Children's Home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 1

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out at the home on 30 June 2026. Serious shortfalls were found in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management arrangements in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

As a result, Ofsted made the decision to issue compliance notices under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and regulation 11, the positive relationships standard.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor any action taken by the provider to meet the steps identified in the compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The quality of risk assessments has improved. There are clear strategies within them for staff to follow. The manager has revisited them within staff supervisions and fortnightly team meetings. Staff reported that they feel there has been improvements as boundaries are now clear and everyone including the children understand them.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Training has taken place for all staff members on self-harm, bullying, managing allegations and relationship building. There have been regular team meetings held which have focussed on emerging risks for children, staff practice and any shortfalls following incidents.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There have been 2 safeguarding incidents since the full inspection. During an incident of self-harm staff did not take action to safeguard the child involved by Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 2 seeing them visually when they had reached out for support in the night. This shortfall was identified by the management team and follow up work completed with the specific team member and fed back to the team in team meeting.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager is currently in the process of completing internal investigations following complaints and allegations made against staff in the team. The manager is following due processes and is awaiting advice as to any disciplinary action.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The management team have completed additional training alongside the therapeutic lead for the company, and all staff have revisited therapeutic means of communicating with children. There has been an increase of direct work sessions being completed with the children and it has been evidenced that children are engaging better with this. The manager has implemented weekly greeting cards to be presented to the children with positives about the week.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has taken steps to improve their oversight of the home. This has been evidenced within recent incidents, as the manager has identified shortfalls within practice, and these had been addressed with specific team members and the team as a whole.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A case review was held following this visit. It was determined that the provider has met all the steps in the compliance notices served under regulation 11 and regulation 13. Shortfalls were identified within regulation 12 and as a result a new requirement has been raised to address this.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements raised at the full inspection were not considered during this visit. They remain in place and will be reviewed at the home's next inspection.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/06/2026 Full Inadequate 21/10/2025 Full Good 06/01/2025 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.3

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.3

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.3

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.3

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

p.3

Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

p.3

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

p.3

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff follow each child's risk assessments during safeguarding incidents. 30 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 4 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.3

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person must notify the regulator if an allegation or serious complaint is made against a member of staff. Additionally, the registered person must notify the regulator to any incident of fire-setting in the home. This requirement is restated. 12 August 2026

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.4

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; protect and promote each child's welfare;

p.4

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.4

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's

p.4

Requirement Due date

relevant plans, taking account of the child's background; help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 5 Specifically, that the registered person must make sure that the care delivered in the home reflects the homes statement of purpose to deliver the principles and approaches of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, namely that staff working in the home have the skills, abilities and knowledge to be able to deliver therapeutic care to the children living in the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(i)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the children living in the home feel heard and listened to. Children must be given the opportunity to raise concerns and know they will be acted upon. 12 August 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.5

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and well-being needs;

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must identify barriers and support the child to access necessary medical treatment. Additionally, the registered person must do more to support the child to make healthy lifestyle choices.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI's request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 39 (1)(3)(4)(5)) 12 August 2026

p.6

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services (Clayton) Ltd

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 31 Shaw Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 4AG

p.7

Inspector

Rose Maddocks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2737713 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8