Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 1 SC390577 Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. 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

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home. All 3 children were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2026.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Good 14/05/2024 Full Good 10/12/2019 Full Good 20/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive warm, therapeutic care from staff who know them well. Staff promote children’s individuality, independence and relationships with people important to them.

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Summary of findings

Staff manage risks effectively, use the least restrictive approach and create a strong safeguarding culture that helps children feel safe.

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Summary of findings

The newly registered manager has strengthened leadership, improved staff morale and embedded a clear therapeutic ethos across the home. However, children’s day-to-day experiences are not always equitable. Staff do not consistently provide purposeful routines or varied activities, and some areas of the home require improvement to provide a welcoming family environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are heavily involved in thoughtful planning for their futures. Staff make plans sensitively, and children’s wishes are considered in decision-making. Managers challenge placing authorities when plans do not meet children’s needs. This helps children move on in a way that supports their emotional and physical wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s relationships with people who are important to them. One child regularly spends time with their siblings, who visit the home for celebrations and activities. Staff also promote safe family relationships where these are in each child’s best interest.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage medication safely. They understand the importance of medication in managing one child’s health condition. Staff give the child time to prepare for medication and minimise distractions, which has reduced administration errors. This supports the child to develop the skills to self-administer safely, thereby increasing their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and respect children’s diversity. Children attend activities that are important to them and access services that support their identities. Children feel respected and valued for who they are.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of the home are not always consistently positive. Two children described the setting as their home, while another said they wanted to leave. Staff do not always provide children with routines or varied activities throughout the day. Daily records show children often structure their own time. One child felt their experiences were not equal to those of other children. ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 4 The home is welcoming and homely. Staff take pride in maintaining the environment and seek to improve it. However, delays in completing repairs and refurbishment mean some areas, such as the downstairs bathroom, do not reflect the standard of a family home. This reduces the quality of children’s day-to-day experiences.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture in the home. Staff understand safeguarding responsibilities, recognise concerns promptly and take appropriate action. This helps ensure risks to children are identified and managed quickly.

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

Staff understand children’s risks well. They follow detailed, individualised risk management plans, including those relating to online safety and exploitation. Staff use these effectively to reduce risks and keep children safe.

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

Staff use the least restrictive approach. Restrictions reduce as children demonstrate they can manage risks safely. For example, staff remove bedroom door alarms when they are no longer required. This helps children develop greater independence while remaining safe. Staff know how to de-escalate behaviours and have not needed to hold children to keep everyone safe.

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

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from the home. They follow clear individual plans and complete appropriate return home conversations. The manager reviews these discussions and updates strategies to reduce future missing-from-home incidents. This helps children return home safely and reduces future risks.

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

Staff speak with children sensitively about risks and any incidents that happen. They use professional curiosity and a non-judgemental approach to understand children’s views. Staff also lead on specific areas of practice, allowing children to build trusted relationships when discussing sensitive issues. This helps children understand risks and feel emotionally supported.

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

Staff complete room searches appropriately when risks increase. They aim to involve children in searches where possible and explain why searches are necessary. This helps children understand how staff promote their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is newly appointed and registered and has the skills, experience and knowledge to lead the home effectively. Staff and children describe significant improvements since the manager came into post. One child said, ‘[The manager] is excellent. He has been here 7 months and has changed the home and me for the better.’ The manager delegates responsibilities appropriately to experienced staff, supporting the effective running of the home. ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 5 Staff work in line with the home’s statement of purpose. They have embedded the therapeutic model into their practice and understand the manager’s vision and values. Staff speak and write about children with warmth and respect. They work collaboratively to provide thoughtful, consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the home’s areas for development. They prioritised building a stable staff team and creating a positive culture following a period of management instability. Staff describe the home as having a family atmosphere and enjoy working together. They now share clear expectations and work collectively towards positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff understand children’s individual needs well. Their knowledge of children’s plans and presentation is developed through meaningful and regular team meetings. Regular training and development increase staff confidence and help ensure children receive skilled and consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers invest in staff development. Staff can move between roles to reflect their strengths and personal circumstances. Internal recruitment supports staff retention and career progression.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers create opportunities for children to contribute to the wider community. Children attend award events and represent the organisation at community events, including Pride. These experiences help children develop confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging. ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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

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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(c)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children receive structured and varied daytime routines that support their independence plans.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that refurbishment and maintenance of the home are addressed in a timely way. 27 July 2027 ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 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: SC390577 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

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Inspector

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector ‘Inspection report for children’s home: SC390577 9 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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