Children's Home run by Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited in Salford

Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 1 Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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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 and managed by a small, private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. The inspector obtained the views of both children.

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Information about this children's home

The home and 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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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: 11 February 2026

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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: 2702950 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2026 Full Good 12/03/2025 Full Good 03/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 3

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Summary of findings

Children are settled in the home and are supported to develop positive, trusting relationships with the manager and staff. They say that they feel safe and receive care that is tailored to their individual needs. Children's moves into and out of the home are well planned and positive.

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Summary of findings

The manager and staff work effectively with specialist professionals to promote the children's emotional and physical wellbeing, support education, manage risks and help children to make progress.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers demonstrate a strong commitment to improving outcomes through a therapeutic approach to care and relevant staff training. Although there are some shortfalls in planning, supervision and reflective work with children, these have not detracted from the children's experiences or prevented them from making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well furnished and staff create a warm, homely environment. Children are supported to personalise their bedrooms. However, the home's back garden looks unkept with broken bikes and garden waste. The children and staff are unable to use the space to play or relax.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team. Staff demonstrate commitment to the children and enjoy caring for them. One child said, 'I love living here; it's great.' Professionals also say that children have good relationships with the manager and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's moves into the home are planned well. The manager works effectively with children's wider networks and professionals to ensure that children are introduced to the home and staff before moving in, helping them to settle. However, risk assessments do not demonstrate that the manager fully considers the needs of children moving into the home alongside those already living there. As a result, there is insufficient evidence that children are compatible or that staff can meet the needs of all children effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff work closely with professionals to ensure that children's moves from the home are well planned and supported. One child moving to semi-independent living was helped to develop key skills, including budgeting, cooking, travelling and managing household tasks. This preparation ensured that the child felt confident and ready for increased independence. Staff and peers also celebrated the child's time in the home with a tea party and meal together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff prioritise children's education, working with social workers and virtual school headteachers to identify suitable educational provisions for children. When children do not want to pursue a formal education pathway, they are supported to gain Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 4 voluntary roles where they can develop employability skills and gain work experience while they look for paid employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to participate in activities and days out with staff, such as pamper days, the cinema, fishing, go karting, short breaks and bike rides. However, staff do not consistently help children to keep memorabilia of their time spent living at the home and record significant life events.

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

The children have positive relationships with their allocated key workers, and all staff members are supported to build positive relationships with the children. One child's social worker said, 'Staff know [name of child] and their complexities really well. They are willing to learn and take on board new ideas to support them.'

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

Although there have been some changes in 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: good

Children know how to raise a complaint, and complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. During this inspection period, the manager worked effectively with relevant professionals and advocated for one child by challenging practice in their education setting to ensure that appropriate action was taken. However, the child was not informed of the outcome of their complaint, which does not demonstrate that their views and concerns have been fully acknowledged.

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

The manager ensures that staff receive tailored training to the children's specific needs. As a result, staff have a good understanding of the children's individual risks and strategies to support them. Risk assessments identify known risks and provide clear guidance for staff to reduce and manage them.

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

There has been a high number of missing-from-home episodes since the last inspection, some of which have been for prolonged periods. There are detailed missing-from-home plans in place and staff follow them consistently. They make every effort to locate children, maintain contact and work with relevant agencies to support their safe return. Staff complete direct work with children following missing-from-home episodes to help them understand the risks, appropriate relationships and how to keep themselves safe. The manager and staff work closely with children's networks to implement safety plans that reduce risks and promote their safety.

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

Staff respond appropriately to significant incidents and follow the home's safeguarding procedures. They report concerns to relevant agencies, including the police, when required. The manager maintains effective communication with each child's professional network to ensure that appropriate support is sought and concerns are escalated appropriately. Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 5 Incidents of substance misuse are managed appropriately. Staff ensure that medical support is sought and that children are monitored when under the influence of substances. However, follow up work is not consistently completed with children following incidents of substance misuse. This does not ensure that children are made aware of the risks and dangers of alcohol and drug use.

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

The children have access to specialist professional support, including drug and alcohol workers, missing person coordinators, and nurses for looked after children, and therapist support. Staff encourage and facilitate the children's engagement with specialist professionals. This means that the children have access to specialist help that meets their individual needs.

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

The manager notifies the regulator when there is a serious incident. However, some notifications have been delayed. This limits the regulator's ability to maintain full oversight of incidents occurring at the home.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children's individual health needs and ensure that children receive the right medical treatment and attend follow-up appointments. When children are reluctant to attend appointments, staff are persistent and speak to children about the importance of maintaining healthcare. This ensures that children have the right support for their healthcare needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced manager and deputy who are committed to achieving positive outcomes for children. Staff say that the management team is supportive and they enjoy working at the home and caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that the home is compliant with regulations. The manager uses information from the independent visits and the home's monthly monitoring tool to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment procedures. This helps to ensure that staff are appropriately vetted before providing care to children. Detailed induction plans support new staff to complete training, become familiar with the home's policies and procedures, and get to know the children. This helps staff to understand their responsibilities and prepares them well to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of staff members' strengths and areas for development and uses development plans effectively to address practice concerns. Supervision takes place regularly and provides support to staff. However, it does not consistently offer opportunities for reflection on practice. Annual appraisals take place, and feedback from children and professionals contributes to the evaluation of staff performance. Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 6 The manager has a strong focus on staff development and has supported staff to develop their skills and progress into senior roles. Staff are encouraged and supported to complete the required residential childcare qualification. However, this is not consistently achieved within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place fortnightly, and the manager arranges additional meetings when required to review identified risks and prepare staff for new admissions. Meetings are well attended and provide opportunities for staff to reflect on challenges, discuss strategies and consider additional safety measures. This helps to ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the support measures in place for children. The home's clinical psychologist also attends meetings to discuss therapeutic support for children. This promotes consistent practice and promotes collaborative working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have developed positive relationships with children's wider professional networks. Professionals describe them as responsive and committed to working in partnership with other agencies. They communicate effectively and keep professionals informed about children's progress and challenges. Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 7

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What does the children's home need to do to improve?

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that that follow- up work is completed with children following incidents.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that the home's garden is maintained to good standard, ensuring that garden waste and broken bikes are disposed of appropriately. 16 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they consider the identified needs of children already living in the 16 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 8 home when considering new children moving into the home. Leaders and managers must ensure that they are fully assured that staff can meet the needs of all children.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014,1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff are supported to obtain a relevant residential childcare qualification within the specified timeframes. 16 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 16 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 9 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon, particularly when they have raised concerns. ('Guide to The Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff keep, and encourage children to keep, appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them to record significant life events. ('Guide to The Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. ('Guide to The Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 10

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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: 2702950 11

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 843 Finchley Road, London NW11 8NA

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Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2702950 12 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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