Children's Home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services (Clayton) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 21 October 2025

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/10/2025 Full Good 06/01/2025 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 3

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Summary of findings

Significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice, the quality of relationships and the leadership and management in the home have impacted on children being effectively safeguarded and adequately cared for. As a result, the home has been judged to be inadequate in all areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home has experienced a period of ineffective leadership that significantly undermines the safety, stability and outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

At the time of the inspection there were 3 children living in the home. Staff have not developed strong and trusting relationships with the children, and shortfalls in this area have had a significant impact upon the experiences and progress of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children living in the home do not have positive daily routines. Children spend long periods in their rooms alone, and staff do not take the time to get to know them. Staff do not support children to participate in activities suited to their interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s health needs are not sufficiently prioritised. Children are not provided with a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and while attempts are being made to encourage children to attend health appointments, these remain outstanding for all the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff are not providing therapeutic care in line with the home’s statement of purpose and this is not being appropriately addressed by the leaders and managers. Staff are not reflective of children’s traumatic experiences. Some show limited empathy and have been described by external professionals as rude and abrupt.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There has been progress made in education for all of the children. For one child, this has resulted in them achieving their functional skills award and an improvement in attendance for the other 2 children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The manager has allowed conflicts between the staff team to take priority over the needs of the children. Leaders and managers have not prioritised children’s wishes and feelings when concerns are raised about staff. The children’s wellbeing has been compromised due to staff’s inability to manage children’s emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children know how to complain. However, complaints are not responded to and urgent action is not taken about children’s concerns. Children have stated that they do not feel heard and that the manager does not act in their best interests.

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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 4 Children living in the home do not feel or protected from harm, specifically in relation to them experiencing emotional harm and bullying behaviours. There is not a strong and proactive response from leaders and managers to address relationships in the home, which are having a negative impact on the wellbeing of the children living there.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home have been poorly managed. These incidents have not been managed consistently or in accordance with the strategies outlined in the child’s care plans. On one occasion, a child was missing for a period of 7 hours before the police were contacted. This represents a significant safeguarding failure as appropriate procedures were not followed, leaving the child at continued risk.

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

Management oversight of incidents is poor. Records lack sufficient detail and frequently contain language that could be perceived as blaming the child, rather than reflecting a balanced and trauma-informed approach. The staff team reported an absence of consistent routines and structure, which further contributes to an unstable environment.

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

Children are not able to identify adults who they have developed a trusting relationship with. Two children have stated that they have raised concerns about relationships with staff in the home and these have not been listened to.

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

Risk assessments are not robust and do not give clear and specific strategies for the team to follow. Investigations into allegations and complaints are not robust, and effective outcomes are not achieved.

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

Children living in the home have been exposed to adults behaving inappropriately towards each other. Although investigations have been completed and verbal feedback given to children, official processes have not been followed. Additionally, there has not been effective work completed to rebuild relationships between children and adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. The manager is not taking proactive and efficient action to address shortfalls and concerns within the home. The majority of the requirements from the previous inspection remain unaddressed, and there was limited evidence of consistent or sustained improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant concerns regarding the abilities, skills and knowledge of some members of staff, and effective action has not been taken to address this. There is regular supervision in place for staff. However, concerns that have been raised regarding team morale and issues with staff performance are not addressed. One staff member has been spoken to on 4 occasions about rebuilding their relationships with children, and despite this not progressing, no formal action has been taken.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current leaders and managers are not using feedback from children, staff and external professionals to improve the care provided to children. There is agitation within the team, which has not been effectively addressed and is having a direct impact on the Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 5 care being delivered to the children. Staff do not take accountability for their actions and progress has not been made in their approach to working with the children in the home. There were also shortcomings in the oversight of safeguarding incidents, with concerns not being responded to appropriately or consistently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One child is still struggling to settle into the home, and staff have been unable to build meaningful relationships. There is limited evidence to suggest that this is being challenged, or that steps are being taken to look at whether another plan may be more effective for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has failed to notify the regulator of serious incidents, including allegations made by the children, an attendance at accident and emergency and a fire setting incident in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 6

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there are risk assessments in place with clear strategies within them for all known risks to children. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that staff follow each child’s protocol when they go missing and proactive steps are taken to address staff practice when shortfalls are identified. This requirement is restated. 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 7 *The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 8 (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(ix)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the children living in the home are not exposed to bullying or inappropriate behaviours between staff members and that prompt action is taken to address staff behaviour that falls below expectations. Additionally, when children raise concerns about staff behaviour towards them, these concerns are dealt with in line with policies and procedures and resolutions are met. This requirement is restated. *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and

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Requirement Due date

delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 9 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must lead the home with a culture that promotes the welfare of the children living in it. The registered person must take prompt and proactive action when concerns with regard to staff practice are raised and ensure that care delivered in the home is done so in accordance with the statement of purpose, namely, in a therapeutic nature. This requirement is restated. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must notify the regulator if an allegation or serious complaint is made against a member of staff. Additionally, the registered person must notify the regulator about any incident of fire setting in the home. This requirement is restated. 12 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 10 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must make sure that the care delivered in the home reflects the home’s statement of purpose to deliver the principles and approaches of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, namely that staff working in the home have the skills, abilities and knowledge to be able to deliver therapeutic care to the children living in the home. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(i)(e)) 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 11 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the children living in the home feel heard and listened to. Children must be given the opportunity to raise concerns and know they will be acted upon. The health and wellbeing standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and wellbeing needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and wellbeing; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and wellbeing outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and wellbeing needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must identify barriers and support the child to access necessary medical treatment. Additionally, the registered person must do more to support the child to make healthy lifestyle choices. 12 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding 12 months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (4) (5)) 12 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 12

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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: 2737713 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services (Clayton) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 Shaw Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 4AG

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Inspector

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2737713 14 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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