Children's Home run by Safe Children’s Care Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 1 Registered provider: SAFE CHILDREN’S CARE 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

The home is owned by a private provider. It may provide care and accommodation for up to 2 children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in April 2026. This is the first time the home has been inspected since registration.

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Information about this children’s home

There was 1 child living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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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 applicable

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Good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 2

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Summary of findings

The child has recently moved into the home and is settling in well. They are developing positive relationships with staff and benefit from well-planned, nurturing care. Staff know the child well and have a good understanding of their individual needs, including their likes, dislikes, health, education, and family relationships. This helps staff to provide personalised care, plan meaningful activities, and ensure the child is supported to have their voice heard.

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Summary of findings

Staff value the management team, who have a strong presence in the home.

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Summary of findings

Professionals say that they are happy with the care the child receives and recognise the progress that the child has made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced a well-planned move into the home. Prior to the move, the manager visited the child several times and spoke with a range of people who are important to them to gain an understanding of their needs. This information was shared with the staff team, who have quickly developed a positive and trusting relationship with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value the child’s wishes and feelings. They have supported the child to access an advocate and encourage them to share their views during important meetings. The child is also actively involved in their day-to-day care through contributing to menu planning, choosing activities, and providing feedback. The child’s social worker and independent reviewing officer said the child is more actively involved in decisions about their life since being cared for at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet the child’s complex health needs well. The manager ensured that the child was promptly registered with all relevant local health services, including specialist mental health support. Staff ensure that the child attends all health appointments and administer medication safely and in accordance with their care plans. Effective planning and partnership working ensured that the child experienced a smooth transition of their healthcare arrangements to the local area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are developing a clear understanding of the child’s educational needs. Prior to the child moving in, the manager gathered detailed information about their learning history and spoke with them about their aspirations. This information was used to identify a suitable educational provision for the new academic year. Staff are helping the child reach their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is developing their independence. Staff are helping to build their confidence by encouraging them to complete everyday tasks and take responsibility for caring for the Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 3 home’s new cat. The child has been supported to look after the pet and communicate with the vet about it’s needs. These experiences are helping the child to develop practical skills, confidence, and a sense of responsibility.

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

Staff understand the risks for the child and know how to keep them safe. Staff respond well to emerging situations and follow comprehensive risk management plans, which clearly identify the child’s individual vulnerabilities and the measures needed to reduce risk. The child’s safety is improving because of the care they are receiving.

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

Staff provide effective support to help the child stay safe both at home and during planned activities in the community. Staffing levels have been increased in response to the child’s developing needs, and staff remain close by while maintaining regular observations. Despite this increased level of supervision, staff ensure that the child’s privacy, dignity, and independence are respected.

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

Staff respond sensitively to incidents of self-harm. They have all completed relevant training and possess the necessary skills to keep the child safe during periods of emotional distress or mental health crisis. Staff remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to remove items within the home that could pose a risk to the child. They consistently discuss and explain these actions to the child, helping them to understand the reasons for any restrictions. Staff are developing nurturing relationships with the child while ensuring their safety is prioritised.

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

Staff care for the child using positive, therapeutic behaviour support approaches. They ensure that the child has access to important support from external specialist mental health services. The manager makes sure that advice and guidance from mental health professionals are reflected in the child’s plans and day-to-day care. Staff have a better understanding of the child’s emotional wellbeing and provide consistent, effective support.

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

Staff rarely use physical intervention. They understand the circumstances in which it may be necessary and view it as a last resort. When physical intervention is used, the manager exercises effective oversight of the incident, providing appropriate support and feedback to both staff and the child. Staff ensure that the child is given the opportunity to discuss the incident within an appropriate timeframe in a calm and nurturing environment. The child feels safe, listened to, and cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the child receives consistent, high standards of care. They use thorough monitoring and review processes effectively to oversee all aspects of the child’s care and experiences. The manager maintains robust oversight of the home and evaluates all incidents that impact on the child’s life, identifying learning and promoting continuous improvement. The manager is ambitious for both children and staff and has a clear vision for the future development of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 4 Staff feel well supported by managers. Through consistent management oversight, they feel confident in managing complex and challenging situations. Supervision takes place regularly and encourages reflective practice and continued professional development. Staff say the home is a positive place to work and morale is high across the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete regular training that reflects the needs of the child they are caring for. However, there are gaps in mandatory training for a small number of staff. The manager has already identified these shortfalls and set out expectations through supervision and team meetings. A clear plan is in place to ensure that all training will be completed promptly and that staff continue to have the knowledge and skills required to meet the child’s needs safely and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers normally make sure that appropriate checks and vetting are completed before any member of staff starts work at the home. However, there is one recruitment file which has not been completed by this company. This means that the manager has not directly overseen the recruitment process for this individual worker.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have developed effective relationships with partner agencies. Professionals consistently said that communication is effective and that information is shared appropriately. The local authority social worker said that this supports informed decision-making and better care planning for the child. The independent reviewing officer described the manager and staff team as “genuine and credible in their kindness.” Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure they complete their own safer recruitment checks prior to any person caring for children. 17 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular, the registered person should make sure that staff complete all necessary training within a reasonable timeframe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 6

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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: 2873151 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SAFE CHILDREN’S CARE LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Safe Children’s Care, Regus, Chapel Road, Oldham OL8 4QQ

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Inspectors

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Inspector Jayne Lord, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2873151 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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