Children's Home run by Social Care Services Limited in Salford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited 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 and offers care for up to 2 children who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 31 January 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home. One child spoke with the inspector about their experiences of living at the home.

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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: 2780921 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Good 19/11/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 3

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Summary of findings

Children appear happy and settled in a home that reflects children’s interests. Staff know the children’s health needs and their family situations, and support children to have their voices heard. The manager and staff know how to keep children safe. They speak with genuine warmth and care about the children. This helps children feel increasingly safe and secure. Staff support children to find alternative strategies to de- escalate situations, reduce risk and improve their ability to keep themselves safe. Managers and staff have developed collaborative relationships with a range of professionals, and this promotes regular, effective communication that helps children to make progress and be safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home and has moved to a home closer to their home authority. One child has moved into the home. This move was well planned. Staff supported the child and made them feel welcome. This helped the child to settle quickly and feel at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in all areas of their development. Managers and staff know and understand children’s needs well. They devise and implement bespoke care plans that incorporate children’s often complex health needs, their educational needs and their developmental targets. This means that children benefit from consistent, well- planned and personalised care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and wellbeing needs are met well. They attend routine and specialist health appointments. This ensures that children receive suitable support and intervention to meet their physical and emotional health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe administration and management of medicines to promote the safety and wellbeing of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend educational settings according to their needs and abilities. Staff work in partnership with schools and other relevant professionals to make sure that children have every opportunity to increase their academic ability and to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrangements are in place that support children to maintain positive relationships with their family and friends. Staff work closely with children and their families to ensure that time spent together is a safe and positive experience. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 4 Staff use a wide and varied range of verbal and nonverbal communication methods, including pictures and visual aids, to seek children’s views, opinions and wishes. This practice ensures that children are involved in decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop life skills in readiness for adulthood. They are provided with opportunities to develop new skills such as cooking, personal care and budgeting, with good support and encouragement from staff. This helps children to learn the necessary skills that will enable them to move successfully into adulthood.

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

Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of their needs. Staff know how to best support children when their anxieties increase. Consequently, staff intervene quickly to de-escalate behaviours that are detrimental to children’s welfare.

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

Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of child protection thresholds and referral processes. Staff understand their own responsibilities for protecting children. As some children do not communicate verbally, staff are especially alert to any changes in their behaviours or reactions that may indicate abuse or harm. This promotes children’s safety.

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

Staff manage safeguarding concerns effectively and in a timely manner. Staff work directly with children to help them to understand potential risks. This includes supporting them to make positive choices in relation to their personal safety.

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

There have been no incidents of children being physically held or of children going missing from the home since the last inspection.

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

Children live in a physically safe environment. Regular environmental safety checks are undertaken, and children regularly practise fire drills so that they know what they need to do in the event of an emergency.

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

Children are protected by the organisation’s recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These measures promote children’s safety by helping to prevent unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works in partnership with the staff to ensure that children are fully supported and that their individual needs are met. Together, they are creating a positive environment for children to live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a range of training courses to help them to develop their knowledge, skills and professional practice. New staff receive an induction programme, and they are subsequently enrolled on their qualification in residential childcare. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 5 Staff morale is positive, and they say that they feel supported in their roles. There have been some recent changes in the composition of the staff team; however, a core group of staff remains, providing continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend monthly team meetings and have regular practice-related supervision to support their performance and to review the children’s progress and experiences. Staff feel valued and are motivated to deliver care that makes positive improvements to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for children. The manager and staff have established good working relationships with other professionals, such as teachers and social workers. Effective communication ensures that information is shared quickly, which helps to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 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: 2780921 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Annabella Foulkes

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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