Children's Home run by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council in Rochdale

Inspection report children's home: 2860997 1 Registered provider: Rochdale Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. The home is registered to provide care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, there were 2 children being cared for at the home. The inspector spoke to one child during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 2

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Summary of findings

Children living in the home say that they feel safe and happy. They enjoy positive experiences and are making good progress. Shortfalls in how staff meet children’s health and education needs mean that support in these areas is inconsistent. Children have respectful relationships with one another and staff. Children’s needs are understood, and there is an appropriate response to changing risks, which ensures children are protected from harm. However, staff do not always demonstrate a clear understanding of risk management strategies. The home is managed by an experienced and suitably qualified manager. However, supervision for all staff is not always prioritised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living in the home and have developed positive relationships with staff and each other. They are cared for by staff who know them well and understand their individual needs, vulnerabilities and strengths. Children are encouraged to share their views, wishes and feelings and are involved in decisions that affect their lives, including education, family time and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, managers carefully consider available information to assess compatibility and minimise risks. Children are supported to move into the home with the best possible planning within the timescales available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their individual starting points. Examples of progress include a child achieving a place on a gymnastics squad, improving emotional regulation, trying new experiences and making safer choices in situations that previously presented risks. Age-appropriate independence work is undertaken with both children and is tailored to their individual circumstances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are generally well met. Staff encourage children to attend routine health appointments, even when they are reluctant to do so. Effective partnership working with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) supports children’s emotional health and wellbeing. However, not all children’s historical medical needs have been referred to the relevant specialist health service, resulting in delays in accessing appropriate support and limited progress in reducing the behaviour ofconcern

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place a strong emphasis on education and work proactively with schools to support attendance and engagement. However, approaches to encouraging school attendance are not always consistent. In addition, children’s structured informal learning is not consistently recorded in line with their education plans, which limits management oversight and evaluation of progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 3 Children’s relationships with their families are promoted and supported in line with agreed plans. Staff understand the arrangements necessary to keep children safe during family time and undertake regular checks to ensure these remain appropriate. Children have developed safe words or songs to support their safety, and families are kept informed through regular communication, including monthly newsletters.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities that support their social, emotional and educational development while also reflecting their individual interests and preferences. Some activities are enjoyed together and others separately, depending on children’s wishes. Children enjoy celebrating their birthdays with a specially planned party and having holidays with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is maintained to a high standard and provides a warm, welcoming environment for children. It is well decorated and maintained. Children have their own private spaces, which reflect their individuality and identity. They also enjoy the use of a large garden with child-friendly equipment.

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

Children feel safe living in the home and develop trusting relationships with staff. Risks are well managed and missing-from-home incidents are reducing for some children.

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

Staff understand children’s individual risks and have access to clear, up-to-date risk assessments. These identify vulnerabilities and provide guidance for staff. However, staff do not always demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the most recent missing-from-home protocols or online safety measures when children get new devices. This has not negatively impacted the children’s safety.

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

When children go missing from home, staff take appropriate action to locate them and work effectively with the police and other professionals. Follow-up work helps children understand the risks and share their views. The manager maintains effective oversight of incidents and staff practice. Children at risk of exploitation receive effective support. Staff are trained in exploitation risks and work alongside specialist agencies, including the complex safeguarding team.

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

Staff respond quickly to disclosures, including those relating to historical abuse, ensuring children receive appropriate support and protection. Allegations and safeguarding concerns are reported promptly to relevant agencies. Partnership working is strong, and children’s welfare remains the priority.

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

Staff promote positive relationships between children. Although peer influence can sometimes be challenging, children enjoy positive experiences together and describe relationships that are similar to siblings.

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

Staff have a therapeutic approach to their care and prioritise de-escalation techniques. Physical intervention is only used when necessary to keep children safe. Records are Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 4 detailed and reviewed by the manager. Children’s and staff members’ views are considered, although formal debriefs are not always recorded within regulatory timescales.

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

Positive behaviour and achievements are celebrated through praise, rewards and incentives that motivate children and promote self-esteem. Consequences are proportionate, restorative and help children understand the impact of their behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and suitably qualified manager leading the home who knows the children well and advocates strongly for them to improve their outcomes, particularly regarding family time and education. She demonstrates creativity in her leadership through initiatives such as staff bulletins, family newsletters and fun activities that encourage children to share their views about the home or complete educational activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place and uses these to identify strengths, address shortfalls and drive improvement. Notably, she has recognised weaknesses in the quality of direct work resulting from previous staffing inconsistencies. Development plans are clear and measurable and demonstrate how staff are developing in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is now a stable and consistent staff team that knows the children well. Although agency workers and staff from other homes are used sparingly, children have experienced the impact of staffing changes. It is clear that using additional staff when children require particular skills is in the children’s best interests. . However, staff rosters do not clearly record who has worked in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably trained and qualified, including in areas specific to children’s needs, such as child criminal exploitation and specific health needs. Team meetings are well attended and provide opportunities for information-sharing, safeguarding discussions and learning from external professionals, including CAMHS.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision and value the support provided by managers. The manager uses supervision and timely performance reviews to support staff development and career progression. However, non-permanent staff do not consistently receive regular supervision from the same manager, particularly where practice concerns have been identified, limiting opportunities to improve practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 5

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

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that when children are not in education, there is clear structure and routine in place at the home to support independent study. Children’s work and progress must be recorded.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have a consistent plan for improving educational attendance. 9 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 9 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 6 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; 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

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that appropriate referrals to relevant health professionals are made on behalf of children who experience continence issues.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive regular supervision in accordance with what is set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Specifically, casual staff must receive consistent support from an appropriately experienced manager where they require support to improve their practice. 9 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff duty roster records the full names of persons working at the home and a record of the actual rosters worked. 9 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. Specifically, debriefs with staff should take place within the regulatory timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that children’s risk management plans reflect the current level of assessed risk and that arrangements in place to protect them and staff remain up to date at all times. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2860997 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU

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Inspector

Samantha Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2860997 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 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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