Children's Home run by Strive to Care Limited in Tameside

Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 1 Registered provider: Strive to Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider manages this home. It is registered to provide care for up to 3 children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke with all the children about their experiences living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2025 Full Outstanding 09/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 3

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Summary of findings

An experienced and committed manager leads the home. He has high expectations of the staff team and promotes their development to improve outcomes for children. The manager and staff work effectively with children’s families and professionals to achieve positive outcomes for children.

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from exceptional high-quality care from a skilled and experienced team of staff who know them very well.

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Summary of findings

Professionals speak highly of the care provided and recognise that children make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from exceptionally high-quality care from a skilled and experienced staff team, whose members know them very well. Children live at this home for a long time, giving them sustained stability and consistency. The positive and trusting relationships that staff build with children help them to flourish. As a result, children continue to make excellent progress in all areas of their lives. Professionals say that staff are incredibly child focused, relationship led, committed and dedicated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff create a warm and homely environment where children feel relaxed and comfortable. The home is well decorated, and the children’s achievement certificates and photos of them and staff enjoying activities together are proudly displayed throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished, and they take pride in keeping them clean and tidy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s education is prioritised. The manager arranges additional tutoring outside of school to help address gaps in their learning. As a result, one child who was previously out of education now attends full time. Another child has achieved their GCSE qualifications, completed a college course with distinction and progressed to a further course. Despite some challenges, one child has moved up a mathematics set, and the manager has worked effectively with social workers and virtual school heads to secure suitable education and the support the child needs to succeed. These efforts help children make significant progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to explore their career goals and aspirations. They complete focused sessions to help children identify pathways, set realistic goals and prepare curriculum vitae. Staff also arrange opportunities for children to meet professionals working in their chosen fields, providing guidance, mentoring and encouragement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help children develop life skills appropriate to their age and level of understanding. This is helping them prepare for independent living. Staff encourage children to take on Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 4 responsibilities and develop life skills, such as budgeting, cooking, using public transport and household chores.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a wide range of activities, including fishing, nature walks, gym, boxing and cricket. This helps children to pursue hobbies that align with their interests. Staff also support children to attend community groups and events that promote their identity and meet their religious and cultural needs. This has helped children to become part of their local community. For one child, this has helped them build a support network in preparation for independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views and wishes are strongly promoted in the home. Children have an advocate, and staff regularly seek children’s views through weekly meetings and ‘you said, we did’ sessions. This enables children to contribute to day-to-day decisions about their care. As a result, children feel listened to and valued. Weekly meetings also provide opportunities to discuss important issues and raise awareness of topics that may affect children, including online safety, environmental risks and health matters.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff carefully document the children’s experiences and achievements through thoughtful memory books. Children can also contribute to an online memory box by adding photos, memories, comments and messages alongside staff’s.

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

There is a strong culture of safeguarding at the home. Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. The manager reviews safeguarding protocols in team meetings and links these to serious case reviews, to strengthen staff knowledge and emphasise the importance of professional curiosity and vigilance. As a result, staff respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.

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

Although there have been some changes within the staff team, staff practice has remained consistent. Communication between staff is clear, resulting in consistent boundaries in the home. This helps the children to feel secure.

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

The manager ensures that staff receive training tailored to the specific needs of the children. As a result, staff have an exceptional understanding of the children’s individual needs and strategies needed to support them. Risk management plans clearly identify risks and provide staff with guidance to reduce and manage them.

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

Incidents rarely occur in this home and are limited to one child’s difficulties in educational settings. Staff respond appropriately and sensitively, utilising their therapeutic training and positive relationships with the child to help de-escalate situations and support education staff.

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

On one occasion, a child returned home later than agreed after spending time with friends. Staff responded appropriately by maintaining contact with the child, encouraging them to return and collecting them once their whereabouts were known. Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 5 Discussions with children take place following incidents to help them identify risks, dangers, and the consequences of their actions, as well as triggers and safer coping strategies. Staff revisit these discussions when necessary to support children’s understanding and information processing.

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

Staff complete direct work with children to address known and emerging risks. These sessions help children develop appropriate coping strategies and understand how to keep themselves safe. This has supported children in areas such as online safety, peer relationships, healthy relationships and navigating family dynamics.

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

The manager takes complaints seriously and investigates them thoroughly. They work closely with relevant professionals to ensure investigations are robust and use learning to develop safety plans where necessary. The manager also provides clear feedback to those involved following the outcome of investigations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An experienced and committed manager leads the home. The manager is highly motivated and ambitious in his vision for children. He speaks positively about children and takes pride in their achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is strong managerial oversight of the home. Records, reports and plans provide evidence of management scrutiny. The manager and deputy complete weekly monitoring activities and monthly audits, identifying actions to address any shortfalls. This robust oversight ensures that the home continues to operate in line with regulations and helps ensure that children receive exceptionally high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, detailed supervision that encourages reflection and promotes learning. Actions focus on developing staff knowledge and improving practice. Annual appraisals further support professional development and progression. The manager has successfully supported two deputy managers to progress into registered manager roles. Staff report that they feel well supported and enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high expectations of staff and places a strong emphasis on their development to improve outcomes for children. Staff receive regular, comprehensive supervision that encourages reflection and promotes learning. Actions focus on developing staff knowledge and improving practice. Annual appraisals focus on staff development and personal progress. The manager supported 2 deputy managers to progress into management roles. Staff report that they feel fully supported by the management team, and they enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings take place monthly and are well attended. These meetings provide opportunities to discuss children’s progress, reflect on practice and reinforce expectations around risk management and care planning. The deputy manager and team leader deliver behaviour-focused sessions informed by childcare theory, helping staff understand the impact of early life experiences and supporting children with their Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 6 individual needs. This strengthens therapeutic practice and helps staff apply effective approaches consistently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes, thoroughly exploring potential concerns to ensure staff are suitable before offering employment. Induction programmes for new staff are comprehensive and well structured. This ensures that staff are aware of role expectations, key information and processes. New staff are supported through induction periods by experienced staff members to fully support their learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff communicate effectively with children’s families and professionals. They work sensitively with families to promote their involvement in children’s care. Professionals report that the manager maintains excellent communication. This supports strong partnership working and helps secure positive outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 7

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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: 2749584 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Richmond House, 50 Tontine Street, Blackburn BB1 7ED

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Mohammed Daniyial Arif

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2749584 9 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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