-work sessions. This training included guidance on recording key-work sessions, examples of effective key-work discussions, and the use of relevant resources. The manager has also incorporated learning and development sessions into team meetings.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The deputy manager demonstrates an improved understanding of the safeguarding shortfalls identified at the previous inspection and was able to clearly identify areas where staff require support and how this will be provided.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has implemented new weekly audits, including a health and safety tracker to strengthen monitoring processes. In addition, a monthly audit will be carried out by the manager to review and evaluate the overall quality of care being provided.

p.2

This monitoring visit

All supervision sessions will now include oversight from both the manager and the responsible individual.

p.2

This monitoring visit

While there is evidence of improvement in safer recruitment, some shortfalls remain. For example, a gap in a new staff member’s employment history has not been explored.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this visit, and it was deemed that sufficient action has been taken to address all shortfalls in safeguarding practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Some requirements raised at the last full inspection will remain in place and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/04/2026 Full Inadequate 22/07/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

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; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 5 (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that:

p.5

Requirement Due date

staff take appropriate action to safeguard children at all times;

p.5

Requirement Due date

staff seek medical advice when a child presents as being under the influence of a substance;

p.5

Requirement Due date

children’s records include all known risks and are regularly reviewed and updated;

p.5

Requirement Due date

staff have the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to meet children’s needs and manage risks;

p.5

Requirement Due date

meaningful work is carried out with children in relation to their known risks, helping them to understand how to keep themselves safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

meaningful direct work is carried out with children following safeguarding incidents;

p.5

Requirement Due date

staff take appropriate action to locate children when they are missing from the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

sharp items are stored securely in a locked storage unit at all times when not in use.

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that:

p.6

Requirement Due date

all incidents are reviewed thoroughly, and any shortfalls in staff practice are identified and addressed;

p.6

Requirement Due date

debriefs are carried out with staff and children following safeguarding incidents;

p.6

Requirement Due date

staff are provided with clear guidance to enable them to meet children’s individual needs and safeguard them effectively at all times;

p.6

Requirement Due date

effective systems are in place to enable the manager to monitor and review the quality of care provided in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

all staff complete all the training necessary to meet the needs of all children living in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 7 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(c)(d)(e)(i)(ii)(f))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that:

p.7

Requirement Due date

copies of all local authority plans for children are obtained, including those that have been reviewed;

p.7

Requirement Due date

staff know and understand the local authority’s agreed family time arrangements for each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children are supported to contribute to their plans. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 8 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.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

p.8

Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e)(f))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that allegations made by children against staff are thoroughly investigated and recorded. Children must be informed of the outcomes of any allegations they make. 30 July 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.8

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

p.8

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—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the name of the child; 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 9 details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.9

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;

p.9

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”)—

p.9

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.9

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. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any physical interventions are recorded in detail and that debriefs are carried out with children and staff.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.9

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date; and 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 10 are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that:

p.10

Requirement Due date

children’s placement plans are reviewed and updated regularly and reflect their local authority care plans, including their support needs, health, education and care plans.

p.10

Requirement Due date

searches of children’s personal belongings are recorded correctly;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the Annex A form that is required to be viewed at inspection is factually accurate.

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that gaps in employment are scrutinised and that a clear record is maintained of the scrutiny undertaken. 30 July 2026

p.10

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.10

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.10

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 11 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.10

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)

p.11

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children are supported to maintain their bedrooms to a good standard.

p.11

Requirement Due date

Furthermore, all maintenance work must be completed to a good standard.

p.11

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans.

p.11

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.11

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.11

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.11

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.11

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(x)) 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 12 In particular, the registered person must ensure that when the child is not attending an education setting, they are actively encouraged to engage in alternative educational activities and provided with a structured routine that is kept under review.

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that Ofsted is informed of all serious incidents in the home, including when children go missing from home and when they access items in the home that should have been secure, such as sharps and the staff computer. 30 July 2026

p.12

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.12

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they escalate concerns when local authority documents are not received. 30 July 2026

p.12

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.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 30 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 13 (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the statement of purpose is reviewed when there are changes to staffing. The statement of purpose must include details of staff’s experience and qualifications.

p.13

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.

p.13

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 14

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sphere Care Solutions

p.14

Children’s home details

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

p.14

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olugbenga Odebunmi

p.14

Inspector

Michelle McGrath, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2819939 15 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.

p.14

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.15

Inspector

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

p.15

Inspector

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

p.15